If you are on the lookout for a wall sconce that imparts an antique or period look to your home, you can choose from a wide variety of antique looking wall sconces available in the markets. However, if you desire the real thing, then you definitely have to get yourself an oil wall sconce.

Oil wall sconces utilize real oil as their source of fuel, which burns a bright and brilliant flame that is the illuminating source of the sconce. Unlike candle sconces that also give you a real flame but can be used only for a few hours till the candle melts, oil sconces can be used for hours on end.

With oil-sconces, there are two burner choices. You can either choose one that features a gas burner (much like kerosene lamps), or you can choose one that utilizes a wick as the burner. Wicks used in such sconces are typically fiberglass wicks that are everlasting and can even be used in rainy conditions. An oil sconce with a gas burner is usually a bit more complex to handle than one with a wick.

The most popular oils used as fuel are paraffin oil and citronella oil. Both these oils provide a smoke-free flame and can thus be used for indoor sconces as well as outdoor ones. Liquid paraffin oil is one of the preferred fuels for oil sconces as it burns very cleanly and without any smoke. The oil does not even produce any odor. To ensure that your sconce oil does not produce any smoke, make sure it is of 100% purity.

Citronella oil is also commonly used in oil wall sconces, especially for outdoor sconces. This oil gives off a typical smell that helps to keep bugs and insects at bay, while being pleasant to humans. You can use either kind of fuel for your oil sconces. However, when using two different oils, make sure you use a separate wick for each different type of oil.