Turpentine is a strong-smelling liquid made from the sap of pine trees, used mainly as a solvent to thin oil paints or clean paint brushes. If you've ever walked into an art studio and noticed a sharp, piney smell, you were probably smelling turpentine.

Artists have used turpentine for centuries because oil paint is too thick to work with straight from the tube. A few drops of turpentine make the paint flow smoothly across a canvas. After painting, artists dip their brushes in turpentine to dissolve the oil paint and clean the bristles.

Turpentine is made by extracting resin (a sticky substance) from pine trees, then heating it to produce this useful liquid. It was once common in households for removing paint stains or cleaning tools, though today people often use newer, less smelly alternatives.

Because turpentine is flammable and has strong fumes, it must be used carefully in well-ventilated spaces. The next time you see a painter working with oils, notice how they keep a small jar of turpentine nearby. It's an essential tool that transforms thick, sticky paint into something that glides beautifully across the canvas.