Turpentine is an oil obtained from pine trees, and is different from the mineral turpentine.

Turpentine is one of the volatile oils that can be extracted from pine wood. It is a very important substance with many applications as a solvent, in the pharmaceutical industry and in the production of oils, resins and varnishes. It is also used as the starting material to manufacture avariety of other products, including pine oil and dipentene etc.

Refined turpentine is used as a solvent for resins, varnishes and oil-based paints, and in the manufacture of p-cymene, isoprene, terpene polymers and perfumes for soaps and cosmetics.

Turpentine is distilled to separated into its major constituents: alpha- and beta-pinene. Of these, beta-pinene is used for the production of camphor and some insecticides. The α-pinene is converted into α-terpene and then into pine oil and dipentene in further process steps.

Pine oil is used in a wide variety of applications including use as a flavour and perfume in pharmaceuticals, as a solvent, disinfectant and deodorant, for the flotation of lead ores and in textile scouring.

Dipentene is used as a wetting and dispersing agent, as a solvent for lacquers and inks, as a degreasing agent and in the manufacture of air fresheners.