Linseed oil is derived from flax seeds and has been used to treat wood for thousands of years. The boiled variety is often preferred now because it has a much shorter drying time than the raw linseed. Another effect we have noticed is that when it is mixed with red ochre pigment for colouring woodwork, the boiled linseed provides a much darker, deeper red. We are using this in our Roman dining-room because it provides a great colour match to the red ochre used in the frescos on the walls.

darker boiled linseed matches fresco red – both red ochre

darker boiled linseed, lighter raw