What is the smoke point of an oil?

Smoke point is the maximum flame height, expressed in millimeters, at which a fuel can be burned in a standard wick-fed lamp without smoking. A higher smoke point indicates a fuel with a lower tendency to produce smoke.

Aromatics tend to burn with a smoky flame. The order of molecule type from highest smoke point (least smoky) to lowest smoke point (most smoky) is as follows: Straight chain parrafins, branched parrafins, naphthenes, and finally aromatics.

Smoke point is an important specification for Jet Fuel (jet fuel is the kerosene fraction of a crude oil distillation).

Source: Properties of Crude Oils. Haverly Systems Inc. 1987-2010. Pg. 28.