I just bought 2.5 gallons of non-smoking unscented lamp oil at West
Marine for $20.

HTH

I hate to tell you this, but you didn't, unless you bought way below market
price. you probably bought the middle grade stuff.

kerosene was a buck eighty the last time I bought 2.5 gallons (last October),
while mostly kinda smokeless lamp stuff was about six bux a gallon, and the
good stuff (interior lamp stuff for several hours at a time use) was about $12
a gallon, if you bought a gallon at a time ($3.99 for 20 oz at your local,
friendly candle store selling your wife items "mood enhancement").

I use (successfully, if you count taking care to lower the burner and to trim
the wick, both to reduce sooting of the glass) kero for an outdoor anchor light
(makes the boat distinctive, and is legal under the colregs) and the high
priced stuff for cabin lamps. The high priced stuff has no smell or soot.