An organic solvent which is very useful in paints is made up primarily of n-butyl acetate, n-heptane, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetone and a light hydrotreated petroleum distillate. The solvent typically has a closed cup flash point of about 50 to 75° F. The petroleum distillate typically has a boiling range from 230 to 320° F., a closed cup flash point from 35 to 75° F. and a kauri-butanol value not less than 25. A mixture of 8-carbon and 9-carbon hydrocarbons which are typically primarily paraffins or cycloparaffins typically makes up the vast majority of the petroleum distillate.