Musical instrument lubrication

The valves on brass instruments like trumpets and trombones need special lubricants that are completely odorless and tasteless, since musicians' breath constantly passes over these mechanisms. These valve oils must be thin enough to allow split-second movements for rapid musical passages, yet provide enough protection for metal parts that move thousands of times during a single performance. Traditional petroleum oils would leave unpleasant tastes and smells, so instrument oils use highly refined synthetic or mineral bases with no additives that could affect taste. Professional musicians often carry multiple oil types for different humidity conditions, as moisture from breath mixing with the wrong oil can create sticky buildup that makes valves sluggish.