"Odd, parafin = wax in French not kerosene. Are you sure it means kerosene??"

When petroleum is fractionated, the short chain compounds boil off first, and are suitable for internal combustion engine fuel. The next longer chain compounds are suitable for heating and illuminationm, and jet airplane fuel. US got home electricity a couple decades ahead of UK, thanks to Insull, and so stopped using "kerosene" a long time ago. We use "paraffin" for one of the solids, which is used for candles and wax paper.It used to be for making seal on top of home made jellies, jams, and preserves.