A simple rule of thumb is, if I buy it at a paint store it's probably a decent product. If I get it at a hardware store , Blowes, or Home Cheapo, it's probably an inferior product with cheap pigmentation (as opposed to transoxides) and has little mildewcide. It's not the type of oil that tells the story of whether or not a sealer will hold up. Linseed oil comes in different forms (boiled etc) As a contractor performing deck restoration and maintenance, it is my professional obligation to use the right products (which may or may not be the easiest to apply), to know my products Solid stain acrylics may appear to last longer, but when they peel they are a disaster to strip.