Abstract: Disclosed herein are lubricant compositions containing 75-99% by weight of a base oil that includes one or more branched aliphatic compounds having the following formula: R1R2HC—CH2—CHR3R4 (I) wherein R1 and R3 are independently selected from alkyl groups having 8 to 26 carbon atoms, and R2 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and alkyl groups having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, with a proviso that at least one of R2 and R4 is not hydrogen. The alkyl groups are substituted or unsubstituted, or branched or unbranched; R1 and R3 may be the same or different; and the total carbon content of the branched aliphatic compound of formula (I) is in the range of 26 to 66. The lubricant compositions also include an effective amount of one or more additives. Also, disclosed herein are processes for making such compositions and their uses in pharmaceutical and personal care products.