Abstract: A process is disclosed for the manufacture of lubricating base oils from nitrogen-containing distillates and/or deasphalted oils by subjecting them to a catalytic hydrotreatment which may be followed by a dewaxing treatment, wherein distillates and/or deasphalted oils having a nitrogen content which numerically expressed exceeds the value f.multidot.P.sub.H2 .multidot.S.sub.v.sup.-1, wherein f is a constant relating to the viscosity of the final base oil, P.sub.H2 represents the hydrogen partial pressure in bar applied in the catalytic hydrotreatment and S.sub.v represents the weighted hourly space velocity in t/m.sup.3 .multidot.h at which the catalytic hydrotreatment is carried out, are subjected to a preceding solvent extraction.