A method for making a base oil having enhanced color stability and the base oil prepared therefrom are disclosed. The method comprises adding a phenyl benzotriazole compound to a base oil composition to form a color-stabilized base oil composition. In some cases, the phenyl benzotriazole compound has the structural formula (I):




wherein,



R and R′ are independently one or more substituents selected from hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy, substituted and unsubstituted carboxyl, or a combination thereof, with the proviso that at least one of R and R′ is a non-hydrogen substituent.