Provided is a lubricant base stock, a lubricating oil including the lubricant base stock and a method for improving viscosity temperature performance or viscosity index of an engine or other mechanical component lubricated with the lubricating oil. The lubricant base stock includes one or more liquid crystals represented by the formula: R1-(A)m-Y—(B)n—R2 wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl or alkoxy group having from 0 to 24 carbon atoms; A and B are the same or different and are a cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group, provided at least one of A and B is an aromatic group; Y is a covalent bond, —CH2-CH2-, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —OCOO—, —COO—, —CO—, —CSO—, —CSS—, —CS—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2-, —CH2O—, —OCH2O—, —NO—, —ONO2, —COOH, —OH, or —C≡N; and m and n are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3. The lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity of 2 cSt to 28 cSt at 40° C., and 1 cSt to 12 cSt at 100° C.