if yer just starting out with a trad ml, once the barrel and lock are broken in an tuned up, and a spit patch/ball combo seems to work reasonably well, that's the time to experiment a bit with patch lubes. besides the tried 'n' true spit patch, i've used a number of different oils 'n' greases, from mink to olive to crisco to tallow, and lotsa blends of beeswax and all of the preceding ingredients. they all work good enuf to one degree or another. with a specific patch thickness and ball diameter in mind, i look for is a patch lube that'll work in all temperatures, never require a ball starter, and not require swabbing between shots for at least a dozen shots or more ... more is better, for me.
in my patch lube findings ....
high on my list is that original Lehigh Valley Lube. it does require immediate spraying and needs to be used wet. pre-wetting of patch strips or cut patches for a loading block doesn't work with LVL as its wetting ingredient will evaporate over a short time. but it does work amazing well and no swabbing required between shots, not ever. it also makes barrel cleaning a breeze during after session cleaning. this is a multi use lube that will also clean and protect yer gun's steel and iron. it'll do it all and does that extremely well. but patching requires to be used WET.
a double boiler blended mix (by weight) of 1 part paraffin wax (gulf), 1 part mutton tallow (DGW) and 1/2 part pure beeswax is called "gato feo lube" (ugly cat) and that's what i've been currently using because it's rubbed onto patch strips and then melted in with a hair dryer or heat gun to fully saturate the cloth weave. it stays soft no matter what the air temp and will allow continuous shooting for at least a dozen shots or more before pushing down the patched ball will require a short starter. spritzing these patch strips with LVL guarantees no swabbing will be required, ever. this is the grease i use to lube my black powder cartridge rifle bullets that i cast.
mutton tallow (acquired online from Dixie Gun Works) that's rubbed into a patch or patch strip section just before loading can also deliver swab free shooting, dependent on the patch/ball dimensions used. it has a pleasing odor and is good for yer skin, too (lanolin)!
the rest of the lubes and greases and liquids i've used have all had spottier results, which is why each of us needs to test/experiment with patch lubes, ain't no quickie shortcut unless ya get lucky. 8)