Natural Bio-Engineering

Essentially the by-product of a haircut, lanolin is the ultimate renewable resource.

The majority of wool produced in the world comes from New Zealand and Australia. These countries, thanks to vast and sprawling fields that are perfect for grazing, have a long tradition of raising sheep.

Seasonal shearings relieve the sheep of their warm, heavy hair in a cruelty-free process that does not harm the animal.

Referring to lanolin as an 'animal derived' product is misleading, because it doesn't take into account the ecologically friendly advantages of this remarkable raw material.

Since it is obtained through the wool industry without harming or killing the animals, lanolin can best be described as an 'animal harvested' natural product. Even Greenpeace lists lanolin as a 'green' material in its evaluation of cosmetic ingredients.

An ancient material

The unique nourishing and moisturising effect of wool grease on animal and human skin has been valued since antiquity.

The first written mention of its use dates back to the 1st century, when Dioscorides, the Greek medic and pharmacologist, described it under the name Oesypus. In his work Materia Medica (Medical Matter), he details a technique of extracting wool grease from the hot washing liquids of sheep wool.

During the Middle Ages, Oesypus was included in several pharmacopoeias, among them the Dispensarium Coloniense of 1565. Unrefined wool grease was recommended for use as a medicinal ointment for wound-healing bandages.

Altered properties led to decreased use

In the first half of the 19th century lanolin use decreased, which was probably due to improved wool scouring techniques.

To produce wool of high purity new detergents, such as soap, potassium carbonate and soda, were widely used in the scouring process. These substances changed the lanolin's usual properties; the washing water, along with its valuable wool fat, was simply poured away.

Only in the second half of the century it was possible to obtain the wool grease needed at the time, thanks to the rapid development of organic chemistry.

Revived by technology

In the 1880s, Oscar Liebreich and Otto Braun developed a method to further refine and purify wool grease by using a centrifugal process. They patented their new product under the name lanolin, based on the Latin words for wool (lana) and oil (oleum).

Lanolin became a popular and widely used ingredient in medical preparations. A large number of scientific articles were published on the substance and, in particular, about its use in medicine.

In the 20th century, lanolin became an integral part of various cosmetic and medical preparations.