Sheep produce lanolin, a waxy substance secreted by sebaceous glands and found in their wool.
Lanolin helps protect wool fibers and the sheep’s skin from moisture. It is recovered during wool scouring, the washing process that removes grease, dirt, sweat salts, and other materials from raw fleece.
Purified lanolin is used in products such as ointments, creams, cosmetics, and some industrial lubricants. Its water-attracting and water-retaining properties make it useful in formulations designed to soften and protect skin.
Lanolin is not the same as wool fiber. Wool is the keratin-based hair itself, while lanolin is the natural grease associated with the fleece. The amount and composition can vary with sheep breed, climate, diet, and other factors.