Wool-fat, Wool-oil, Wool-wax

ALL earlier names for lanolin. Lanolin was extracted from sheep’s wool by boiling washed wool in water. When the pan was left to cool, a milky white grease would be floating on top – the sheep’s waterproofing. The globules could be picked out, and further refined by squeezing them through linen cloths. Lanolin was invaluable as a simple remedy for chapped and roughened skin. Blended with powdered or crushed herbs, it served as a medicinal salve.