What is lanolin oil? Lanolin oil is a secretion from sheep's skin. It's similar to human sebum, an oil secreted by the sebaceous glands that you may notice particularly on your nose. Unlike sebum, lanolin contains no triglycerides.

Are sheep killed for lanolin?

Technically-speaking, sheep do not die as a direct result of lanolin production because it is obtained from their wool. However, as sheep age, their wool production gradually slows (just as humans lose density in eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair).

How is lanolin obtained?

Lanolin is extracted by washing the wool in hot water with a special wool scouring detergent to remove dirt, wool grease (crude lanolin), sweat salts, and anything else stuck to the wool. The wax is then obtained using either centrifugal separation or solvent extraction.