The term "wax" refers to a variety of organic compounds, both animal and vegetable. From a chemical point of view, these are esters of higher carboxylic acids and high molecular weight alcohols. The most famous is beeswax, which is produced by special glands of these insects. Honeycombs are made from wax.
Lanolin is a so-called wool wax. Its main purpose is to protect animal hair and skin from moisture and drying out.
Once upon a time, spermaceti wax was extremely popular - a product obtained by cooling spermaceti oil, that is, the liquid fat found in the head of toothed sperm whales. Spermaceti was obtained in two main ways: either the spermacet oil was cooled, followed by filtration, or it was dissolved, followed by crystallization. This soft yellowish substance was used as the main component in the production of candles, medicinal ointments, and cosmetic lipsticks.
Also, until recently, spermaceti was used as a lubricant for devices and mechanisms from which high precision was required, as well as a component of anti-burn gels. Because of this, sperm whales were hunted on a large scale, which led to a sharp decrease in their population. Now fishing for these whales is prohibited, and synthetic analogs of natural spermacet are used for the above purposes.
Vegetable waxes are extremely widespread in nature. Their main purpose is to protect plants from drying out, so they cover the stems, leaves, flowers and fruits with the thinnest film, that is, with a waxy coating. Some may be familiar with the term jojoba oil. It is a liquid wax, which is obtained by pressing a crushed plant - Chinese bush, an evergreen shrub. It oxidizes very slowly, so it can be stored for a long time without losing its beneficial properties. Jojoba oil is a part of many shampoos, balms, and is also used in aromatherapy.
Many waxes are currently used in the manufacture of candles as components of mastics and polishes in the processing of wood products, thickeners for creams and ointments, as well as to protect food during transportation and storage. For example, waxes that are used to coat cheeses, according to the international classification, are designated as food additives E901 - E903.
