Sheep make it. We use it. And it's one of the more underappreciated things in the natural world.
Lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by the sheep's sebaceous glands, the oil that keeps their wool and skin protected through wind, rain, and cold. When we process wool into fabric, some of that lanolin stays in the fiber. And when it depletes over time, which it will, we add it back ourselves.
That's what lanolizing is. Restoring what was already there.
For diaper covers, it matters more than people realize. When urine meets lanolin, a chemical reaction happens. The fatty acids in lanolin interact with the ammonia in urine and convert it into a mild soap and water, essentially. The cover is cleaning itself. That's why wool can go so long between washes. That's why it doesn't smell.
For sweaters, baby clothes, wool leggings, lanolin keeps the fiber soft, resilient, and weather-ready.
You can lanolize with an emulsion block, a pre-made blend, or just warm lanolin rubbed between your fingers and massaged in. I've tried every method. My favourite is still the simplest one.
"What do I use?" The Bumby Blend. No fuss, no heating, no drama.