SOFTISAN® 649 – THE plant-based synthetic Lanolin Alternative
12. August 2021
Lanolin or wool wax is a versatile ingredient and was used medicinally in ancient times. Lanolin is the secretion from sebum glands of sheep and is formed on the surface of their skin. However, the animals have to be treated with pesticides to protect them from parasites. The problem here is that these pesticides accumulate in the wool wax and can later lead to strong allergic reactions in users. This motivated IOI Oleo GmbH to develop a plant-based, synthetic alternative: et voila, SOFTISAN® 649 has since enriched our portfolio and has, among other things, made a name for itself as a lanolin substitute in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pesticides are highly allergenic and can sometimes trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in humans. But even if the permitted limit values in wool wax can now be reduced with the help of complex chemical processing, some people are allergic to the naturally contained wool wax alcohols.
Our SOFTISAN® 649 has a completely different chemical structure yet offers identical properties: it has the same, very good adhesion to the skin and mucous membrane with a very high water absorption of significantly more than 200%. In addition, when SOFTISAN® 649 is mixed with water or moisture, a stable emulsion is created.

Left: SOFTISAN® 649 unprocessed, Right: SOFTISAN® 649 mixed with 230% Water.
In addition, SOFTISAN® 649 has other invaluable advantages over Lanolin:
Our lanolin alternative is used in numerous pharmaceutical products and has proven itself on the international market. Especially because of its extremely good skin and mucous membrane adhesion, SOFTISAN® 649 is particularly suitable for:
WOUND CARE
Due to the very good skin adhesion, active ingredients in creams and ointments stay longer on the wound.
LIPS AND NOSES
It prevents active ingredients from being prematurely removed by abrasive processes or a high level of moisture and thereby reducing the effectiveness.
WOUND PADS
Due to the high water absorption capacity, it helps to keep the wound dry and thus promote or accelerate the healing process.
Its use in cosmetic products underlines the versatility of SOFTISAN® 649. In our article “SOFTISAN® 649 – Comfortable protective shield for skin and hair” you can find out more about its creative applications.
IOI Oleo GmbH
IOI Chemical’s German branch is among the leading European suppliers of oleochemical specialties. With more than 300 employees at its headquarters in Hamburg and its two production sites in Witten and Wittenberge, IOI Oleo GmbH produces and sells a broad range of oleochemical products for a large number of industrial applications.
