Lanolin is a mixture of greasy compounds obtained by purification of wool wax and mainly used in cosmetic and health products. A method for the extraction of wool wax from different types of wool scour waste using supercritical fluids with the addition of a cosolvent has been developed. The goal of the present study was set the conditions of the supercritical extraction to the softest in order to minimize any losses by volatilization or degradation of any compound present or interacting with the wool wax. The developed method could be considered to replace the Soxhlet extraction that uses large amounts of solvent and takes considerably more time. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.