Waxes in the citrus fruit peel form a natural protective shield. In particular, these waxes prevent the fruit from drying out.

In the technical process of recovering valuable essential oil a proportion of this wax enters the oil phase. The quantity of wax will depend on the extraction system which is used.

These waxes are undesirable products. After the clear oil has been stored for a certain time, the waxes become insoluble and lead to a deterioration in the quality of the oil and must be removed for this reason. There are various methods which are suitable for this process.

In most cases, the de-waxing procedure involves storing the essential oil at low temperatures. Depending on the temperature and type of fruit, a period of up to two months may be required for the total cold-sensitive wax content to precipitate out of solution.