Lanolin alcoholysis products containing substantial proportions of wool wax alcohols are prepared by heating together in the presence of an alcoholysis catalyst, lanolin and a polyoxyethylene ether of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol until alcoholysis is effected.  In general, the aliphatic polyhydric alcohols contain as many as 6 carbon atoms and at least two-thirds as many hydroxyl groups as carbon atoms.  Products which disperse in water and form oil-in water emulsions are obtained by using polyoxyethylene ethers of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols which contain not less than 0.5 nor more than 20 oxyethylene groups per equivalent weight of hydroxyl group in said alcohol and by using a weight proportion of said polyoxyethylene ether to lanolin lying between the inclusive limits of 0.5 to 1 and 6 to 1 and a molar proportion of the ether to lanolin which is not greater than 2.5 to 1.  The reaction is generally effected at temperatures of from 240 DEG  to 310 DEG  C. for a period of 2 to 8 hours.  Suitable alcoholysis catalysts are the oxides, hydroxides and alkoxides of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, zinc and lead.  The polyoxyethylene ethers of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, sorbitan, mannitol and mannitan are specified reactants.  The ethers of mixed aliphatic polyhydric alcohols may be used.  The ethers are prepared by reacting the polyhydric alcohol or mixed alcohols with ethylene oxide.  The product obtained by reacting ethylene oxide with a mixture of the polyhydric alcohol and water (which forms ethylene glycol) may also be used in the alcoholysis. In addition to the emulsifying products, products which disperse to a clear solution in water may be prepared.  The products find use in cosmetic preparations (see Group VI).  Additives mentioned in this connection are water, mineral oil, beeswax, stearic acid, lanolin, sorbitil, soap, sorbitan monostearate, perfumes and butyl para-hydroxy benzoate (preservative).  In examples, lanolin is reacted under esterifying conditions in the presence of sodium hydroxide as catalyst, and generally under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, using the following ethers, the product being treated with activated carbon after the desired degree of alcoholysis has been effected and then filtered: (1) the mixed oxyethylene ethers obtained by reacting 85 per cent aqueous sorbitol with various quantities of ethylene oxide; (2) the ether obtained by reacting sorbitol with 30 mols. of ethylene oxide; (3) the ether obtained by reacting glycerol with 20 mols. of ethylene oxide; (4) the ether obtained by reacting propylene glycol with 20 mols. of ethylene oxide; (5) a polyethylene glycol of molecular weight about 1000.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 is not limited to heating the reagents and in presence of an alcoholysis catalyst.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.ALSO:Lanolin-alcoholysis products containing substantial proportions of wool wax alcohols are prepared by heating together, in the presence of an alcoholysis catalyst, lanolin and a polyoxyethylene ether of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol until alcoholysis is effected.  In general, the aliphatic polyhydric alcohols contain as many as six carbon atoms and at least two-thirds as many hydroxyl groups as carbon atoms. Products which emulsify in water to form oil-in-water emulsions are obtained by using polyoxyethylene ethers of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols which contain not less than 0.5 nor more than 20 oxyethylene groups per equivalent weight of hydroxyl group in said alcohol and by using a weight proportion of said polyoxyethylene ether to lanolin lying between the inclusive limits of 0.5 to 1 and 6 to 1 and a molar proportion of the ether to lanolin which is not greater than 2.5 to 1.  Alcoholysis is generally effected at temperatures of from 240 DEG to 310 DEG  C. for a period of 2 to 8 hours. Suitable catalysts are the oxides, hydroxides and alkoxides of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, zinc and lead.  Alcohols whose polyoxyethylene ethers may be used include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, sorbitan, mannitol and mannitan; the polyoxyethylene ethers of mixed aliphatic polyhydric alcohols may be used.  The ethers are prepared by reacting ethylene oxide with the polyhydric alcohol or mixed polyhydric alcohols.  Products obtained by reacting ethylene oxide with a mixture of polyhydric alcohol and water (which forms ethylene glycol) may be used in the alcoholysis.  Alcoholysis products may be prepared which form clear dispersions in water.  The emulsifying products find use in cosmetic preparations (see Group VI).  In examples, lanolin is heated under esterification conditions in presence of sodium hydroxide with each of the following ethers, generally under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, and when the desired degree of alcoholysis has been effected the product is treated with activated carbon and filtered: (1) the mixed oxyethylene ether obtained by reacting various quantities of ethylene oxide with 85 per cent aqueous sorbitol; (2) the oxyethylene sorbitol ether obtained by reacting sorbitol with 30 mols. of ethylene oxide; (3) the ether prepared by reacting glycerol with 20 mols. of ethylene oxide; (4) the ether obtained from propylene glycol and 20 mols. of ethylene oxide; (5) a polyethylene glycol of molecular weight about 1000.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 is not limited to heating the reagents and in the presence of an alcoholysis catalyst. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.ALSO:A clear shampoo consists of 99 parts of soap solution and 1 part of an alcoholysis product containing wool wax alcohols and prepared by heating lanolin in presence of an alcoholysis catalyst with a mixed polyoxyethylene ether obtained by reacting ethylene oxide with an aqueous solution of sorbitol containing 15 per cent of water.  The alcoholysis is described in detail (see Group IV(b)).