There are three major types of colophony, depending on whether the source of the oleoresin is gum, wood, or tall oil. Gum rosin (the most common source) is recovered from the sap of living pine trees.

The materials generally used for the preparation of these so-called ‘electrets’ are mixtures of carnauba wax and colophony, or carnauba wax, colophony and a small proportion of beeswax.

Considering the widespread use of colophony-containing epilating products and the frequency of sensitization to colophony, it is somewhat surprising that reports of allergic contact dermatitis ...