What is neatsfoot oil?

Neatsfoot oil is an oil used to treat leather. When used in its raw or sulfonated form, neatsfoot oil creates emulsions that are finer than other leather conditioning products, which keeps the leather softer.

The oil is called neatsfoot because the word "neat" is an old term for cattle, and the oil comes from the feet and leg bones of cows. Neatsfoot oil is also derived from lard. The use of pure neatsfoot oil is recommended over a neatsfoot oil compound. Compound oils contain additional ingredients such as mineral oil, which can deteriorate leather stitching. The compound oil also darkens leather and is not recommended if the original color is preferred.