by 
The Curious Bag
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Pure glycerin oil is a colorless, odorless, nontoxic substance naturally found in fats. It has many uses, from being an ingredient in skin-softening lotions and soaps to being used in cakes and candies. Glycerin oil can even be used to protect hydraulic jacks from freezing.
History
Glycerin, also called glycerol, is a trihydric alcohol that was discovered in 1779 by Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele. He found the sweet-tasting substance in olive oil and other oils and fats, calling it the "sweet principle of fats."
Features
Pure glycerin can be dissolved into water or alcohol. When dissolved in water, glycerin has skin-softening qualities that make it a desirable base in lotions, soaps and other skin and hair products.
Function
Pure glycerin attracts moisture, even from the air if it is left uncovered. Clear soaps, which may contain 15 to 20 percent glycerin, dissolve more quickly than other soaps. While sitting exposed in a dish, glycerin soap will attract beads of moisture.
Benefits
The sweet taste and nontoxic properties of glycerin make it a popular additive to herbal extracts and tinctures.
Wide Range of Uses
Glycerin oil is also used commercially as an ingredient in foods, as a coating, as a preservative for fruit, in pharmaceuticals, in lubricants of all kinds, in some printing inks and even in plastic manufacturing processes.
Source:
PioneerThinking.com: What is Glycerin?; Kaila Westerman; 1997
HenriettesHerbal.com: Glycerinum
Resource:
Unique Items: Vegetable Glycerine
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