Re: Where does earwax come from?

Earwax is technically called cerumen. It is made by special glands (ceruminous glands) that are actually a special type of sweat gland located in the skin of the external auditory meatus, the canal that leads from the outside ear to the tympanic membrane (the "eardrum," and beginning of the inner ear). Earwax is a mixture of fats and waxes, so when it is first made it is soft, but if it stays in the outer ear for awhile, it will get dry and hard. The color at any given time will vary with the percentage of fats to waxes. Earwax probably has a protective function.