The invention relates to a method for obtaining fruit wax from plant constituents, said method being carried out essentially using compressed C.sub.2-C.sub.4 hydrocarbons. Unlike previous extraction methods with supercritical CO.sub.2, the inventive method can be carried out at low pressures and with a reduced extraction means throughput. Residues from the fruit treatment, especially peel from the juicing process, are used as starting materials. Preferred extraction agents are ethane, propane, butane and the mixtures thereof, the extraction itself being carried out in batches at pressures of <50 mPa and temperatures of .ltoreq.70.degree. C., with an extraction agent throughput of between 4 and 20 kg/kg of starting materials. The extracted fruit wax is outstandingly suitable for cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations, especially for the care and treatment of the skin.