The pentacyclic triterpenoids present on the skin of three olive cultivars were studied. Chloroform extraction yielded compounds comprising the surface waxes which were in the range 0.08-0.16% of the total olive weight. Chloroform treated olives were further extracted with methanol to give large quantities of pure pentacyclic triterpene acids (0.08-0.13%). The major surface lipid components were identified as oleanolic acid (31-44%) and maslinic acid (55-68%).