One of the most important findings of the review was that olive oil is often just as effective as commercial drops (often containing docusate sodium or carbamide peroxide) or even sodium bicarbonate. There is often no statistically significant difference between using simple olive oil and expensive over-the-counter chemical sprays.
This review found that using any softener (including olive oil) is better than no treatment, and that water or oil-based softeners are generally equally effective. ear wax removal using olive oil