Abstract: Antifoams for the paper industry are based on oil-in-water emulsions in which the oil phase accounts for from 5 to 50% by weight of the emulsion and contains(a) an alcohol of not less than 12 carbon atoms, fatty esters of alcohols of not less than 22 carbon atoms and C.sub.1 -C.sub.36 -carboxylic acids, distillation residues which are obtainable in the preparation of alcohols having a relatively large number of carbon atoms by the oxo synthesis or by the Ziegler method and which may be alkoxylated, a mixture of the stated compounds and/or(b) a fatty ester of a C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 -carboxylic acid with a monohydric to trihydric C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -alcohol and, if required,(c) a hydrocarbon having a boiling point above 200.degree. C.