Abstract: Emulsions of a water immiscible phase in an aqueous phase are produced with an improved method which does not require milling or homogenizing equipment and which allows emulsification to be carried out at reduced temperatures. A hydrophilic thickening agent component is dispersed within an oil or wax phase prior to addition of the oil or wax phase to an aqueous phase. When the oil or wax phase is added to the aqueous phase, phase inversion and gellation occur and the thickening agent forms a lattice which entraps oil or wax phase particles of reduced size in a uniform dispersion. The temperature of the emulsion is reduced until the oil or wax particles begin to solidify.