The fibrous material, such as tissue paper, has its surface coated at a rate of 0.1 to 20 g/sq m with an agent comprising one or a mixture of fatty acid esters with a C10 - C14 carbon chain and an alcohol with a similar carbon chain, the agent having a melting point of between 20 and 37 degrees C. the coating agent contains at least 60 per cent of the esters, the remainder being solvents, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols or mineral oils. It contains at least one dodecyl ester of dodecanoic acid or lauryl laurate. The coating is applied from a container (10) with an open slit (12) in the base, or by passing the tissue paper (1) between applicator (20) and counter (21) rollers.
