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Carnauba wax (sometimes referred to as Brazil or palm wax) is a term you will hear quite frequently both on our website and on many other sites that deal with cleaning and detailing your vehicle. So, what, precisely, is carnauba, and why is this particular form of wax good for your car?

Carnauba is a unique form of wax that is taken directly from the leaves of the palm "copernicia prunifera", and this palm is only grown in a small number of Brazilian states. The leaves of the palm are harvested and then they are beaten to free the carnauba wax from the leaves themselves. This produces carnauba wax flakes which are then often treated, refined, bleached, and treated to a variety of other treatments in order to ensure it is as pure as possible before it is used for a variety of applications.

What makes carnauba wax so unique and perfect for car waxing is it's high fatty acid content (usually around 85%). The remaining percentages are made up of small amounts of fatty alcohols, acids and hydrocarbons. This high proportion of fatty acids in relation to its total weight makes for that glossy and lustrous sheen that we all known and love on our cars so much, and this natural purity has made carnauba wax arguably better than any man made synthetic alternatives.

Carnauba wax has obvious uses outside automotive polishing as a polish suitable for using on instruments, shoes, floors, furniture and even teeth (it is often used to coat dental floss to make it smooth). The same properties that make carnauba wax excellent for shining and protecting cars also make it well suited for a wide variety of polishing applications, especially when mixed with beeswax. Carnauba wax is also sometimes used as an outer coating on sweets and confectionery products.

Many facets of the cosmetics industry make use of carnauba wax, it is naturally hypoallergenic and henceforth is popularly used in eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, lipstick and foundation.  It is used both as a thickening agent and as an active ingredient in many preparations as it also makes a soothing emollient, excellent for use on tired and dry skin.

It is interesting to note that despite the high fat content carnauba wax actually has the highest melting point of all known waxes (usually around 84 degrees centigrade), and it is incredibly hard prior to being refined, something very unusual in the world of waxes. This makes it an excellent shiner and sealant for the leather industry who often use it to treat clothing and other leather goods before shipping, this results in a much studier and harder wearing product that is less prone to wear along creases.

There is simply no denying that carnauba wax produces a stunning high gloss shine on vehicles that is hard to match with any kind of synthetic product currently on the market. With the correct care and attention when applying it carnauba can ensure that your vehicle remains well protected no matter how poor the weather gets. Why not browse our 55 series and 42 series carnauba, or try one of our smaller sized samples?
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