What is Carnauba Wax?
Carnauba is the hardest natural occurring wax available. Carnauba is primarily harvested from palm trees in Brazil. The wax is melted down and added to Meguiar’s formulations to enhance their durability and protection against the environment as well as adding gloss to your car’s finish. Meguiar’s uses only #1 yellow Carnauba wax, the most costly and highest quality grade. There are other companies touting the fact that they use an even higher grade of Carnauba wax called Ivory Carnauba wax. Ivory Carnauba wax is simply #1 yellow Carnauba wax that has been decolorized to remove the natural yellow color. The decolorizing process in no way, shape or form increases the quality of the Carnauba wax. If anything, the decolorizing process could diminish the quality of the Carnauba because the chemicals used are rather harsh.
Carnauba wax is a botanical product used in a large number of industries. Sometimes called the “Queen of Wax,” carnauba wax has a much harder melting point than other waxes, and is also extremely hard. This makes it ideal for creating extremely strong coatings for floors, automobiles, and other things which see hard wear. In addition, carnauba wax appears in candies, polishes, varnishes, cosmetic products, and in many other places. Although carnauba wax has largely been replaced by synthetics, it is still produced and used in many parts of the world. A Brazilian tree formally named Copernicia prunifera and otherwise known as the fan or carnauba palm is the source for carnauba wax. The palm has broad fan like leaves attached to toothed stalks. In hot, dry weather, the plant secretes wax to protect the leaves from damage. People who want to collect the wax dry the leaves and then beat them to dislodge the yellowish to brown waxy coating, which usually flakes off. The wax is refined and b
