- 1. Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
- 2. P21S Carnauba Wax
- 3. 303 Spray Wax And Quick Detailer
- 4. Mothers California Gold Pure Brazilian Carnauba Liquid Wax
- 5. Meguiar's G7014j Gold Class Carnauba
- 6. Turtle Wax T-5a Carnauba Cleaner Paste Wax
- 7. Mothers 05500 California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax
- 8. Meguiar's G7716 Gold Class Carnauba
Waxing your car on a regular basis is an important part of being a responsible car owner. Not only are you trying to restore the showroom shine of your ride, you’re also giving it ample protection from virtually anything and everything on the road. In the world of car waxes nothing beats carnauba, especially if you’re after that elegant showroom shine in your car.
There are many products that claim they’re made of 100-percent pure carnauba wax. Unfortunately, this is not entirely accurate because of the unique characteristics of pure carnauba wax. Hence, we’ve searched the market, asked professional car detailers, and sought advice from our resident car experts to bring to you a list of the best carnauba wax products available.
The Best Carnauba Wax:
Chemical Guys is one of those brands that is increasingly used by both professional car detailers and enthusiasts alike. Its Butter Wet Wax is a special formula of natural carnauba wax that’s infused with synthetic polymer resins. This provides better performance when it comes to bringing out a deep, glass-like, showroom shine in your car. It also affords the kind of protection your car needs as it travels through dirt and debris.
It is specially formulated to withstand repeated and chronic exposure to both UVA and UVB radiation, protecting the non-textured surfaces of your car longer than other brands. It is very easy to apply and won’t leave residue on your vehicle.
- Blend of natural carnauba wax and synthetic polymer resins
- Better protection against both UVA and UVB rays
- Easy to apply, easy to use
- Works on all non-textured surfaces
- Brand Chemical Guys
- Model WAC_201_16
- Weight 1.15 lbs
If you’re cautious about using synthetic polymers on your vehicle you’ll be glad to know that the P21S Carnauba Wax is a special blend of carnauba and beeswax, two of the most versatile waxes available. The special formula will not leave any powdery fine residue on your car. There’s also no need for worrying about staining your immaculate white paint.
While natural carnauba wax comes in a pale yellow color, this will not stain white paint. There are no additives, dyes, artificial scents, or anything else that can be considered synthetic. P21S is formulated for the car owner who doesn’t really mind applying wax on his ride more frequently than synthetic products, especially if he is after that really-deep shine that no synthetics can replicate.
- Blend of natural carnauba wax and beeswax
- Easy to apply, easy to remove formulation
- No additives, artificial scents, and dyes
- Non-powdering, non-staining formula
- Brand P21S
- Model 12700W
- Weight 6.2 oz
The 303 Spray Wax and Quick Detailer with UV Protectant may not be as popular as some other brands, but it sure is showing its mettle going head-to-head with industry stalwarts. The 303 comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle, so it can be used both on wet and dry surfaces. As long as it is applied on non-porous material, it should do an exemplary job of protecting the surface and keeping it shiny smooth for as long as possible. The formula contains carnauba wax, although there really is no telling how much of the premium wax is contained in each bottle.
One thing is certain, its 90-day surface deep shine and protection is good enough that it is no doubt one of the top products in the industry. Its 30-day UV protection could be better, or maybe we’re just looking at an honest company that would rather give you the facts than flood you with empty promises.
- Premium carnauba wax formulation
- 90-day surface protection and shine
- 30-day anti-fade, UV protection
- Can be used on dry or wet non-porous surfaces
- Brand 303 Products
- Model 30217
- Weight 1.1 lbs
A good number of car owners love the Mothers California Gold Ultimate Wax System Pure Brazilian Carnauba Liquid Wax. Perhaps part of the product’s appeal is its use of pure carnauba wax. Unfortunately, true car enthusiasts and detailers know that there really is no such thing as 100-percent pure carnauba wax as the unadulterated form is essentially composed of hard yellowish-brown flakes. These are refined and bleached to produce the kind of products on the market today.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny the fact that it really works in providing an exceptionally deep shine and luster in your car. It is actually a part of Mothers’ three-step system that includes a cleaner, smoother, and polisher. The Carnauba Liquid Wax is Step 3 in the system, so you might want to get the other two products for optimum results.
- Premium Brazilian carnauba wax
- Part of a 3-step system for cleaning, smoothening, and polishing
- Easy to apply on clear coats and all types of paints
- Brand Mothers
- Model 05750
- Weight 1.1 lbs
Car detailers rely on the technical know-how of Meguiar’s when it comes to bringing out the finest qualities on the cars they’re working on. Meguiar’s Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Paste Wax is one of those products that is trusted by the pros to provides a deep and long-lasting shine on all types of vehicles.
The Gold Class features a combination of carnauba wax and synthetic polymers to give car owners the best of both worlds: a showroom shine and ultimate surface protection. The Gold Class comes in an easy-to-apply formula unlike conventional waxes that take special skill. It also comes with a soft foam applicator, so that’s one less worry.
- Special blend of carnauba and synthetic polymer protective
- Can be used on all paint types
- Comes with soft foam applicator
- Easy to apply, buff, and polish
- Brand Meguiar's
- Model G7014J
- Weight 12.8 oz
Turtle Wax delivers great quality products. This includes the T-5A Carnauba Paste Cleaner Wax. Unfortunately, we found some issues with retailers shipping old stocks of the product, causing uproar in the car-loving community. But, given the fact that the T-5A combines the deep-shine properties of carnauba wax with the superb cleaning capabilities of micro-polishing agents, this should be a wonderful product to use on any car, giving you a more durable and water-repellent finish. As an added bonus, the formulat also features a Caribbean crush scent to give you a more professional-grade personal detailing of your car.
- Carnauba wax blended with micro-polishing agents
- Triple action formulation: clean, protects, and shines
- Infused with Caribbean crush scent
- Water-repellent and durable finish
- Brand Turtle Wax
- Model T-5A
- Weight 15.8 oz
Following in the success of its Carnauba Liquid Wax formula, Mothers also provides a version of a cleaner wax. The California Gold Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax is a dual-action formulation that not only gives your car a long-lasting shiny and protective finish, it also deep-cleans your fiberglass and gel coat surfaces. Unfortunately, there have been some complaints about the wax getting too dry and hardening into cement-like putty.
We looked at the root of this concern and found that some retailers ship old stocks of the California Gold. You should get your products from reputable sellers if you want to take full advantage of the cleaning and protecting functionalities of Mothers California Gold.
- Contains premium-quality carnauba wax
- For use on gel coats and fiberglass
- Dual action formulation: cleans and protects
- Comes with foam pad applicator
- Brand Mothers
- Model 5500
- Weight 1 lb
One of the best things about Meguiar’s G7716 Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Quick Wax is that you can apply it even under direct sunlight. The majority of car waxes need to be applied with the car in the shade, so the Quick Wax is something that can really come in handy for those instant, quick fixes. Like other Meguiar’s Carnauba products, the Quick Wax comes with a special blend of carnauba wax and special polymers.
Most waxes will leave a nasty residue; the Quick Wax won’t. Make sure to use a microfiber towel, and you’ll get the perfect showroom shine and ultimate protection for your car anytime.
- Mist-on, wipe-off special carnauba blend
- Non-residue-leaving formulation
- For use on clear coats and glossy paints
- Can be applied under direct sunlight
- Brand Meguiar's
- Model G7716
- Weight 12.3 oz
Best Carnauba Wax Buying Guide & FAQ
Choosing the best carnauba wax for your car can be daunting especially for newbie car owners or those who are not really familiar with such products. You don’t need to fret though since we’re here to help you decide on the right carnauba wax to get for your vehicle.
Benefits of Using Carnauba Car Wax
Almost every other car detailer will recommend using a carnauba wax on cars and other vehicles. There are many reasons why this kind of car wax is preferred over other types of waxes. Here are some of the more important benefits of using carnauba car wax.
- Provides a deep, wet-look, shine on your car
No synthetic car wax can ever replicate the deep, showroom-shine that is characteristic of carnauba-waxed cars. They are especially known for their classic ‘wet-look’ especially when light is reflected off its surface, giving the car that now-sought-after visual appeal. The other good thing about carnauba car wax is that this showroom shine actually lasts up to 4 months. While this pales in comparison to synthetics that can reach up to a year or so of shine, the quality of the sheen afforded by synthetics is simply no match to the deep, rich, and very vivid sheen that carnauba waxes provide.
- Protects your car’s paint
Natural, unadulterated carnauba wax is exceptionally hard. That is why if you see a carnauba product that is formulated as liquid spray and they claim to be 100% carnauba, you’ll know better. All of the products that we’ve featured contain polymers or some other wax like beeswax to help soften carnauba; otherwise, it would be very tedious to apply it onto the surface of your car. That being said, studies show that carnauba wax has a very high melting point, about 3 times higher than beeswax at about 190oF. It is also one of the hardest and densest natural waxes in the world. These properties are what protect your car’s paint job especially against UV rays. And since you’re keeping your car’s paint in tiptop shape, you know that you’ll be avoiding costly body repaints.
- Provides a waterproof layer for your car
One of the most unique characteristics of carnauba wax is that it is technically insoluble in water. This is observed from tropical forest trees that secrete such wax to help protect their leaves from excessive moisture. The same property can be applied onto your car. When it rains water will form beads and simply roll down your car’s body. The surface will be so slippery that individual water molecules will not have something to ‘hold onto’. After a shower you don’t have to worry about water stains.
- Prevents surface contaminants from scratching your car’s surface
We mentioned above that carnauba wax is one of the hardest natural waxes on the planet. It’s like putting a very tough invisible shield over your car. This helps protect it against scratches from dirt, dust, small rocks, tree branches, leaves, and even bird droppings, among others.
How to Choose Carnauba Wax and What to Look For
Choosing the right carnauba wax for your car should be pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, as you may have seen in our selection of the best carnauba car waxes, it really isn’t that simple. The fact that carnauba wax can come in various forms makes it even more challenging to determine the best one for your vehicle.
In choosing a carnauba wax you may want to start with the age of your vehicle. If your ride is technically still new with less than a few hundred miles under its hood or with barely 2 years on the road or you can see that it still has, more or less, its original shiny finish, then you may want to start with a spray wax formulation. These are very easy to apply and produce instant results. Some products can be applied straight onto your car even without cleaning or washing it first. There are also products that can be used in either wet or dry conditions. These are perfect for weekly applications or even for those emergency or special-occasion situations. Unfortunately, do keep in mind that carnauba wax in spray formulations is relatively thinner and, thus afford your car with substantially reduced protection. In other words, you will have to apply more of this product more frequently.
If you’ve got a car that is older than 2 years old or you’re looking to preserve its sentimental value, then a good old wax should be your best choice. Carnauba waxes may be a bit more tedious to apply, but the results will simply be incomparable.
Now, if the issue is that your car is already showing signs of oxidation, you might want to get a cleaner wax. We’d like to caution you with these products as cleaner waxes typically contain abrasive chemicals that are designed to remove baked-on stains, dirt, and signs of oxidation on your car. These chemicals can produce swirl marks or very fine scratches or even haze on your vehicle’s finish. This is more evident on dark-colored vehicles, however. The point is that in choosing carnauba cleaner waxes you need to look for a product that is safe to use especially on clear coat finishes.
In addition to the age of your car you may also have to look at just how much plastic body parts it has. Plastic are exceptionally trickier to work with. For example, plastic body panels, bumpers, and door trims will typically have visible residues when applied with wax. As such you may have to look for a carnauba wax that works exceptionally well with plastics. If you cannot find such a product then you will need to avoid applying wax on these plastic parts on your car; unless, you don’t mind cleaning it up after with a plastic cleaner.
Choosing the right carnauba wax can be especially tricky. While we already mentioned spray waxes as great options for cars with still-excellent finish, there are other types of carnauba waxes as well. For instance, liquid wax is great for cleaning and is well-known for its exceptional gloss and durability. Unfortunately, applying and buffing this wax can be tricky as they dry to a haze in an instant. Paste waxes, on the other hand, are excellent because of their ease of application. However, they’re not as efficient as liquid waxes.
Pros and Cons of Using Carnauba Car Wax
There is perfectly good reason why some folks simply don’t want carnauba wax on their cars. While these products are excellent in providing your ride that classic, elegant, wet look there are certain drawbacks that somehow limit its usefulness for some car owners. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of using carnauba car wax.
[pros_cons id=”2521″ item=”0″]
Best Carnauba Car Wax FAQ:
There really is no ‘best way’ to apply carnauba car wax as different manufacturers will have their own recommended procedures to follow. Ideally however you should be able to prepare your car beforehand. This means you’ve got to clean it, remove surface dirt and debris, wash it, and dry it thoroughly before applying any wax. Some products are best applied using a foam applicator that usually comes with the product. Some may require a microfiber cloth or even a machine. Regardless of how you intend to apply the wax onto your car it is imperative to apply a thin layer instead of a thick one. This allows for faster curing which, in turn, can also facilitate the easier removal of any wax residue. If you’re using an applicator it is recommended that you moisten it first with either water of a quick detailer to add some form of lubrication. Rub the applicator on the top of the wax so you’ll get just enough wax onto the applicator. Apply the wax onto the surface using small circular motions, covering the entire body of your car. Once you feel the applicator to be dragging, it’s a sign that you need to dip it again in the wax.
Ordinary car owners believe that polishers and waxes are one and the same. The products they see in the market plus the advertisements they read also add to the confusion. To know which one comes first – to polish or to wax – it is important to understand the difference between the two. Polishing means removing any surface contaminant from your car. It involves preparing the surface to be in its most pristine condition before a protectant can be applied. Technically polishes are waxes, too, except that they don’t provide the protection that car waxes provide. Waxing entails the addition of a glossy and protective layer onto your car paint. These are the principal objectives of car waxes. Given that you cannot polish something that is already applied with a protectant, it goes without saying that polishing will have to be performed first before any serious waxing can be done. Carnauba waxes provided a deep shine that makes your car look like it’s just been rolled out from the showroom. When applied the right way it can even protect your car’s paint job from the elements, humidity, and heat. Our list of the best carnauba car waxes should help you determine the best one for you.
Sources:
- How do I know when my car needs a wax job? – HowStuffWorks
- How To Clean & Detail Your Car For The Summer – HuffPost