Carnauba Wax

Wax · Copernicia prunifera

Carnauba Wax

The hardest natural wax

A pale, exceptionally hard wax from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm — the highest-melting natural wax known, the 'queen of waxes', adding firmness, gloss and heat-resistance to a blend. Hover any measure to see where carnauba sits on the scale.

Texture
Hard
Hard
Firm
Soft
How solid it is at room temperature. Carnauba is the hardest of the natural waxes.
Melt Point
Very High
Very High
Body Temp
Low
The temperature at which it melts. Carnauba has the highest melt point of any natural wax, near 82–86°C.
Finish
Rich
Rich
Slight Sheen
Natural
Matte
The look left on the skin — carnauba is prized for a bright, glossy finish.
Vegan
Yes
Yes · Plant-based
Animal-derived
Whether the wax is plant-based. Carnauba is fully vegan, from the carnauba palm.
The Basics

What it is

Carnauba wax forms on the leaves of the carnauba palm, native to north-eastern Brazil. The palm coats its fronds in wax to survive heat and drought; the leaves are dried, the wax flakes off, and it's refined into pale, brittle flakes.

It is the hardest and highest-melting of all natural waxes — the 'queen of waxes' — famed for a bright, glossy finish. In tiny amounts it raises the melt point and hardness of a blend, lending heat-resistance and shine to sticks and balms.

Quick Facts

Botanical nameCopernicia prunifera
OriginBrazil
SourcePalm leaves
Melt point~82–86°C
ColourPale yellow
VeganYes
Also calledBrazil / palm wax
Where it comes from

The Palm & The Wax

Carnauba palm

The Carnauba Palm

A fan palm of the Brazilian savannah whose fronds wear a protective coat of wax.

Carnauba wax flakes

The Wax

The dried fronds release pale flakes that are refined into hard, glossy wax.

Composition

The Compound Profile

Carnauba is dominated by high-melting wax esters. A typical breakdown:

Wax Esters long-chain esters
80%
Free Fatty Alcohols alcohols
10%
Free Fatty Acids acids
6%
Resins & Hydrocarbons minor
4%
Beyond the Wax

What makes it the queen of waxes:

High-Melting Wax Esters
Long-chain esters give carnauba its record hardness and melt point.
Glossy Finish
Prized for the bright shine it lends to sticks and balms.
Vegan & Heat-Resistant
A plant-based way to raise melt point and structure.
Why People Love It

Key Benefits

Maximum Hardness

The hardest natural wax — a little firms up a whole blend.

Heat-Resistant

Its very high melt point keeps sticks and balms stable.

Glossy Shine

Brings a bright, polished finish to a blend.

In Our Formulations

How we use it

Carnauba is our hardness-and-shine wax — we use it in tiny amounts to raise the melt point, firm up structure and add gloss to balms and sticks.

Because it's so hard and high-melting, a very little goes a long way, balanced with softer butters and oils for the right feel.

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