Carnauba Wax

• INCI Name: Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax
• CAS Number: 8015-86-9
• Common Names: Carnauba Wax, Brazil Wax, Palm Wax, Queen of Waxes
• Grade: T1 (Type 1) — highest purity cosmetic grade; pale golden colour
• Botanical Source: Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba Palm), leaves
• Origin: Brazil (Ceará, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte states)
• Appearance: Pale golden to light yellow hard flakes or pellets
• Odour: Faint, characteristic wax — essentially odourless in formulation
• Melting Point: 82–86°C — the highest melting point of any natural wax
• Hardness: Very hard, brittle solid at room temperature — the hardest natural wax available
• Specific Gravity: 0.990–0.999 g/mL @ 25°C
• Acid Value: 2–9 mgKOH/g
• Saponification Value: 78–95 mgKOH/g
• Iodine Value: 7–14 (very low — extremely oxidatively stable)
• Ester Content: Approximately 85% wax esters (primarily C32–C34 saturated wax esters)
• Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in warm chlorinated solvents and hot oils
• Phase: Oil/wax phase — melt with other waxes and oils before combining with water phase
• Shelf Life: 3–5 years when stored correctly; exceptionally stable
• Storage: Store sealed in a cool, dry place. Stable at room temperature — melting point of 82–86°C means it will not soften in normal Australian temperatures

WAX COMPOSITION

Carnauba Wax is a complex mixture of wax esters, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and hydrocarbons:

• Aliphatic esters (wax esters): ~80–85% — primarily C32–C34 chain wax esters; responsible for hardness and gloss
• Diesters of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid: ~10% — contribute to the distinctive high-gloss finish
• Free acids (primarily cerotic acid C26:0): ~3–6%
• Fatty alcohols: ~2–3%
• Hydrocarbons: ~1–3%

This unique ester composition — particularly the combination of long-chain wax esters and hydroxycinnamic acid diesters — is what gives carnauba wax its unmatched surface gloss. No other natural wax produces the same shine on finished surfaces.

MELTING AND WORKING TEMPERATURES

• Melting Point: 82–86°C
• Recommended Working Temperature: 85–95°C (must be melted completely before combining with other ingredients)
• Critical note: Carnauba wax must be fully melted before blending — partial melting leaves undissolved particles that create a grainy or lumpy texture in finished products. Always heat to at least 90°C and confirm all flakes are fully liquefied before adding other ingredients
• Blend temperature: Add to other melted waxes and oils at 85–90°C; combine water phase at matched temperature for emulsions
• Cooling: Carnauba sets quickly on cooling — work efficiently once melted

RECOMMENDED USAGE RATES

Lip Balm (stick or tube)

• Carnauba Wax: 2–8% — even small amounts significantly increase hardness compared to beeswax formulations
• Typical combination: 2–5% carnauba + 10–20% beeswax or candelilla wax + carrier oils and butters
• Note: Carnauba is brittle at high percentages in lip balm — above 8% the stick may crack or crumble; balance with softer waxes

Lip Gloss (pot or tube)

• Carnauba Wax: 1–3% for gloss enhancement and slight structure
• Provides shine amplification in oil-based gloss formulations

Lotion Bars and Body Bars

• Carnauba Wax: 2–10% for increased hardness and gloss finish
• Adds a high-shine surface appearance to solid bars

Vegan Candles (pillar candles)

• Carnauba Wax: 10–50% blended with other plant waxes (soy, coconut)
• Increases hardness, raises melt point, improves surface finish
• Note: Pure carnauba candles are extremely hard and brittle — always blend

Container Candles

• Carnauba Wax: 2–10% added to soy or coconut wax for improved surface finish and hardness

Body Butters and Balms (leave-on)

• Carnauba Wax: 1–5% to add structure and gloss
• Contributes a protective, slightly waxy skin feel

Natural Deodorant Sticks

• Carnauba Wax: 5–15% for structure alongside candelilla wax or beeswax

Mascara and Eye Cosmetics

• Carnauba Wax: 5–15% as a primary structuring wax

Wood and Furniture Polish (non-cosmetic)

• Carnauba Wax: 10–30% dissolved in warm mineral spirits or jojoba oil

• The hardest natural wax commercially available — melting point of 82–86°C exceeds beeswax (62–65°C) and candelilla wax (68–73°C) by a significant margin
• Unmatched natural gloss — produces the highest shine of any natural wax due to its unique hydroxycinnamic acid diester content; used commercially as the gloss agent in car wax, furniture polish, and confectionery coatings (E903)
• 100% plant-derived and vegan — harvested from the leaf surfaces of living Copernicia cerifera palms without harming the tree; the purest vegan hard wax available
• T1 grade — the highest purity cosmetic grade; pale golden colour suitable for all cosmetic applications including lip products
• Exceptionally low iodine value (7–14) — extremely resistant to oxidation; outstanding shelf stability
• Thermal stability for Australian conditions — melting point of 82–86°C means it will never soften or melt in any typical Australian ambient temperature, even in QLD, NT, or WA summers
• Very efficient in formulations — a small amount (2–5%) makes a significant difference to hardness in lip balms and bars; generally used at lower percentages than beeswax
• E903 food grade — approved as a food coating agent for confectionery, fruit, and vegetables; safe for lip products with oral exposure
• REACH compliant — suitable for European export in finished cosmetic products
• Shelf life of 3–5 years — exceptionally stable; low purchasing frequency for business users

Choosing the right wax:

• Need maximum hardness and gloss, vegan: Carnauba
• Need flexible, skin-feel-first vegan wax: Candelilla
• Happy with animal-derived, want the classic lip balm texture: Beeswax
• For most vegan lip balms: blend candelilla (primary) + small amount carnauba (gloss enhancer)

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

• Lip balms and lip sticks
• Lip gloss
• Body and lotion bars
• Vegan candles (pillar and container)
• Natural deodorant sticks
• Mascara and eye cosmetics
• Pressed powder cosmetics (binding agent)
• Skin care balms and protective creams
• Hair wax and pomade
• Shoe and leather polish
• Wood and furniture polish
• Food coating (confectionery, fruit glaze) — E903
• Surfboard wax

For cosmetic and food contact use — T1 grade, food grade approved (E903)

100% plant-derived — suitable for vegan, vegetarian, and cruelty-free certified products

Generally recognised as safe for lip products and oral exposure — widely used in confectionery coatings globally

Not classified as hazardous — no health, physical, or environmental hazard classifications assigned

Handle with care when melted — working temperature of 85–95°C presents burn risk; use appropriate heatproof equipment

Avoid contact with melted wax and eyes — if contact occurs allow to cool and carefully remove; rinse with water

Avoid inhaling fumes from overheated wax — work in a well-ventilated space; do not exceed 110°C when melting

Keep out of reach of children

Individuals with palm/coconut allergies should exercise caution and patch test — Copernicia cerifera is a palm species

Store sealed at room temperature — no refrigeration required; stable in all Australian ambient conditions

What is the INCI name for Carnauba Wax?
The correct INCI name is Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax. This is the name that must appear on your finished cosmetic product ingredient list when selling in Australia under AICIS cosmetic notification requirements. Carnauba wax is also listed as E903 in food applications.

Is Carnauba Wax really vegan?
Yes — Carnauba Wax is 100% plant-derived and vegan. It is harvested from the waxy coating on the leaves of the Copernicia cerifera palm tree in Brazil. The leaves are dried and beaten to remove the wax, which is then filtered and refined. The palm trees are not harmed — leaves are harvested seasonally and the trees continue to grow. It is certified vegan and cruelty-free, making it the premium choice for vegan cosmetic formulations that require the hardness and gloss performance of a natural wax.

How does Carnauba Wax compare to Beeswax in a lip balm recipe?
Carnauba is significantly harder than beeswax and melts at a much higher temperature (82–86°C vs 62–65°C for beeswax). In a lip balm, carnauba is used at much lower percentages — typically 2–5% compared to 15–25% for beeswax. At these lower rates it contributes hardness and gloss but is brittle, which is why it is generally blended with a softer wax (candelilla for vegan, or beeswax for non-vegan) rather than used as the sole wax. A practical vegan lip balm wax combination: 15–18% candelilla + 2–3% carnauba — the candelilla provides flexibility and the carnauba provides hardness amplification and gloss.

What temperature do I need to melt Carnauba Wax?
Carnauba Wax has a melting point of 82–86°C and must be heated to at least 90°C to fully liquefy. This is higher than beeswax (62–65°C) and candelilla wax (68–73°C). Use a double boiler or dedicated wax melter and heat slowly. Confirm all flakes are fully liquefied before blending with other ingredients — partially melted carnauba creates a grainy, lumpy texture in finished products that cannot be fixed once cooled. Keep working temperature at 85–95°C when blending; do not exceed 110°C.

Can I use Carnauba Wax in soy candles?
Yes — carnauba wax is an excellent additive for soy candles, typically added at 2–10% of total wax weight to increase hardness, improve surface finish, and raise the overall melt point. Pure carnauba candles are not practical — the wax is too hard and brittle to function as a standalone candle wax. Always blend with soy, coconut, or another container/pillar wax. Adding 2–5% carnauba to a soy container candle improves hardness and reduces the frosting that many soy waxes develop, while providing a subtle surface sheen.

What grade is your Carnauba Wax?
Our Carnauba Wax is T1 grade — the highest purity commercially available. T1 is characterised by its pale golden to light yellow colour and is the grade required for cosmetic applications including lip products. Lower grades (T3, T4) have a darker brown colour and are used in industrial applications such as floor wax, car wax, and industrial polish. For any cosmetic, food contact, or lip product application, T1 is the correct grade.

How long does Carnauba Wax last?
Carnauba Wax has an exceptionally long shelf life of 3–5 years when stored correctly in a sealed container at room temperature. Its very low iodine value of 7–14 indicates extremely high oxidative stability — it is one of the most shelf-stable waxes available. Store away from direct sunlight and heat. There is no requirement for refrigeration in Australian conditions given its melting point of 82–86°C.

YOU MAY ALSO NEED

• Candelilla Wax (Vegetable) — the ideal vegan blending partner for carnauba in lip balms and lotion bars; softer and more flexible than carnauba
• Beeswax Pellets (Natural) — natural beeswax for non-vegan lip balm and balm formulations
• Beeswax Pellets (Yellow) — yellow beeswax for rustic natural aesthetic in balms and candles
• Shea Butter (Refined & Organic) — pairs with carnauba wax in vegan lotion bars and lip balms
• Cocoa Butter (Deodorised) Food Grade — adds hardness and skin feel alongside carnauba wax in lip and body products
• Castor Oil (Hexane Free) — adds gloss and skin conditioning to carnauba-based lip balm formulations
• Candle Supplies Collection — soy wax, wicks, and tins for carnauba-enhanced candle making
• Essential Oils Collection — scent your carnauba wax lip balm and candle formulations
• 5g Lip Balm Tube Clear — packaging for your finished carnauba wax lip balm products