I wanted to touch on a funny subject that makes me roll my eyes every time I hear the argument.
The argument is: "Ooooh it contains a lot of carnauba, so this wax justifies the price".
The reality is: Carnauba wax is around $8/lb. In fact, if you want some to tinker with, I'll sell you it for that price. Have as much as you want. We have many, many, many 50lb bags of it and you can have as much or as little as you want.
Carnauba content itself does not justify the high price of wax. What *does* justify a high price of wax are the following:
1.) Time to develop the product (Similar to making a new asprin)
2.) If the wax contains solvent, the quality of it. Are they using artists solvent from Target or are they using a solvent that contains 100% aliphatic compounds?
3.) What type of refinement does the raw carnauba go through?
4.) How precise is their cooking and cooling times and measures?
5.) What types of additives are they using, and how have they valued the properties? Are they using the proper level of fluid combinations? What chemical manufacturer produces their additives? Are they getting premium versions?
6.) How important is their guarantee of the wax? Money back guarantee via mail order or see if the Autozone rep will take a return?
7.) How does it *look*?
8.) Where does their carnauba come from? The good stuff comes from Brazil, but Brazil is a big place. Some is better than others. Cheap carnauba can be a combination of whatever is available and hope your bag is mixed with the good stuff from time to time.
9.) How much of the wax content is cheapo wax that wont perform well? (aka non-carnauba wax)
10.) Shelf life. Will it last?
11.) Marketing. This is probably the biggest cost in wax.
Call it a limited edition or put a family story into the wax and you can double the price.
To sum it up, the carnauba content only matters to the point of the final products quality.
Here's some myths:
1.) "Number 1 White Carnauba" is just yellow carnauba -- bleached. Oops.
2.) Auto-wax is always made with #1 carnauba, and it's always yellow to begin with. There are other colors and grades of carnauba, but none of it is ever used for auto wax. Ever.
3.) Buying a wax that isnt made from "white" carnauba, but of a natural color instead, will not stain a white car yellow -- nor will it change the color of a clear coat. Is your toilet yellow? No, it's still white. Think how often you spray that! Carnauba naturally deteriorates over time and this natural reduction means it goes away -- it doesnt stay around.
4.) There's no such thing as limited edition wax. You can always make more of it. Unless the "manufactuer" doesnt like money.
5.) Brand A's "Wax X" is the best wax on the market. Hogwash. The best wax on the market is the wax that looks the best on your car and has the properties that you wish it to have. There's no such thing as the best wax, but there *is* such a thing as the best wax for you.
6.) Carnauba weighs twice that of solvent. Is your wax 50% by weight or 50% by volume? Funny how you dont see that disclosed often at all.
7.) Your wax does not last 6 months on a car. Seriously, it doesnt. You'll be lucky if your wax lasts a month, two at most. Add some durability chemicals and it might still look good for 3. Wax breaks down immediately in the hot sun. It melts at 95(c). Check the temperature of your cars hood (especially if you live in vegas!). The reason you *think* it still looks good 6 months later is because of all the *other* chemicals in the wax that aid in gloss, color, clarity, reflection, scratch filling, and leveling. Additionally, as most everyone quick details a car, almost every QD contains a small amount of carnauba to keep things fresh again.
I post this for no other reason than education. I dont really want to sell you raw carnauba, but if you really do want some why the heck not. There's just so much misinformation that goes out there, the record can be set straight by educated professionals and consumers knowing the facts. If you learned something, neat, pass it on. Have fun.
-Ben
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