Many popular car waxes that are supposedly non-abrasive in fact contain abrasives. If a manufacturer wax promises to remove dirt, oxidized paint or small scratches, you can be sure it contains more than just wax. Many early car waxes were abrasive free but low in carnauba content. If an abrasive polish was needed it was sold separately and by the coarseness of the abrasive used in the polish. These abrasives ranged from strong rubbing compounds to extremely mild ones.Polishes have not changed much over the years and today’s modern formulas are plentiful and targeted at specific paint problems. Care needs to exercised when choosing a polish.

The best waxes are made with high concentrates of Carnauba wax in them. Growing on a select group of Palm trees in Brazil, the natural wax protects the tender palm leaves from the harsh sun and long rainy periods common in the rain forest.

As the costs of gathering and importing Carnauba skyrocket, chemists created cheaper “less wax” substitutes. Abrasives were mixed into their new formulations to aid in removing “dead” paint. They were billed as (and still are today) as the lazy man’s one step car polish. Unfortunately they‘ve never been able to equal the extremely high gloss and no scratch properties of Pure Carnauba waxes. When these man made waxes were made and widely distributed the harsh abrasives unnecessarily removed good paint and clear coat finishes.

Since the change from Carnauba waxes to man made synthetics progressed over many years, only the astute consumers realized they were getting less shine for their money.

Today it is indeed difficult to find a totally abrasive free car wax containing the best grades of Carnauba and other natural fine waxes.