Carnauba wax is a very valuable vegetable wax obtained from the leaves of the Brazilian palm Copernicia prunifera.
It is hot soluble in common solvents such as ethyl alcohol, turpentine, aromatics, etc. It is the hardest natural wax with a very high melting point (80-87°C) and is used to give greater strength and shine to other waxes and to increase their melting point.
Traditionally it is a fundamental ingredient in the encaustic technique and in restoration it is used to create mixtures for stucco, waxing or painting. In lutherie, especially for guitars or for the antiquing of instruments, it is used to finish the varnish with a final layer of protective wax to be applied with a warm cloth. The paint acquires a particularly smooth, soft to the touch and elegant appearance.