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P21S Concours Carnauba Wax Review

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Finding a good quality carnauba wax can cost you thousands of dollars.  Not because the wax costs $1000, but because you’ll spend that much experimenting with different waxes in order to find “the one”.  The waxes you purchase for experimenting purposes are usually sold to other enthusiasts or kept on the shelf to be used on some occasions.  I’m happy to say that P21S Concours Carnauba Wax fits neither of those categories.

I came across P21S Concours wax years ago and started using it both by itself and also along with Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze.  I immediately fell in love with the wax, for a number of different reasons…

Packaging:

The wax comes in a very sleek, nicely sized jar that feels good in your hands.  The jar is also very well decorated and gives off a professional look that most waxes under $50 do not offer.  Once you open the jar, you will find a small, soft applicator pad and some short, but thorough, instructions on how to use the wax.  The applicator is a bit too small for my hands (I’m 6’-2” and have large hands though) but it works very well by absorbing a lot of wax and evenly distributing it onto the paint.

Application & Removal:

In short, it goes on “like butter” and comes off just as easily!  Application is a breeze and it definitely follows the saying “less is more”.  As mentioned above, the small applicator pad works wonderfully well.  After the initial few swipes to get some wax onto the pad, very little extra is needed to keep applying on the different sections of the paint.  The pad glides smoothly along the paint and leaves an even, thin layer of wax.  In most cases, it actually seems like you’re applying a liquid sealant instead of a paste wax!  That’s how easy the application is with the P21S Concours wax.  Due to its easy and light application, the 6.2oz jar lasts quite a long time.  I still have some that are 3-4 years old, and I use it on almost every car I detail.

Removal is just as easy, if not easier since you don’t get any wax on your hands as you sometimes do during application.  Simply wait for it to dry up a bit, then buff off the residue with a clean microfiber towel.  You may have to experiment once or twice to see what the best drying time is for the wax, as well as how different variables like temperature affect the drying time, but that’s normal with any wax or sealant out there.  I have never run into an issue of it drying too much and being hard to remove, nor was it a pain to deal with when I started buffing it off too early.

Looks and Durability:

Another great thing about the P21S Concours Carnauba Wax is the warm, deep and glossy look it leaves on the paint, regardless of the color.  I mostly use the wax alone on darker colored cars as I find it provides the depth and gloss that everyone’s after for the paint on their vehicle.  However, I also use it quite a bit as a layer on top of Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze.  After using KSG for the amazing durability, I apply a coat or two of P21S Concours wax for the added depth and protection.

On its own, the wax easily lasts 5-6 weeks, depending on driving patterns and the local conditions (rain, temperature, sun, etc.), which is very good for a carnauba wax.  It leaves a very nice and slick surface that beads up quite well and protects the paint from the usual adversaries, like bird droppings, water spots and bugs/tar/etc.

Final Thoughts:

I honestly can’t say a single bad thing about the wax.  It does everything a wax should and it does it very well!  Application is extremely easy and the applicator pad, which is conveniently stored under the jar cap, makes applying the right amount of product a breeze.  Removal is quick and simply requires a few clean microfiber towels, which should be turned and folded often for best results.  The wax leaves a great, deep look on any color paint and has great durability for a carnauba wax.  Another great thing about it is that it won’t stain trim like many other carnauba waxes do, so it’s very forgiving if you go over some trim during application.  Overall, I think it’s an amazing wax, which is why I use it every chance I get!

Please feel free to leave any questions and comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

Ivan Rajic LUSTR Deatil
Ivan Rajic
LUSTR Detail
257 N Woodwork Lane
Palatine IL 60067
LUSTRDetail.com
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23 comments on P21S Concours Carnauba Wax Review

  1. Ryan says:

    Hi Ivan,
    I’ve used on the wax on my family’s vehicles and totally agree. It has a very warm, glowing even look to it. It’s definitely the easiest wax to put on that I’ve ever used. Nice thing is you don’t need much, a little goes a long way. It was recommended to me by a buddy who had heard good things about it. I’m sure you can spend 20 times as much on a wax, and it’ll probably last longer. It’s all in opinion about what a wax looks like, but I always use it over a sealant as you said.

    Ryan

  2. Ivan Rajic says:

    Hello Ryan,

    Glad you see it the same way. It’s definitely a great wax that provides everything a great wax should. I don’t see myself putting it away for a long time!

    Ivan

  3. Ivan,

    Great review on yet another outstanding product from P21S! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us…

  4. Kostas Skourtis says:

    Ιvan,

    Your review is right on time to psych me up even more before my first application of this wax. Looking forward to discovering all these traits you mentioned.

    Kind regards
    Kostas

  5. Ivan Rajic says:

    Kostas,

    I’m sure you’ll enjoy the wax as much as many of us do. Let us know how you like it.

    Thanks,
    Ivan

    • David Patterson says:

      I love P21s. Its easy to use and always looks great. Just the fact that it’s priced resonably and application and removal are so easy, I use it on almost all my everyday cars that come in.

      • Levoyd Wilson says:

        I want to know if it’s okay to layer the P21? If so what is the wait time between layers?

        • Ivan Rajic says:

          Levoyd,

          I can’t remember if I’ve ever layered P21S but I’m sure it’s totally fine to layer a couple coats to ensure even coverage. I don’t know the exact time they would recommend, but generally it’s 12-24 hours based on other manufacturers’ recommendations for their own products. I would just wait a few days after you apply a coat, give the car a nice wash, then add another layer. Hope that helps,

          Thanks,
          Ivan

          • Levoyd Wilson says:

            Thanks Ivan. I’m a silver person, but I thought I would try black this time. My car is a Mitsubishi Evolution black with a orange flake. Really a awesome combo & I’m trying to get it correct. Black is a challenge. Any other suggestions?

  6. Ivan Rajic says:

    I have a great suggestion for you… sell the black car NOW! 🙂

    IN all seriousness though, black is a huge challenge. Unless the paint is fairly hard, it’s tough to properly maintain even with the best products and techniques. I learned most of what I know about detailing through my 98 328i, which had the BMW jet black “paint from hell”. It was way too soft and even with regular washing with very meticulous techniques I would start seeing light swirls within a couple months. These days, with more knowledge, experience and product selection, I can usually keep such a car in perfect shape for a bit more than 2 months, but it still requires a very light polish 2-3 times yearly to be perfect.

    Best suggestion I have is to check out some of the washing articles on Detailed Image and wash very small sections to prevent swirls for as long as possible.

    Best of luck!

    • Kathy says:

      Ivan, I was wondering if you could explain the reasoning for applying the sealant first, and then the wax. In my mind, it seems it should be the opposite. What type of difference will the order of applying the products make? Thanks for a great article!

      • Ivan Rajic says:

        Hi Kathy,

        The reasoning behind it is that sealants such as Klasse Sealant Glaze form more of a bond with paint than any carnauba waxes do. This means that if you were to top a wax with a sealant the bonding of the sealant to the paint might not be as good or might not be there at all, while in the meantime it may degrade the wax application. All this may end up causing some smearing of the wax/sealant and a surface that needs to be cleansed completely in order to remove everything that didn’t mix too well. On the other hand, I’ve applied a sealant over a wax a few days after the wax application with no ill effect, however I’d still suggest doing the sealant first and topping it off with a wax.

        I wish I could provide more detailed info, but if you do some research on how each applies and cures on the paint it will become a lot more clear.

        Hope that helps and thanks for the great comments!

  7. Albert says:

    Oh yes, layering is definitely a good thing with P21S. Just wait 12 to 24 hours between applications. I’ve achieved spectacular results by applying 2 coats and wiping down with Chemical Guys V7 Hybrid Sealant/Detailer.

  8. Stefan says:

    Hi, thanks for the great review I use P21S on every detailing job natural sealant is required and like the little note inside quotes… one of the best waxes money can buy with great results, I apply the carnauba with a finishing foam pad but would like to know if someone else also applies the wax with foam pads and a polisher.

    Thanks for the review and any feedback is welcome!

  9. After using Klasse wax, I noticed considerable smudging & haze marks on the body when in direct sunlight. I have since gotten a high quality microfiber clothe & wondered if I rewax with P21 I would be able to get rid of the marks created from the previous waxing?
    My LS460 is Black which by itself is a problem when it comes to swirl or other images on the paint.
    Thanks for your thoughts.

    Bernie

  10. Nash says:

    Ivan,

    Thanks for such a wonderful insiuirght on the wax. I have been using this wax for more than an year on my Carbon Black E46 M3 and Milky White GOLF and its an amazing product . I normally use a Meguire’s detailer after waxing .However I have seen some mixed reviews so I might fo with sealant ( Klasse/V7 Hybrid ) first then with two layered waxing .

    Thanks for your ideas guys .

    Nash
    ///

  11. Bill says:

    Hi Ivan, hope you’re still responding to this thread. Hate to be so stupid, but when it comes to applying multiple coats of wax or glaze, after waiting the appropriate amount of time, do you just go to your car and start a second coat or do you have to wash and dry it again and then start the second coat? Is it the same for both wax and glaze? Klasse Glaze says you can apply multiple coats but how many would you want? Just an FYI I have a 2014 Impala with crystal red tintcoat if that matters for the number of layers.
    Cordially,
    Bill C.

    • Ivan Rajic says:

      Hi Bill,

      Not to sound cliche, but I’m definitely a believer in “no such thing as a stupid question”. In your case though… :).

      Kidding aside, it’s definitely a good question to clarify something that may seem simple at first. My suggestion for additional layers is to first start with the manufacturers recommended wait time between coats. So if it says 12 hours, wait the 12 hours. If you’re applying the same product on top of its first layer, I would wait the 12 hours and go ahead. If you’re doing a wax on top of a sealant as many people do, I would probably wait even longer, usually until the next wash. By next wash, I mean 1-2 weeks from the 1st coat, not simply washing the car tomorrow and calling it the next wash.

      As for washing and drying again, it will really depend on where the car is kept and how clean it stays between coats. If it’s driven at all you definitely want to wash it, but if it’s simply sitting in the garage overnight while you wait 12-24 hours in between coats, you may be fine with lightly dusting it off and going with the 2nd coat. A rinseless wash in this case would work great as you can quickly and safely remove any dusting without having to fully wash the car outside, etc.

      Lastly, regarding how many coats, there is such a thing as overkill I believe. On any daily driver, usually 1-2 coats of sealant and then a coat of wax on top every 1-3 months is more than sufficient. However, it will greatly depend on how much it’s driven, how it’s stored/parked and how often it’s washed. After a year you should find the “sweet spot” of where you can put on a couple coats of sealant and then wax every few months, still seeing great beading and protection when you go to wax it next time. In short, you really can’t tell how many coats you want and at what intervals until you do just one and see how long it takes to require another. In the case of using P21S on top of KSG, I would simply put on 2 coats of KSG within a 24 hour period, then after a week or two put on a coat of P21S wax. Then simply wash the car and see how long all that lasts until beading is starting to diminish, then make that your protection interval.

      Hope that helps!

  12. Becky Leach says:

    I bought this wax and used it this morning on my new white Dodge challenger. I agree with all the good things said here.. it’s super easy on and super easy off. The applicator makes it a breeze to apply. I was done in a little over an hour ( washing and waxing combined) and the shine is amazing!! Also.. no powdery mess on black moldings.. wiped off clean. The price can’t be beat for this quality wax and I recommend it highly. I will be using this stuff for a long time to come 🙂

  13. Don says:

    I have a fairly new Corvette with many modifications & custom work that I show. Every year I strip it down to the paint, I then apply 3 coats of Klasse All In One Cleaner/ Polish, 3 coats of Klasse High Gloss Sealant & 3 coats of P21S Concours Carnauba Wax, you can’t beat this combo. I then apply more carnauba as needed to keep the shine I want through out the hot months of summer. Yeah it is a lot of work but it does work. I won more than 50 awards/trophies in 1-1/2 years and quite a few from some of the biggest car shows in the U.S. As for the All In One Cleaner/Polish that is a step I probably don’t need but do it to remove light scratches & swirls. I will always use these products as they are easy to apply, remove, & most of all they work well.

  14. Is this wax good to use on head lights and plastic I was told not to wax head lights thanks

  15. Philip says:

    I rebuilt and repainted a classic several years ago and have used P21S exclusively. It works just as the other reviews state, excellent, and I apply it twice a year on a car that never gets wet, and only driven on sunny days, parked inside and covered. What bothers me the most is that I can never get the top back on the jar! The threads just never work right! Outstanding product!!!

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