What does Carnauba wax do?

Used in cosmetics as an emollient, a skin-conditioning agent and an abrasive. Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax is a wax obtained from the leaves and leaf buds of Copernicia cerifera. The accepted scientific name for Copernicia cerifera is Copernicia prunifera.

Is Carnauba wax safe?

Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Carnauba wax

CAS 77700-48-2 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 2 other CAS numbers

174477-33-9 · 8015-86-9

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Carnauba wax in plain language

What it is: On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Copernicia cerifera cera”.
Also known as Copernicia cerifera cera · Copernicia cerifera wax · Carnauba yellow wax · Copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax · Brazil wax · Copernicia prunifera wax
Show all 19 names
E903 · Apple clear · Aquatex CC 1003 · Bondwax WE 90 · Carnauba Gold II · Carnauba NC #3 Wax · Carnauba S · Carnauba Wax R 100 · E-903 · INS-903 · carnuba wax · polymer wax blend · wax
What it does: Used in cosmetics as an emollient, a skin-conditioning agent and an abrasive. Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax is a wax obtained from the leaves and leaf buds of Copernicia cerifera. The accepted scientific name for Copernicia cerifera is Copernicia prunifera.
Emollient
Skin conditioning
Abrasive
Epilating
Exfoliating
Film forming
Is it a concern?: Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1008 composition records across product categories including Furniture and furnishings, Batteries, Vehicle.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Carnauba wax appears in these published regulatory listings.

Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database11 entries — 3 administration routes
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 167.8 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Potency: 207.5 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Potency: 230 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 2150 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 1 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 140 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 288 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: NASource →
- Route: BUCCAL; Dosage form: GUM, CHEWING; Maximum daily exposure: 10 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, SUGAR COATED; Potency: NASource →
EUCosIngActive2 entries
- Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax is a wax obtained from the leaves and leaf buds of Copernicia cerifera. The accepted scientific name for Copernicia cerifera is Copernicia prunifera.Source →
- Copernicia Cerifera Cera is a wax obtained from the leaves and leaf buds of Copernicia cerifera, Palmaceae.Source →
EUEFSAEFSA opinion2 entries
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part III of III (EFSA CONTAM)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of carnauba wax (E 903) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substance2 entries
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as structurallydiverse.Source →
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as concept.Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-7 mg/kg bwJECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: acidity regulator, bulking agent, carrier, carrier solvent, glazing agent.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: acidity regulator, bulking agent, carrier, carrier solvent, glazing agent.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1008 composition records across product categories including Furniture and furnishings, Batteries, Vehicle. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surface modifier, durability agent, Softener and conditioner.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 1008 composition records across product categories including Furniture and furnishings, Batteries, Vehicle. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surface modifier, durability agent, Softener and conditioner.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part III of III (EFSA CONTAM)
  2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of carnauba wax (E 903) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)
  2012 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-7 mg/kg bw. Functional class: acidity regulator, bulking agent, carrier, carrier solvent, glazing agent.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Carnauba wax yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

8 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated September 2015
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →

Reference links (1)

Openfda substance

codexalimentarius.net

Read →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Carnauba wax in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

1,008

Named organisations

Furniture and furnishingsBatteriesVehiclePersonal careCleaning and safetyHome maintenance

Typical roles

EmollientSkin conditioningAbrasiveEpilatingExfoliatingFilm forming

See products using Carnauba wax →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Carnauba wax; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 465 →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Carnauba wax in the catalog.