I put thefinal protective layer that has no abrasives into a category of wax. In that category there are Natural and Synthetic.

A few of the synthetics are: Blackfire, Klasse, NuFinish (although it is reported to contain abrasives), Meguiar's (yes they have a synthetic wax too) and Zaino. (I always list in alpahbetical so Zaino always gets put there but that is not an order of quality).

A few natural waxes are: Lusso, Meguiar's, Mothers, P21S, Pinnacle.
Here is where the word "Polish" gets confusing:

There is the act of polishing
In this case the word polishing is interchangeable with buffing. It is the act of making something shine generally just a final buff with only a cloth.

There is the act of applying a polish
A product that contains wax and abrasives is called a polish. Not all car care product companies speak the same language so reading the lables is essential in product selection. Polishes typically leave behind some sort of coating.

Zaino calls their product a polish
Zaino has labled themselves as a polish although their products contain no abrasives so it strays from the previous industry term.

Lusso calls their glass cleaner Glass Polish
Lusso's liquid glass cleaner has no abrasives and is just a liquid that leaves no coating behind.

And there's shoe polish
Yet even more confusing is when a person puts on shoe polish they aren't actually putting an abrasive onto their shoes which leads back to Zaino calling their product a wax.

It all gets a bit confusing which is why in my posts I always say "introduce your waxing system" and allow the reader to insert which ever company's waxing system they choose.

I hope that this clears things up a bit...... and that you are still awake at this point.

My head hurts! I'm going to go have a Polish Sausage! :D

 

I have to agree that it depends on who you talk to when it comes to the terms used for a specific product.

You had it right in your first sentence with "protective layer" or what I like to use; "protectant".... which is what I tend to use when referring to the general term.

I usually don't want to offend someone who says "There's no wax in my product". :) There are people (not necessarily business owners) who want correct terminology when it comes to their current favorite.

Most of the time the terms are used interchangably among the general user.

The important thing is that the idea that is trying to be communicated is relayed in the conversation.


[Modified by JJU, 6:28 PM 2/4/2003]