Calwax
Calwax is a privately-held specialty wax manufacturer founded in 1965 in La Mirada, California, producing paraffin, microcrystalline, natural, and custom-blended waxes for candle, food, packaging, dental, sports, and spa applications, sold direct to B2B customers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersLa Mirada, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Calwax does
Calwax is a privately-held specialty wax manufacturer founded in 1965 and headquartered at 16511 Knott Ave., La Mirada, California. The company produces a broad portfolio of wax products spanning paraffin (low, mid, and high melt grades), microcrystalline, natural (soy, coconut, palm, carnauba, candelilla, beeswax), and proprietary blended waxes, with food-grade variants approved for direct food contact in poultry defeathering and fruit/vegetable coating applications. Its portfolio is organized across 12+ core categories — including candle wax, bottle sealing wax, packaging wax, dental/pharmaceutical wax, poultry wax, sports wax, tart wax, spa/cosmetic wax (Calspa®), and recycled/reclaim wax — plus a specialized sub-brand line of premium candle blends (Ceda Serica, Calsoy EC26, Calsoy CB2, Calwax CCN1, PillarLuxe, CalSoy Pillar, CALSOY ECOWAX®, Calmaison® X, CALUXE® Tart Wax). Underlying technology is centered on laboratory-driven formulation rather than software; in-house technicians develop custom blends tailored to specific customer requirements (melt point, fragrance load, adhesion, equipment compatibility), and the company holds registered trademarks across its brand portfolio.
The business model is direct B2B sales delivered via toll-free phone, local phone, email, and a website contact form, with no third-party distribution or e-commerce. Revenue is generated from one-time product sales (slabs, pastilles, cartons, bags, gaylords, liquids in tank trucks or railcars) supplemented by value-added services including laboratory research, private labeling, custom manufacturing, specialty packaging, and custom blending. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Calwax targets seven primary customer verticals — candle manufacturers (primary), food and beverage processors (primary), packaging, dental/pharmaceutical, sports/recreation, spa/wellness, and craft spirits/condiment brands — serving an international customer base ranging from sole proprietors to large publicly held corporations. The company operates with 1-10 employees and has no disclosed parent, no institutional investment, no funding rounds, and no public financial reporting.
Calwax firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calwax
- Legal name
- CALWAX
- Website
- https://calwax.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Calwax is a privately-held specialty wax manufacturer founded in 1965 in La Mirada, California, producing paraffin, microcrystalline, natural, and custom-blended waxes for candle, food, packaging, dental, sports, and spa applications, sold direct to B2B customers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calwax industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Wax Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (32562), Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scented Candles & Wax Melts (Home Fragrance) (CRAJAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dairy & Refrigerated Foods Packaging (IMALAHAG)
Keywords
Where Calwax is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Mirada
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Calwax business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wax Product Sales: CALWAX generates revenue primarily through the sale of wax products across multiple categories including candle waxes, paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, natural waxes, packaging waxes, sports waxes, dental waxes, poultry waxes, and bottle sealing waxes. Products are sold in various packaging formats including slabs, pastilles, cartons, bags, gaylords, and liquids in tank trucks or railcars.
- Custom Services: Value-added services including laboratory research and analysis, private labeling, custom manufacturing, specialty packaging, and custom blending. These services complement product sales and provide additional revenue streams while creating customer lock-in through custom formulations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bottle Sealing Wax - 50 LB carton |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
Calwax product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calwax manufactures and sells specialty wax products, blends, and formulations for use in candles, corrugated packaging, food and beverage processing (poultry defeathering, wine bottle sealing, fruit and vegetable coatings), dental and pharmaceutical applications, sports equipment, spa and wellness, and spirits/condiment packaging. The company also provides custom blending, private labeling, custom manufacturing, specialty packaging, and laboratory research and analysis services when standard products do not meet specific customer requirements.
Product overview
Calwax is a wax manufacturing company providing value-added solutions, high-quality products, and cutting-edge technology across diverse industries. The product portfolio is organized into core product categories (Bottle Sealing Wax, Candle Wax, Natural Wax, Microcrystalline, Paraffin Wax, Packaging Wax, Dental Wax, Poultry Wax, Recycled Waxes, Sports Wax, Tart Wax, and Calwax Calspa® Wax for cosmetic/spa use) plus a specialized sub-brand of candle waxes including Ceda Serica, Calsoy EC26, Calsoy CB2, Calwax CCN1, PillarLuxe, CalSoy Pillar, CALSOY ECOWAX®, Calmaison® X, and CALUXE® Tart Wax. The company also offers Custom Services including Laboratory Research and Analysis, Private Labeling, Custom Manufacturing, Specialty Packaging, and Custom Blending.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CALUXE® Tart Wax: Premium coconut wax blend for wax melts and cubes with high fragrance load and excellent scent throw.
- Ceda Serica
- Calsoy EC26
- Calsoy CB2
- Calwax CCN1
- PillarLuxe
- CalSoy Pillar
- CALSOY ECOWAX®
- Calmaison® X
- Calwax Calspa® Wax
Products and services
- Bottle Sealing Wax
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% of consumers under 45 are willing to pay more for premium packaging
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Calwax
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Calwax technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Calwax partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Calwax competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blended Waxes Inc. Manufacturer of blended wax products including natural, paraffin, and specialty waxes for candles, packaging, and industrial uses — comparable scale and product structure.
- Koster Keunen: Specialty wax blender focused on natural and synthetic waxes for cosmetics, candles, and personal care — a near-direct competitor to Calwax's candle-wax and Calspa spa/cosmetic wax lines, with similar custom formulation capabilities.
- Strahl & Pitsch: Global refiner and blender of natural, synthetic, and specialty waxes serving candle, cosmetic, food, and industrial markets — directly comparable in product breadth and formulation-driven model.
- Marcus Oil & Chemical: Specialty wax producer focused on microcrystalline and custom-blended waxes for cosmetics, candles, and industrial applications — directly comparable in product mix and custom formulation offerings.
- Golden Brands (Paramount Cosmetics): Manufacturer of soy and natural wax blends for the candle industry with branded product lines (e.g., EcoSoya, Golden Wax) directly competing with Calwax's soy container and pillar wax SKUs.
- Frank B. Ross Company: Long-standing specialty wax blender supplying natural and synthetic waxes to the cosmetics, candle, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets — overlapping with Calwax on niche, formulation-led wax supply.
- British Wax Refining Company: Refiner and supplier of wax products including paraffin, microcrystalline, and natural waxes for candles, packaging, and cosmetics, with custom blending services — a close functional analog to Calwax.
Broad incumbents
- Sonneborn (HollyFrontier / HF Sinclair): Major producer of specialty hydrocarbons including white oils, petrolatums, and microcrystalline/ paraffin waxes used in cosmetics, food, and industrial applications. Overlaps with Calwax on microcrystalline and paraffin waxes for food-grade and personal care.
- International Group Inc. (IGI): One of the largest fully integrated specialty wax producers globally, offering paraffin, microcrystalline, natural, and candle wax blends across many of the same end-uses (candles, packaging, cosmetics, food contact) as Calwax. Comparable as a broader incumbent with overlapping product portfolio but vastly greater scale.
- EcoSoya (Cargill NatureWax): Cargill's soy-based candle wax line is a directly comparable natural-wax competitor to Calwax's CALSOY and ECOWAX product family in the container candle segment, but backed by a massive commodity supplier.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Calwax social profiles
Digital presenceCalwax financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calwax leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Calwax funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calwax M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Calwax
What does Calwax do?
Calwax manufactures and sells specialty wax products, blends, and formulations for use in candles, corrugated packaging, food and beverage processing (poultry defeathering, wine bottle sealing, fruit and vegetable coatings), dental and pharmaceutical applications, sports equipment, spa and wellness, and spirits/condiment packaging. The company also provides custom blending, private labeling, custom manufacturing, specialty packaging, and laboratory research and analysis services when standard products do not meet specific customer requirements.
Is Calwax a public or private company?
Calwax is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Calwax founded?
Calwax was founded in 1965. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Calwax based?
Calwax is headquartered in La Mirada, United States, in the North America region.
How does Calwax make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Wax Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Services.
Who are Calwax's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blended Waxes Inc., Koster Keunen, Strahl & Pitsch, Marcus Oil & Chemical, Golden Brands (Paramount Cosmetics), Frank B. Ross Company and British Wax Refining Company. Broad incumbents are Sonneborn (HollyFrontier / HF Sinclair), International Group Inc. (IGI) and EcoSoya (Cargill NatureWax).
Does Calwax have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calwax.
What industry is Calwax in?
Calwax's product category is Specialty Wax Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAJAEAD, Scented Candles & Wax Melts (Home Fragrance), with a secondary code of IMALAHAG, Dairy & Refrigerated Foods Packaging. Its NAICS code is 32562 and its SIC code is 2844.