Angus
AspiringProductSpecialist
I’d like to dedicate this review on Zymol’s “Japon” wax to Vega@Autopia for always inspiring me to keep my 1998 Civic looking years younger then it is old!
From Autopia’s copy for Japon wax:
This is the first Japanese specific car wax I’ve ever used (or heard of). Until now I was blissfully unaware of the unique needs of my Honda’s paint system. Better late then never! Sorry old girl…
Directions:
1. Wash and dry car. HD Cleanse if necessary (see owner's manual).
Prior to waxing, I washed the Civic with Zymol Auto Wash (review coming soon) and followed up with P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser. By applying P21S GPC with my Flex 3401 (speed 5) with a white CCS pad I insure my paint is free of old products/ road grime while leaving me with a nice glossy surface. If you’re looking for a pre-wax cleaner, P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser is an excellent option.
2. Apply with enclosed Zymol wax applicator using even back and forth motions. Do not allow to dry!. REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING.
After first doing a 2X2ft test area to understand how the wax behaves during application I realize how misleading the instructions are because you do need to allow this wax to haze over and only a swipe test will tell you when the wax is ready to be removed:
By allowing the wax time to set up, you’ll have a much easier time removing it vs. immediately trying to buff it off like the directions would have you believe.
Knowing this, I can move onto the rest of the car w/o hesitation for how far I can go before the wax is ready to be removed:
3. Buff gently to a high gloss using Zymol Cotton buffing towels.
Ok, when exactly were these instructions written? 1995? Cause there’s no way a COTTON buffing towel is touching my car. Instead, today in 2015 I reach for one of my trusted microfibers and buff to a nice deep gloss:
And now the results:
Morning dew beading up:
Conclusion
Overall, this is a very nice wax to use. It spreads evenly and only takes a small amount to do an entire car. Here’s the jar before and after I was done including 2 coats on the hood, roof, and trunk:
Before:
After:
I can easily see getting 15-20 applications out of this 8oz jar. At at $54.99 it’s completely priced against other mid-level carnauba waxes.
Additional observations
The whole “REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING” bit in the instructions has to be aimed at people who leave their waxes in hot garages or car trunks only to discover months later the wax has dried up and is useless. Still being true to this review, I stuck the wax inside the fridge between applications:
And then this happened:
The plastic rim broke while I was unscrewing it to apply a second application to the roof, trunk, and hood. The jar isn’t very thick plastic to start with and my hunch is the cold made it slightly more brittle resulting in the chip. Thankfully when closed the lid covers the gaping hole so it’s shouldn’t be an issue. I don’t recommend refrigerating this wax - just keep indoors, away from temperature extremes, and you’ll be fine.
Lastly, what makes this wax better for Japanese cars than any other wax is still a mystery to me... do you know?
As always, thanks for reading my review. Please feel free to ask any questions.
From Autopia’s copy for Japon wax:
“Zymol Japon Wax is a unique automotive wax blend designed specifically for the needs of Japanese paint systems. Utilizing a specialized formulation of carnauba wax, nourishing oils, and drying agents, this easy-to-use wax blankets your vehicle with lasting protection and shine. Zymol Japon Wax is ideal for use on all paint colors.”
This is the first Japanese specific car wax I’ve ever used (or heard of). Until now I was blissfully unaware of the unique needs of my Honda’s paint system. Better late then never! Sorry old girl…
Directions:
1. Wash and dry car. HD Cleanse if necessary (see owner's manual).
Prior to waxing, I washed the Civic with Zymol Auto Wash (review coming soon) and followed up with P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser. By applying P21S GPC with my Flex 3401 (speed 5) with a white CCS pad I insure my paint is free of old products/ road grime while leaving me with a nice glossy surface. If you’re looking for a pre-wax cleaner, P21S Gloss-enhancing Paintwork Cleanser is an excellent option.
2. Apply with enclosed Zymol wax applicator using even back and forth motions. Do not allow to dry!. REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING.
After first doing a 2X2ft test area to understand how the wax behaves during application I realize how misleading the instructions are because you do need to allow this wax to haze over and only a swipe test will tell you when the wax is ready to be removed:
By allowing the wax time to set up, you’ll have a much easier time removing it vs. immediately trying to buff it off like the directions would have you believe.
Knowing this, I can move onto the rest of the car w/o hesitation for how far I can go before the wax is ready to be removed:
3. Buff gently to a high gloss using Zymol Cotton buffing towels.
Ok, when exactly were these instructions written? 1995? Cause there’s no way a COTTON buffing towel is touching my car. Instead, today in 2015 I reach for one of my trusted microfibers and buff to a nice deep gloss:
And now the results:
Morning dew beading up:
Conclusion
Overall, this is a very nice wax to use. It spreads evenly and only takes a small amount to do an entire car. Here’s the jar before and after I was done including 2 coats on the hood, roof, and trunk:
Before:
After:
I can easily see getting 15-20 applications out of this 8oz jar. At at $54.99 it’s completely priced against other mid-level carnauba waxes.
Additional observations
The whole “REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING” bit in the instructions has to be aimed at people who leave their waxes in hot garages or car trunks only to discover months later the wax has dried up and is useless. Still being true to this review, I stuck the wax inside the fridge between applications:
And then this happened:
The plastic rim broke while I was unscrewing it to apply a second application to the roof, trunk, and hood. The jar isn’t very thick plastic to start with and my hunch is the cold made it slightly more brittle resulting in the chip. Thankfully when closed the lid covers the gaping hole so it’s shouldn’t be an issue. I don’t recommend refrigerating this wax - just keep indoors, away from temperature extremes, and you’ll be fine.
Lastly, what makes this wax better for Japanese cars than any other wax is still a mystery to me... do you know?
As always, thanks for reading my review. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Great review Angus. 
