In general, we recommend using Otter Wax products within two years of purchase. Waxes are self-preserving, but because our products are biodegradable, it’s best to not leave them on the shelf for too long. Always store in a cool and dry place.

Otter Wax does NOT conduct product or ingredient tests of any kind on animals. A few of our products contain cruelty-free and sustainable ingredients derived from animals such as beeswax, and lanolin.

All of our products are made by hand in Portland, Oregon. We’ve made it our goal to support our community by providing local employment opportunities and purchasing bulk ingredients from local manufacturers distributors.

There are several factors to consider when deciding how much wax you’ll need to purchase to finish a project. We recommend the regular 2.25oz bars for smaller projects such as waxing caps, shoes, bags, etc. The large 5oz bar is best suited for projects such as jackets, pants, etc. As a general rule of thumb, plan on using more wax to treat un-waxed or oiled fabrics. Factory-waxed fabrics are already saturated with wax, so will not absorb as much as an untreated fabric. Also consider the nap or weave of the fabric. Thick, unwaxed canvas (such as a Carhartt jacket) will absorb a lot of wax for the first application, but will require less in subsequent applications.

Our Wax Bars and Fabric Dressing are fairly similar however the Fabric Dressing has a higher proportion of oils to wax. The higher oil content helps the wax to melt down faster, and is also what makes it ideal for re-proofing factory waxed or oiled garments in the traditional manner. Because our Fabric Dressing is melted down when applied, it permeates the fabric and yields a more factory-waxed and matte appearance. This is ideal for multi-layered coats and jackets, or for re-proofing factory-oiled fabrics.

Our Wax Bars are excellent for one-sided waxing because it creates a seal on the top layer of the fabric. It’s ideal for hats, shoes, bags, and jackets where you wouldn’t want waxed fabric in direct contact with your skin. Our bars are also great for quickly re-proofing factory waxed and oiled garments. Our Wax Bars are really easy to apply, and just need to be rubbed directly onto the fabric. The appearance of this method will yield a really great look that will usually darken the fabric and give it a leathery, coated appearance.

To see examples of how various canvas fabrics will appear once they have been waxed, be sure to check out the Waxed Canvas Swatch Sample Library.

We recommend allowing freshly waxed items to cure in a warm and dry place for 24-72 hours before use. Lower temperatures and higher humidity will often extend the amount of time it takes for a waxed item to cure and the light tack subside. Heavy application of our wax may also contribute to longer cure time, so we recommend starting off with a light coat of wax and adding more if desired.

First off it's important to determine what it is that you smell: Right after waxing an item you might notice the scent of cedar wood (natural preservative/anti-microbial properties) and/or a waxy a smell. This is perfectly normal and fades away while the wax cures over the coming days and/or weeks. The other type of odor is more closely related to body odor and can occur after several months of wearing your item. Fabrics that are treated with wax become much less breathable than when they are unwaxed. Over time, moisture trapped inside an item can become home to odor-causing bacteria. This problem is easily solved by spraying the inside of your item with ourBotanical Enzyme Odor Eliminator. This spray begins to digest and break down odor-causing bacteria almost immediately while freshening with all natural peppermint essential oils and can be used as often as needed while not disturbing the wax coating that has already been applied to your item.

Our Fabric Wax and Fabric Dressing will work on most any type of fabric. Because our wax is made from all-natural ingredients, it will generally bond best with natural fibers (cotton, hemp, etc., however it is also very effective on blended fabrics where the proportion of natural fiber to synthetic is in the majority.

Our Fabric Dressing (And also Fabric Wax Bars) will work on most any type of fabric. However, because our wax is made from all-natural ingredients, it will generally bond best with natural fibers (cotton, hemp, etc.) It is also very effective on blended fabrics where the proportion of natural fiber to synthetic is in the majority. Nylon is a synthetic fiber so if you are going to use our products we recommend to always test in a discrete location to ensure desired results will be achieved.

Our coatings act as a protective barrier against the elements, however waxed fabrics are not considered to be very breathable. We recommend regularly hanging waxed items in an area with good air flow and spraying the inside fabric with our Odor Eliminator to help preserve the wax coating and keep it smelling fresh.

Waxing fabric will darken the color of a fabric and give it a light shine. A distressed appearance and color variance is typical, so we always recommend testing our wax on a small inconspicuous area before waxing a larger area to ensure that the desired appearance will be achieved.

Be sure to check out our Waxed Canvas Swatch Gallery to see how a wide variety of canvas in varying weights and colors look once they've been treated with Otter Wax.

Most products that contain petroleum by-products such as paraffin didn’t exist before the Industrial Revolution. Nature has always provided effective and healthier ingredients and it is our mission to reintroduce these natural products to consumers.

Our Fabric Wax and Fabric Dressing are semi-permanent wax applications. This means that our waxes will remain bonded with fabric indefinitely, but may require a periodic touch-up in order to maintain its waterproofing ability. We recommend reapplying our waxes once a year, however certain "high-stress" areas of a garment, such as the hood of a raincoat or the knees of a pant may require a touching up more often.

Our waterproofing waxes also act as a protective barrier against dirt, dust, and debris. Using a natural bristle brush is a great way to keep an item clean and also helps to smooth away the wax creases that may appear in "high-stress" areas.

Unpleasant odors originating from waxed canvas are caused by bacteria that thrive in warm, dark, and damp environments. You can keep your waxed item smelling and feeling fresh by spraying the un-waxed side of with our Botanical Enzyme Waxed Canvas Odor Eliminator.

If you need to remove dirt, mud, or stubborn stains from the surface of your waxed item we only recommend spot-treating. We recommend using our Waxed Canvas Spot Cleaner only on the affected area. This is because the cleaning process will break down and remove the wax coating. Once the spot-cleaned area has completely dried, all you need to do is re-wax that area and allow to cure for 24~48 hours before first use.

If spot cleaning the outside of a waxed item, dip a rag or soft-bristle brush into a bowl of warm water (ape. 12oz) mixed with and 2 tablespoons of our Waxed Canvas Spot Cleaner and gently scrub the affected area until stain is removed. Allow cleaned area to completely dry, and reapply wax as needed.

We typically don't recommend washing an entire garment, but if you absolutely have to, fill a large bucket with cold water, and 4 tablespoons of our Waxed Canvas Spot Cleaner. Turn item inside out and submerge completely. While item is submerged, use a rag or soft-bristle brush to gently scrub the fabric. When finished, remove and allow water to drip back into bucket. Do not bend or twist fabric to remove excess water. Keep the garment turned inside-out and hang in a warm and dry place. If you are cleaning a waxed canvas bag or a pair of shoes, you can speed the drying time by stuffing your item with crumbled newspaper or paper towels. Once the item is completely dry, turn right-side out and reapply wax to any areas where necessary.

In general, we recommend using Otter Wax products within two years of purchase. Waxes are self-preserving, but because our products are biodegradable, it’s best to not leave them on the shelf for too long. Always store in a cool and dry place.

Our products do not contain any otter by-products. The only animal by-products we utilize are beeswax and lanolin, both of which are sustainably and humanely harvested without any harm coming to the animal. (We wish we didn’t have to answer this question as often as we do.)

All of our products are made by hand in Portland, Oregon. We’ve made it our goal to support our community by providing local employment opportunities and purchasing bulk ingredients from local manufacturers distributors.

Mink Oil is a refined skin fat harvested from the slaughter of the incredibly adorable and cuddly mink, which just so happens to be a close relative of the otter. It is most-often imported from mink farms in China and blended with petroleum distillates to stretch the resource. It’s effectiveness as a leather conditioner stems from its high concentration of palmitoleic acid, an excellent source of nourishment for skin, hair, and nails. Our Leather Salve and Leather Oil both have high concentrations of palmitoleic acid sourced exclusively from botanical sources.

Neatsfoot Oil is a yellowish oil rendered from the shin bones and feet of slaughtered cattle and often blended with petroleum by-products to increase shelf-life. We don’t use Neatsfoot Oil in any of our products because it is a yellowish oil rendered from the shin bones and feet of slaughtered cattle and often blended with petroleum by-products to increase shelf-life.

Most products that contain petroleum by-products such as paraffin didn’t exist before the Industrial Revolution. Nature has always provided effective and healthier ingredients and it is our mission to reintroduce these natural products to consumers.

All of our leather care products are completely free of dyes or colorants and are safe to use on all types and colors of leather. Please note that when applying our products, you will likely experience temporary darkening as the nutrients are absorbed into the leather.

If the sofa isn't too dirty you can vacuum the creases, wipe it down with a warm damp cloth, then apply the Leather Oil. Click Here to view our how to care for leather furniture guide! If the sofa is really dirty and really dry you can clean with the Saddle Soap and condition with the Leather Salve. Then follow the steps above to maintain the leather. Click Here to view our guide on how to clean and condition older dry leather. The results are so great! I love this guide!

Yes. You can condition and protect leather with the Boot Wax. When applying any product to the bottom of shoes use caution when trying them on for the first time as it may feel more slippery when the sole is fully moisturized as opposed to when the leather is completely dry.

So long as the straps are made of leather, then yes, our products will work great to maintain that leather. We don't recommend applying our products to any cork surfaces as they won't be properly absorbed.

We use all-natural essential orange peel oil in our leather care products as a natural preservative and antimicrobial agent to help increase the stability and shelf-life of our leather care products. Most customers find the smell to mild and pleasant, but if you have any sensitivities to smells derived from citrus oils we recommend using our products in a well-ventilated area. Once applied to leather any lingering citrus smells tend to dissipate within a week.

In most cases (depending on the condition of your leather item) we recommend using our leather care products in the following order:

1. Saddle Soap: Use to remove any stains, dirt, or mud from the surface of the leather.
2. Leather Salve: Use to deeply condition heavily weathered leather that is beginning to show signs of dry cracking.
3. Leather Oil: Use on a regular basis to keep leather looking and feeling its very best by maintaining proper hydration and nourishment.
4. Boot Wax: Use as an added layer of waterproofing protection after utilizing any of the other products mentioned above. Boot Wax is best for leather items that will be used outdoors such as boots, gloves, and hats. We do not recommend treating indoor furniture with Boot Wax.

You do not need to use all of our leather care products every time you would like to treat your leather. Each product can be used separately and independently of the rest depending on the condition of your leather item. We always recommend treating the entire item in order to maintain even coloration and a uniform appearance.

This could be caused by a couple of different things.

Discount Code

• Check to see if it reduced your cart total to less than our free shipping purchase threshold. Regardless of discounts applied (or not applied), the cart total must be at or over the designated free shipping threshold.

International Destinations

• Unfortunately, orders that ship outside of the United States are not eligible for free shipping. We understand that in many cases the international shipping costs can be prohibitively high and apologize for the inconvenience. 

Please note that we can only cancel orders if we receive the cancellation request before the order has shipped. Once you have received a shipping confirmation email we are unable to cancel or make changes to your order.

If your order has not yet been shipped, we will be happy to assist you in cancelling it. Send your cancellation request email to cancel.order@otterwax.com. Use your 7-digit order confirmation number as the subject line. In the body of the email please confirm your shipping and billing address and let us know the reason for your cancellation request.

We'll do everything we can to cancel an order before it ships, but please be advised that we may be unable to accomodate all cancellation requests. If you missed the deadline to cancel your order, please see our Shipping Information Page and scroll down to the Refund & Return Policy section for instructions on how to make a return.

Please note that we can only make changes to your order if we receive your request before the order has shipped. Once you have received a shipping confirmation email we are unable to make changes to your order.

If your order has not yet been shipped, we will be happy to assist you in changing it. Send your change request to change.order@otterwax.com. Use your 7-digit order confirmation number as the subject line. In the body of the email please confirm your shipping and billing address and let us know what changes you would like to make.

Please note that changes are limited to physical products. We are unable to apply coupon codes or discounts to existing orders.

We'll do everything we can to accomodate change requests before your order ships, but please be advised that we may be unable to accomodate all requests. If you missed the deadline to make changes to your order, please see our Shipping Information Page and scroll down to the Refund & Return Policy section for instructions on how to make a return.

Once an order has been placed we are unable to apply any coupons or discounts to it. This is because our system processes the order and applies the prices and discounts that were valid at the time the order was placed.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that you understand our policy. We do, however, encourage you to check our website or promotional emails for any ongoing promotions or discount codes that you can use on your future purchases.

Please note that our customer service team does not have the ability to apply coupon codes or discounts to existing orders.

Otter Wax products are manufactured and distributed in Portland, Oregon. Learn more about our shipping policies on our Shipping Information Page.

When you successfully place an order on our website our system will automatically send you an Order Confirmation Email to the email address you provided during checkout. 

You will receive a Shipment Confirmation Email containing carrier tracking information when the shipping label for your order has been printed. Carrier tracking information sometimes takes up to 24 hours to activate.

If you place an order but did not received either of these emails, check your Spam folder. If you are unable to locate these emails please contact us and we'll do our best to assist you.

Refund processing time depends on the refund method, the merchant, and the card issuer. Refunds to a third-party credit card typically take up 5 to 10 days after we’ve approved the refund. For information about refunds to a third-party credit card, contact your card issuer.

When your order is cancelled, our system automatically sends an email confirming your refund. If you have cancelled your order but have not received email confirmation please check your email spam folder and ensure that you have provided us with the correct email address.

If the shipment tracking link you received in your Shipment Confirmation email shows as delivered but you cannot locate your item(s); Try your safe place location, check with neighbors if safe to do so or contact the carrier directly (some carriers deliver until 10pm). 

If your tracking information shows that your package was delivered, but you can't find it:

• Verify the shipping address in order or shipment confirmation email.
• Look for a notice of attempted delivery.
• Look around the delivery location for your package.
• See if someone else accepted the delivery, unless you have health or safety concerns about doing so.
• Check your mailbox or wherever else you receive mail. Some packages travel through multiple carriers.
• Wait 48 hours. In rare cases, packages may say delivered up to 48 hours before arrival.
• If you haven't received your package, contact us within 30 days of expected delivery. We'll do everything we can to help.

Yes! We offer local pickup for customers located in the Portland metro area. During checkout, please select 'Will-Call' as your preferred shipping method. Once you've placed your order you will receive an email with pickup instructions when your order is ready.

PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:

• 7815 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97213 | Open Map→
• Pickup/Will-Call is available Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm. We are closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and most major holidays.
• When you arrive, lookfor a big wood door with bright yellow address numbers.
  For security purposes we keep doors locked at all times.
• Please knock or ring doorbell when you arrive and a team member will let you in.
• Call us if you require any additional assistance at (503) 207-6565. (Tip: Press '8' to bypass the automated system and connect directly to a customer service representative.)

If you're unable to pick up your will-call order, your order will be refunded with a $5 restocking fee deducted from the refund total. This fee helps cover the costs of handling and restocking the item. If you know you won't be able to make it, please let us know as soon as possible so we can assist you with alternative arrangements or rescheduling your pickup. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us!

We ship anywhere outside the domestic US using either USPS, UPS, or DHL. We cannot guarantee delivery time as it depends on how efficient your country’s customs agents are. All international packages with the exception of shipments sent via USPS are trackable once they are scanned in by the carrier. USPS packages are trackable up until they reach a designated border crossing.

Please note that transit rates are contingent upon distance and the weight of your shipped item(s). Rates are not inclusive of taxes or duties and Otter Wax does not pay for any duties or local/country-specific import taxes that may be owed for international orders. Additionally, any international shipment may be subject to customs delays.

Shipments to Canada shipped via USPS First Class Package and Priority Mail International Services are inclusive of duties, taxes, and fees. Duties and taxes are prepaid by Otter Wax and the customer should not be required to pay any additional fees to the carrier upon delivery. The customer assumes responsibility for any additional charges on rejected packages. Any shipping charges incurred due to exchange or returns for store credit are the responsibility of the customer. We work hard to keep our shipping rates reasonable while still getting your items to you in the most efficient and reliable way possible, and we appreciate your understanding. International packages shipped using USPS cannot be tracked once they reach international customs, therefore Otter Wax will not be held responsible for any lost or stolen packages.

You are responsible for any customs duties and taxes associated with your order. We are not able to determine import taxes, as they depend on a number of factors including but not limited to the country of shipping destination and product price.

We calculate shipping rates based on weight and transit distance. Rates (except Canadian shipments) are exclusive of taxes, duties, and customs fees. These latter incurred fees are the customer's responsibility.

Due to rising costs, international shipments (including Canadian shipments) are not eligible for free shipping, even if the purchase minimum is met. Free Shipping is only offered to orders shipped within the United States.

We ship to:

Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, China, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, South Africa (8 of 9 provinces), Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Sint Maarten, St. Barthélemy, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Pierre & Miquelon, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, U.S. Outlying Islands, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Vatican City, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard & Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Åland Islands, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Mayotte, Moldova, North Macedonia.

We do not ship to any countries that are not a part of this list.

We understand that international shipping costs can be quite high, and we share your frustration. The shipping rates are determined by carriers based on several factors, including the weight and dimensions of the package, the destination country, and current fuel prices. Unfortunately, we don’t have control over these rates, and we always strive to offer the most accurate and competitive options available at checkout.

However, we have a suggestion that might help you save on shipping costs. If you’re looking for a more affordable shipping option, you might want to check out our storefront at Amazon.com. Amazon may offer more competitive international shipping rates to your destination.

We truly appreciate your interest in our products and your understanding of the challenges associated with international shipping. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions or need assistance with your order.