A yellowish-brown vegetable wax exuded from the leaves and stems of succulent shrubs, Euphorbia antisyphilitica and Pedilanthus pavinia, native to northern Mexico and the south-western U.S. Candelilla wax is obtained by boiling the leaves and stems in water and sulphuric acid. Candelilla is composed of hydrocarbons, centred around C31 with smaller amounts of esters and triterpenoids. It is a dark brown wax that is hard and brittle with little tack. Candelilla wax is an all-purpose wax used for polishes, cements, Ebonite varnishes, waterproofing, metal casting and insect-proofing. Synonyms: candilla wax (sp.); Stralpitz [Strahl & Pitsch]. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2000). [J. Cassar, R. de Angelis]