Surf wax started out as a utilitarian part of the surfing experience. Surfboards were slippery particularly one the boards were fibreglassed and polished so surfers went in search of grip. Initially using floorwax and blocks of parafin people soon realised there were commercial opportunities in supplying surfers with wax. Petrochemical companies produced parafin as part of the oil distillation process and started issuing branded blocks of wax. Then surfers got involved and came up with a dizzying array of blends and wacky/outrageous names.