Sex Wax

Sex Wax is a legendary surf wax brand widely regarded as one of the most iconic names in surfing history. It was first produced in 1972 in Goleta, California, USA, by surfer Frederick Charles Herzog III—better known in surf culture as “Mr. Zog”—together with his friend and chemist Nate Skinner. The duo set out to create a high-grip wax formula that offered surfers better traction on their boards, experimenting and testing in real waves until they perfected the product.

What set the brand apart from the start was not just the performance of the wax, but its bold, attention-grabbing name and branding. Artist Hank Pitcher designed the original logo and label emblazoned with the provocative name Sex Wax, chosen to be memorable, playful and provocative in the surf-culture-rich era of the early 1970s.

Initially sold from the back of Mr. Zog’s truck to surf shops up and down the California coast, Sex Wax quickly gained popularity through word of mouth among surfers. Its raw catalog of scents, temperature-specific formulas and catchy packaging helped it grow from grassroots beginnings to a worldwide staple of surf culture, with merchandise like T-shirts and stickers becoming popular well beyond the water.

Today, Sex Wax remains synonymous with the simple yet essential ritual of waxing a board before paddling out. While still rooted in surf, the brand’s products have also found use in other sports like ice hockey and snowboarding, and the logo has become an enduring emblem of counter-culture spirit and surfing’s free-wheeling ethos.