Gilboys

Gilboys grew out of a concern shared by antique furniture restorers: after years of searching for a beeswax polish with the finish they wanted, the team decided to develop its own formulas and take control of ingredient quality. The Devon-based brand is closely tied to Simon Gilboy’s restoration experience and organizes its catalog around the care of furniture, wood, and leather. Its stated aim is not to compete through a list of claims, but to make waxes that help preserve and bring out a surface with a straightforward application.

The furniture polishes come in shades designed for different finishes: Pure Gold is clear and versatile; Rose Gold is intended for mid-tone woods such as mid-century teak; and Antique Gold is aimed at traditional furniture and antiques. The catalog also includes polishing kits, cloths, brushes, and tools for applying and buffing the product. The store offers smaller formats for trying different shades and larger containers for broader projects, along with refills through its Return & Refill program.

Formulation is central to Gilboys’ explanation of its products. The company combines beeswax with carnauba and other natural waxes to add hardness, sheen, and water resistance; it describes the polish as a renewable maintenance layer that helps preserve the appearance of existing finishes. Its website also makes clear that wax does not replace the protection of lacquer, varnish, or other more durable finishes. That distinction helps set expectations: the product is for ongoing care, not a universal coating.

The range extends to hard wax oil for interior wood surfaces, beeswax balsam for conditioning leather, and honey from the Teign Valley. Gilboys says it works with beeswax supplied by a local beekeeper and describes its oil as a blend of beeswax, linseed oil, carnauba, and orange oil. The leather balsam uses plant-based oils and cosmetic-grade lanolin. Together, the lines cover different projects, from an antique dresser to bags, shoes, or wood doors, with a separate product for each material.

The brand emphasizes ingredient sourcing and production: it says it sources responsibly, powers its workshop with solar energy, and operates as a carbon-negative, zero-plastic business. Orders are placed through its online store, which also offers shipping and care guides explaining surface preparation, application, and buffing. The tutorials can help customers choose a product and understand what it can do—particularly useful when working on an antique piece or a finish that should not be treated with just any polish.

The brand works from Devon and operates primarily through online orders; it does not list public workshop visiting hours. The online store lets customers compare the different waxes, kits, wood oil, leather conditioner, accessories, and honey without relying on an in-person visit.

Gilboys is a useful option for people looking for a furniture-care product with a restoration philosophy behind it: distinct shades, natural ingredients, application tools, and clear explanations of the intended finish. The founders’ experience with antique furniture informs a range that goes beyond an immediate shine to offer renewable layers of care. The practical first step is to identify the surface and existing finish, then compare Pure Gold, Rose Gold, Antique Gold, or the products made specifically for wood and leather.