Like many brands, Nikwax was born out of an outdoor enthusiast's dissatisfaction with the available product range at the time. In this case, Nick Brown, founder of the company, set off to create his own waterproofing wax for footwear that would improve the waterproofness of his boots without softening the leather. The brand soon became known for being the world's first company to introduce water-based products that made it possible to restore waterproofing in garments and equipment at home. Still holding to its ethos, all Nikwax products are water-based and made without the use of harmful fluorocarbons.