Wax can be used as a finish or over a finish. The advantage of it is that it is real easy to "repair." If it blemishes just put more on and dissolves what was there. Of course, it doesn't protect like a very hard resin. I run a unfinished furniture store and we sell a wax called Briwax, which comes in about 6-7 colors as well as clear. some folks like the colored waxes to make things look old. Briwax has some nasty stuff in it (toululene) but they have also made it with some safer solvents. a company called Mylands sells a comparable toululene free wax. We also sell a wax called Boston Polish and a few made by Minwax. Most of these are all mixtures of carnuba, beeswax, etc. The pigments can inhance your finish. You can find recipes for your own wax mixture as beeswax and carnuba are available and dissolve in ...turpentine or mineral spirits...I think. Woodcraft (retail woodworking catalog) sells carnuba and beeswax.