There’s something irresistible about the freshly sanded look of timber. That pale, raw beauty—whether it’s blonde European Oak or rich Spotted Gum—captures the essence of craftsmanship at its purest. But as many woodworkers know, the moment you apply a protective coat, even the most natural finishes can deepen the colour, adding warmth or altering the tone.

At Whittle Waxes, we understand that sometimes you don’t want that richer, honeyed finish. Sometimes, you just want to keep that freshly sanded, raw look—but with the protection your timber needs to stand up to everyday life. That’s exactly why we developed our Evolution Raw Stains range.

What Do Evolution Raw Stains Do?

Our Raw Stains are designed to lock in the natural, freshly sanded look of timber, even after applying protective coats like Evolution Hardwax Oil or Bio Wax. Without a stain, applying an oil or wax will typically darken the timber—sometimes beautifully, but not always what you’re after. Evolution Raw Stains prevent this by neutralising the colour change, leaving the wood looking just as it did when you first sanded it.

And the protection? Absolutely. Once stained, your timber can be finished with our Evolution Hardwax Oil or Bio Wax, giving you stain resistance (no worries about that olive oil spill!) while keeping the timber looking raw and untouched.

Three Options for Different Timber Species

Our Raw Stains come in three subtle tones, each formulated for different timbers:

✔ Raw Stain Light – Ideal for very pale timbers like European Oak, Ash, and Tasmanian Oak.
✔ Raw Stain Natural – Designed for slightly darker, warmer timbers such as American Oak and Blackbutt.
✔ Raw Stain Dark – Perfect for darker species like Spotted Gum and Ironbark. (Despite its name, it doesn’t darken timber—rather, it preserves the lighter tones of darker woods.)

An Example: A Stunning European Oak Table

One of our recent projects involved a Scandinavian-made European Oak dining table. The owner loved the soft blonde-grey look of the timber but needed it protected. We applied Raw Stain Natural and then finished it with Bio Wax. The result was a beautifully subtle finish that preserved the timber’s natural tone while providing a layer of protection. (See photos below.)

Key Tips for Success

• Preparation is everything. Sand your timber uniformly and finely to avoid patchiness.
• Apply liberally and evenly. You want to avoid “misses” that will show up under the topcoat.
• Always do a test piece first. Different timbers can react differently—best to check before you commit.
• Food-Safe & Child-Safe. Like all Whittle Waxes products, our Raw Stains are made from renewable raw materials and are certified safe for food surfaces and toys.

See It in Action

For a full demonstration of the Evolution Raw Stains in action—including before-and-after examples—check out our YouTube video here.