Trademark Classes · Class 4
Class 4 covers industrial oils and greases, lubricants, fuels, and illuminants, plus candles and wicks. Here is what it includes, what it excludes, and how to word it.
Class 4 is a goods class covering industrial oils and greases, lubricants, fuels, and illuminants. It includes motor fuels, petrol, industrial lubricants, dust-absorbing and dust-binding compositions, and candles and wicks for lighting.
The theme is energy, lubrication, and combustion materials, the substances that fuel, lubricate, or illuminate. It is a specialised industrial and energy-sector class. This page is part of our full guide to all 45 trademark classes, and to how protection works across jurisdictions in our overview of trademark law and protection.
Work out whether your product or service genuinely sits in Class 4 before you file, because a wrong class protects the wrong thing.
Producers of motor and industrial fuels, lubricant and grease manufacturers, oil companies, and makers of candles and illuminants. If your product powers, lubricates, or provides light through combustion, Class 4 is very likely your class. Our trademark class search helps you check which classes fit before you file.
The most common Class 4 mistakes come from classifying by the wrong feature. These closely related items sit elsewhere:
Aromatic and essential oils for cosmetic use are Class 3, not Class 4. Class 4 covers industrial and fuel oils.
Supply and distribution of electricity is a Class 39 service, not a Class 4 good.
The Registry expects specific, standardised descriptions, not vague terms. Here are examples of clear, acceptable Class 4 wording:
| Instead of (vague) | Use (standardised) |
|---|---|
| “Oil” | “Industrial oil” · “Lubricating oil” · “Motor oil” |
| “Fuel” | “Motor fuel” · “Fuel for lighting” |
| “Candles” | “Candles” · “Wicks for candles” |
Each entry is specific and standardised. These are illustrative examples of acceptable phrasing, not legal advice for your filing; your exact wording should be drawn from the current NICE Classification and tailored to what your business actually does. Wording is a common cause of objections whether you file in India, the United States, Argentina, or elsewhere. For filing across several countries at once, see our global registration guide.
Class 4 covers industrial oils and greases, lubricants, fuels, and illuminants, including motor fuels and petrol, industrial lubricants, dust-absorbing compositions, and candles and wicks. The unifying theme is materials for energy, lubrication, and combustion. Cosmetic and essential oils belong in Class 3, not Class 4.
Producers of motor and industrial fuels, lubricant and grease manufacturers, oil companies, and makers of candles and illuminants. If your product fuels, lubricates, or provides light through combustion, Class 4 is likely your class.
Yes. Candles and wicks for lighting are classified in Class 4, alongside fuels and illuminants, because the class groups materials used for light and combustion. Decorative or scented candles are still generally classified in Class 4.
Class 4 covers industrial and fuel oils and lubricants, used to power or lubricate machinery. Class 3 covers essential and aromatic oils for cosmetic and personal use. The distinction is purpose: industrial and combustion oils are Class 4, while cosmetic and fragrance oils are Class 3.
Use specific, standardised terms such as lubricating oil, motor fuel, industrial grease, or candles, rather than the bare word oil or fuel. Draw wording from the current NICE Classification and tailor it to your products, since precise descriptions reduce the risk of an objection.
Whether you are protecting your brand in one market or several, we identify the classes you need and handle registration worldwide, worded to avoid an avoidable objection.
