Trademark Class 4: Industrial Oils, Grease, Candles and Fuels

What is Trademark Class 4?

Trademark Class 4 is a goods-based category under the Nice Classification. Administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it applies to goods that are consumed during use and support energy-related functions. In India, authorities enforce it in line with the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

In practical terms, Class 4 covers products that are consumed during use to power, lubricate, or light something. 

Trademark registration under Class 4 matters because it:

• Prevents counterfeiting in high-demand energy and industrial goods
• Builds trust in products linked to safety and performance
• Confirms legal ownership and strengthens enforcement
• Limits liability by controlling brand misuse
• Enables secure licensing, distribution, and expansion
• Creates a valuable, long-term brand asset

Note: Electrical energy is included in Class 4 under the Nice Classification. Hence, businesses supplying branded electricity may consider protection under this class.

Who Should Register Under Trademark Class 4?

If your business deals with energy, combustion, lubrication, or lighting products, Class 4 is the right class to file under. The following businesses should register their brand under Class 4 in India:

• Refiners, distributors, and resellers of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, natural gas, LPG, and CNG. 
• Companies producing automotive engine oils, hydraulic fluids, transmission oils, gear oils, and cutting fluids. 
• Businesses produce industrial-grade greases, bearing greases, leather preservatives, weapon greases, and belt-conditioning oils.
• Manufacturers of biodiesel, ethanol fuel, biomass fuel, producer gas, and solid fuel briquettes. 
• Businesses dealing in anthracite, coke, coal briquettes, charcoal, peat, firewood, and combustible briquettes.
• Makers of basic lighting candles, tapers, Christmas tree candles, nightlights, wicks, and lamp oils.
• Manufacturers of beeswax, paraffin, carnauba wax, belting wax, raw wax, ozokerite, and industrial wax.
• Non-chemical fuel additives, motor performance enhancers, and dust-binding compositions.

Trademark Class 4 Description: Complete List of Goods

Here’s the complete category-wise breakdown of the Class 4 trademark list under NCL 13-2026:

1. Industrial Oils, Greases, and Lubricants

Industrial oils, lubricating oils, lubricating grease, all-purpose lubricants, automotive lubricants, transmission oils, hydraulic oil, cutting fluids, moistening oil, motor oil, gear oil, oleine, illuminating grease, illuminating wax, and lubricating graphite.

2. Animal and Plant Oils (Industrial Use)

Animal oils for industrial purposes, bone oil for industrial purposes, castor oil for industrial purposes, rape oil/colza oil for industrial purposes, sunflower oil for industrial purposes, soya bean oil for non-stick treatment of cooking utensils, fish oil (not edible), wool grease (lanolin), tallow.

3. Petroleum Fuels and Derivatives

Gasoline/petrol, diesel oil/gas oil, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, benzine, benzol, mazut, mineral fuel, ligroin, ligroin solvents, methylated spirit, petroleum (raw or refined), petroleum ether, petroleum jelly for industrial purposes, coal naphtha, coal tar oil.

4. Alternative and Renewable Fuels

Alcohol fuel, ethanol fuel, fuel with an alcoholic base, biodiesel fuel, biomass fuel, fuel gas, producer gas, oil gas, solidified gases (fuel), natural gas, vaporised fuel mixtures, aviation fuel.

5. Solid Fuels

Coal, coke, anthracite, charcoal (fuel), coal briquettes, coal dust (fuel), wood briquettes, combustible briquettes, peat (fuel), peat briquettes, lignite, firewood, tinder.

6. Candles, Wicks, and Illuminants

Candles, tapers, Christmas tree candles, nightlights (candles), perfumed candles (when used for basic lighting), wicks for candles, lamp wicks, lamp oil, lighting fuel, gas for lighting, firelighters, paper spills for lighting, wood spills for lighting.

7. Waxes (Industrial)

Beeswax, paraffin, carnauba wax, ceresine, ozokerite (ozocerite), belting wax, industrial wax, raw wax, stearine, wax (raw material).

8. Fuel Additives and Specialty Compositions

Non-chemical additives to motor fuel, non-chemical fuel additives, non-slipping preparations for belts, oils for paints, oils for releasing form work (building), and textile oil.

9. Dust Absorbing and Binding Compositions

Dust absorbing compositions, dust binding compositions for sweeping, wetting compositions, dust removing preparations, dust laying compositions.

10. Leather and Equipment Greases

Grease for leather, grease for belts, grease for footwear, grease for arms (weapons), preservatives for leather (oils and greases), oil for the preservation of leather, oil for the preservation of masonry.

11. Electrical Energy

Electrical energy may also fall under Trademark Class 4 when treated as a commercial product under the Nice Classification framework.

Which Products are not Covered Under Trademark Class 4?

Filing oil and wax adjacent products in the wrong class is one of the most common reasons why Class 4 applications get objected to or rejected. Here’s where to file instead:

Product	Correct Class	Why
Cosmetic and personal care oils, including hair oil, massage oil, essential oil, skin oil	Class 3	Non-medicated cosmetic preparations.
Edible oils and fats, like cooking oil, ghee, butter, and refined oil	Class 29	Food products for human consumption.
Polishing and cleaning waxes, such as furniture polish, shoe wax, and car wax	Class 3	Cleaning and polishing preparations.
Decorative or perfumed/scented candles (fragrance/aroma purpose)	Class 3	Air fragrancing and cosmetic candles.
Medicinal and therapeutic oils, including Ayurvedic oils, medicated balms	Class 5	Pharmaceutical preparations.
Laboratory and scientific oils	Class 1	Chemicals for industry and science.
Chemical fuel additives	Class 1	Chemical preparations, not non-chemical additives.
Edible waxes for food and confectionery	Class 29 / 30	Food-grade products.
Vehicle air fresheners	Class 3	Air fragrancing preparations.
Batteries, solar panels, electric power generators	Class 9	Scientific and electrical apparatus.
Lamps, lighting fixtures, electric lighting equipment	Class 11	Lighting apparatus, not illuminants.
Fuel storage tanks, oil drums, containers	Class 6 / 20	Container goods, not the fuel itself.
Oil filters, fuel pumps, lubrication systems	Class 7	Machinery parts.

The candles classification is the single most common confusion in Class 4. While basic lighting candles, tapers, and nightlights are Class 4, decorative, scented, or perfumed candles sold for home fragrance are Class 3. D2C candle brands selling on Amazon, Nykaa, or Etsy almost always need Class 3, not Class 4.

How to File Trademark Class 4 in India?

Businesses register a trademark in Class 4 in India through a digital process that follows clear steps:

1. Conduct a Trademark Search: Search the Indian Trademark Registry database to ensure no similar mark exists in Class 4. RegisterKaro’s trademark availability check tool can also help identify if your desired name or logo is available.

2. File the Application: Submit your application (Form TM-A) online via the IP India portal, including your brand name, logo, and list of Class 4 goods.

3. Examination by Trademark Office: The Registrar actively reviews your application to ensure legal compliance and identify conflicts. After that, they may issue trademark objections for clarification.
4. Respond to Objections (if any): If the trademark office raises objections, you must respond within the stipulated time to clarify or amend your application.
5. Publication in the Trademark Journal: Once approved by the Registry, your trademark appears in the Trademark Journal. This allows trademark opposition by third parties within four months if they believe it infringes their rights.
6. Registration and Certificate: The Registrar issues the trademark registration certificate if no opposition arises or if you successfully overcome opposition. 

The government filing fee for a Class 4 trademark is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups, and MSMEs filing online. On the other hand, companies, LLPs, and partnership firms pay ₹9,000 per class.

Trademark Classes Related to Class 4: Multi-Class Filings

Most energy, lubricant, and candle brands often need protection in multiple trademark classes because their products may fall under different categories. Here are the classes most commonly filed along with Class 4: 

Class	What It Covers	Why It Matters for a Class 4 Brand
Class 1	Industrial chemicals, chemical fuel additives, lab chemicals	File here for chemical fuel additives and industrial chemical preparations.
Class 3	Cosmetic oils, perfumed candles, vehicle air fresheners, and cleaning waxes	File here if you sell scented candles, hair oils, or vehicle cleaning waxes.
Class 5	Pharmaceutical preparations, medicated oils	File here if your oils carry therapeutic or medicinal claims.
Class 7	Machinery parts, oil filters, fuel pumps	File here if you sell lubrication system components.
Class 9	Batteries, solar panels, and electrical apparatus	File here if you also deal in electric or solar energy products.
Class 11	Lamps, lighting fixtures, electric lights	File here for lighting equipment that uses Class 4 illuminants.
Class 29	Edible oils, ghee, butter, food-grade fats	File here if you sell food-grade oils or edible waxes.
Class 35	Retail, distribution, online stores, fuel station chains	File here if you operate a fuel station network or an online lubricant store.

Multi-class filing is essential for serious energy and lubricant brands. Castrol, for example, files in Class 4 for engine oils and lubricants, and in Class 3 for vehicle care and polishing products, ensuring its identity is locked.

Let RegisterKaro simplify your trademark journey with expert guidance on multi-class filing and brand protection. From selecting the right classes to completing the registration process, our team ensures your brand stays fully protected across all relevant categories. Contact us today for seamless trademark filing, expert consultation, and complete end-to-end registration support.

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