What's the difference between a spray wax and a ceramic spray?

Traditional spray waxes use carnauba or synthetic polymers and typically last a few weeks to a month or two. Ceramic sprays add silica (SiO2) chemistry that bonds more durably and is more hydrophobic, but specialist subreddit threads consistently note that any 'spray on, wipe off' ceramic lasts roughly 12–18 months at best, not the multi-year claims on the bottle. They're a top-up, not a substitute for a real coating.