Disclosed herein is a method for reducing the color of an emulsion of functionalized polyolefin wax by treating an emulsion with a water soluble oxidizing agent at a temperature above the freezing point and below the boiling point of the emulsion and below the softening point of the wax. Disclosed herein, also, is the essentially colorless emulsion produced according to the disclosed method which is useful as an additive to floor polishes and other coating products.