<p>Nitrocellulose-based lacquers are used as topcoats in leather finishing applications worldwide. They impart good appearance, durability, and performance. The stability of water-based nitrocellulose (NC) lacquers remains a major challenge for storage stability and leather finishing applications, often limiting their industrial utility. This study compares the stabilizing effectiveness of Carbopol and hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in NC lacquer emulsions. Evaluations of emulsion stability, viscosity, pH, zeta potential, FTIR, and film properties, along with leather application tests like gloss, wet/dry rub fastness, have been carried out. It was found that the formulations containing Carbopol exhibited phase separation within one month of storage, indicating limited long-term stability. In contrast, hydrolyzed PVA significantly enhanced emulsion integrity, maintaining stability for more than three months without signs of creaming, sedimentation, or coalescence. The improved performance is attributed to the strong hydrogen-bonding and film-forming characteristics of hydrolyzed PVA, which reinforce interfacial interactions and prevent particle aggregation. These findings demonstrate that hydrolyzed PVA is a superior stabilizer for NC lacquer emulsions and provide a promising approach for overcoming persistent stability issues in water-based NC systems used in the leather finishing industry.</p>