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Yes, there are cult-favorite crayons, and yes there’s more than one brand out there. If you’re a Crayola Loyalist, we don’t blame you. The craft supply company has been a trusted household name since 1903, but a new company out of New Zealand has joined the market, and they’re quickly gaining a cult following.
Honeysticks was founded by a preschool teacher in New Zealand who noticed her students munching on crayons and started looking into what’s in the formula of most crayons on the market. Spoiler: Ingredients you don’t want in a preschooler’s mouth. And so, the idea came to create craft supplies that are safer for little artists and the planet.
The company is now co-owned by two dads who have formulated non-toxic crayons entirely out of 100% pure New Zealand beeswax and food-grade ingredients for the pigment.
This means parents and caregivers don’t need to cringe when their kiddos inevitably start munching. The original pack of Honeysticks for babies and toddlers is currently selling like crazy on Amazon. More than 7 thousand units were sold last month alone, and the product has nearly 17 thousand rave reviews.
12 pack
“Got these crayons for little man,” one shopper said. “He just turned one and I’m trying to teach him how to color, even though he’s still insistent that crayons are for eating. I get to do most of the actual coloring and I love the vibrancy of these crayons! They also smell so pleasant.”
In fact — just like the name and main ingredient would suggest — they smell pretty darn close to honey.
“Love the smell and my toddler loves drawing with these crayons,” another person wrote. “They’re very easy for him to grab which is nice as well … Highly recommend!”
And on it went:
“I had a hard time paying this much for crayons, but the amount of little teeth marks we have on these surely justifies it,” another person said. Because yes, Honeysticks are a bit pricier than other crayons on the market. Luckily, they’re currently 30 percent off on Amazon. And even if they weren’t, one shopper insisted they “are absolutely worth every penny.”
These teeny yet chunky crayons are far from the only kind in the Honeysticks lineup. They also make triangle-shaped crayons that are brilliant for traveling (they don’t roll on tray tables!), bath crayons to make bathtime more fun, watercolor paints, and more.
Plus! They recently created their own finger paints which are also great at putting parents’ minds at ease. The 100% non-toxic formula is gentle on little hands and free from harmful substances like heavy metals, phthalates, and ammonia. And can we just take a second to appreciate how adorable the honeypot containers are?!
6 pack
The new addition to the Honeysticks collection is already earning a loyal fanbase of its own. “These are a must-have if your toddler likes to paint,” one happy Amazon shopper said.
“Yeah these paints are on the pricey side … but I’ll happily pay the premium knowing that I’m handing a product to my children that is safe and non-toxic. The packaging is also sustainable which is nice,” another wrote.
Yet another caregiver said, “I’ve been using Honeysticks Non-Toxic Finger Paint with my little ones, and it’s been such a joy! The six bright colors are vibrant and engaging, making it perfect for toddlers just getting into art. … The water-based formula is eco-friendly, so I can support their artistic side without any guilt. It’s been a fantastic way to spark their imagination and have fun together!”
And, like one shopper said, “What toddler doesn’t love finger painting?” It’s a surefire home run.
