Forest Crayons Are Colored With Pigment From Japanese Trees

As lovers of trees, we were delighted to come across these Forest Crayons, which derive their colors from a variety of trees across Japan. Using repurposed timber that would otherwise be thrown away, the wood’s pigment is extracted to create a range of warm colors that are then turned into organic crayons.

Created by Studio Playfool, the tree’s pigments are extracted and then mixed with wood, rice wax, and rice oil to preserve their color.

The trees represented include familiar ones like Cedar to more unique species like Hazenoki, Cypress, Katsura, Kaizuka, Magnolia, and Zelkova. We especially like the dark black of Bogwood.

The crayons are all painstakingly handmade, and sold in a set of 10 for $32 on Playfool’s website.

“Each set includes ten crayons, each with a colour derived solely from a different species of tree native to Japan such as cedar, hazenoki and katsura.

By repurposing Japan’s otherwise wasted timber as a source of pigment, Forest Crayons breathes new life into the country’s abundant wood resources, allowing one to appreciate and create with the forest like never before.”