I tested and compared all of the following pencil brands using different blending methods and solvents. I own the Prismacolor set, Brutfuner and Crayola. I purchased the other pencils open stock. The paper I used is Canson XL Mixed Media. Different paper will give different results. I applied all of the pencils using normal pressure. Using different pressure or applying multiple layers will also give different results.
The solvent comparison shows how a pencil reacts to a solvent in varying layers. How well does the solvent fill in the white space with color? How well does the solvent blend white with a base color? How well does the solvent blend two layered colors to create a new color? Did the solvent dissolve the wax? The Kleen Strip image shows the ideal application. The Pine Needle Oil image shows streaks and white space that requires further blending.
The blending comparison shows how blending methods and solvents move colors that are beside one another. Does the white space fill with color? Does the color smudge, travel or bleed? Do the two colors blend to create a new color? All three examples show the ideal application using a dry blender, solid and liquid solvent. The colors travel and blend well without harsh lines.
Faber-Castell Polychromos
Derwent Colorsoft
Derwent Procolor
Derwent Lightfast
Bruinzeel Design
Tombow Irojiten
The best blenders and solvents for each test and pencil brand are in bold red. The best overall are the ones that worked equally well in both tests. The best universal blenders and solvents that work with all pencil brands are: aluminum oxide, Prismacolor white and cocoa butter. The best pencils are: Caran d’Ache Luminance and Derwent Colorsoft, Lightfast and Procolor. Caran d’Ache and Derwent are made with a soft wax or perhaps contain more oil making them softer and more responsive to blenders and non toxic solvents. They last longer because the color is more intense and saturated. They also sharpen easier and that saves the pencil as well. As much as we all love Prismacolor, they’re actually an introductory grade pencil. The wax is hard requiring a toxic solvent to melt the wax and increase color saturation because of the low pigment to wax ratio. I was disappointed with the limited blenders and solvents that worked with them. My favorite pencil overall for performance, responsiveness and color is Derwent Ligjtfast.
Prismacolor Premier
Colors tested: Scarlet Red, Canary Yellow and White
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are the most popular colored pencils in use. Each colored pencil features a thick, soft core made from brilliant, light-resistant pigments to ensure smooth, rich laydown and color saturation. The colors are easily blended, slow to wear, break-resistant, and waterproof. Each 3.8 mm core is enclosed in a round cedar casing that is lacquered to match the core.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends heavy layers; doesn’t melt wax.
Baby oil: Spreads; beads up; blends heavy layers.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends heavy layers.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Smudges; blends heavy layers.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends heavy layers.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Melts wax; blends heavy layers.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers.
Eucalyptus oil: Melts wax; blends heavy layers.
Pine Needle oil: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Melts wax; blends heavy layers.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Blends light layers.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills some space; doesn’t blend well.
Paper stump smudging: Smudges; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Smudges; fills space; blends well with finger.
Erasing: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Scraping: Fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; blends well; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; lightens color.
Sort Kwik: Smudges; fills some space; blends well with cotton swab.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends well with finger.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends well.
Baby oil: Spreads; fills space; blends well with cotton swab.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; fills some space; blends.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well with cotton swab.
Vaseline: Smidges; fills some space; blends well with cotton swab.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends okay.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills some space; blends well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills some space; blends okay.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Triethyl citrate, Pine Needle oil, Cocoa Butter, Aluminum oxide, Prismacolor blender, Prismacolor white.
Faber-Castell Polychromos
Colors tested: Deep Red, Cadmium Yellow and White
Part of a unique color-matching system that encompasses all Faber-Castell Art & Graphic Products, Polychromos Colored Pencils contain the highest-quality pigments for unsurpassed lightfastness. The buttery smooth color laydown offered by Polychromos pencils can be easily blended for layered effects, highlights, and transitions. Their break-resistant, water-resistant, smudgeproof 3.8 mm leads are encased in premium California cedar with Secureall bonding to resist breakage while providing sharp, fine lines and permanent, rich color.
Dipropylene glycol: Smudges; melts wax; blends all layers.
Baby oil: Spreads; blends heavy layers.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; melts wax; blends all layers.
Vegetable Glycerin: Spreads; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Melts wax; blends heavy layers.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends all layers.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Triethyl citrate: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Eucalyptus oil: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Pine Needle oil: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Melts wax; blends all layers; roughens paper.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Melts wax; blends all layers.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills some space; blends okay.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Smudges; fills space; blends well with finger.
Erasing: Doesn't fill space; blends okay.
Scraping: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; doesn’t blend well.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; lightens color.
Sort Kwik: Smudges; fills space; blends well with a finger.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well with a finger.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends okay.
Baby oil: Spreads; fills space; blends okay.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; fills space; blends well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; blends well.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends okay.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends okay.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills some space; blends okay.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends okay.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Smudges; fills space; blends very well; roughens paper.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Vegetable Glycerin, Isododecane, Cocoa Butter, Aluminum oxide, Prismacolor white.
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor
Colors tested: Scarlet Lake, Canary Yellow and White
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor is like having a creamy crayon in a pencil. Offering the ultimate control on paper, these premium oil-based colored pencils lay down smoothly with no wax build-up. They're easily blended and overlayed for limitless hues and formulated with the highest standards of lightfastness.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well.
Baby oil: Blends all layers; beads up.
Liquid Coconut oil: Blends all layers.
Vegetable Glycerin: Spreads; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well.
Vaseline: Blends all layers.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers; evaporates quickly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well.
Eucalyptus oil: Bleeds; blends heavy layers.
Pine Needle oil: Bleeds; blends all layers.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Blends all layers well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills space; blends well.
Scraping: Fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn’t blend.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space: doesn’t blend well.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Smudges; fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills some space; blends okay.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Bleeds; fills space; blends very well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends very well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends very well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Klean Strip OMSS, Dipropylene glycol, Cocoa Butter, Aluminum oxide, Erasing, Prismacolor white.
Caran D’Ache Pablo
Colors tested: Scarlet, Yellow and White
Caran D’Ache Pablo Colored Pencils are precision-crafted to delight anyone who appreciates the very best. Use them on paper, photographs — even wood! They offer exceptional covering power and superb lightfastness, ideal for shading, mixed media, and graded applications.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills some space; blends okay.
Paper stump smudging: Fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well with a finger.
Erasing: Fills some space; blends okay.
Scraping: Fills some space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Smudges, fills space; blends okay.
White burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn’t blend; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills space; smudges; blends very well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends okay.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Eucalyptus oil, Pine Needle oil, Liquid and Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Vaseline, Prismacolor white, Cocoa Butter, Sort Kwik, Aluminum oxide.
Caran D’Ache Luminance
Colors tested: Permanent Red, Bismuth Yellow and White
Caran D’Ache Luminance pencils combine the smoothness of a permanent lead with excellent lightfastness. Every shade has been formulated using finely ground pigments chosen for their purity, intensity, and resistance to UV rays. Strong coverage and mixing capacity allow for intense applications, blending, and burnishing, while extreme softness enables subtle blending and gradations. Cases are made of environmentally friendly California cedar.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends heavy layers; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Fills space; blends lightly.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn’t blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Smudges; fills space; blends okay; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Smudges; fills space; lightly blends; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Spreads; fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; blends well.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends very well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends very well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends very well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Pine Needle oil, Klean Strip OMSS, Liquid and Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Vaseline, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, aluminum oxide.
Derwent Colorsoft
Colors tested: Red, Acid Yellow and White
These soft, smooth, velvety Derwent Colorsoft pencils can be mixed and blended to create an infinite spectrum of rich, vibrant colors. They're ideal for a wide range of drawing styles, from bold contemporary still lifes and portraiture to finely detailed work — fashion illustration, animal portraiture, and landscapes. The unique formulation is highly blendable and glides smoothly over a wide variety of drawing surfaces. They are acid-free and tested for lightfastness.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends all layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills space; lightly blends.
Paper stump smudging: Fills space; lightly blends.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn’t blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; blends okay; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; lightly blends; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends very well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: D-limonene, Eucalyptus oil, Pine Needle oil, Dipropylene glycol, Liquid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Derwent Procolor
Colors tested: Bright Red, Buttercup Yellow and Chinese White
These highly pigmented colored pencils have a smooth formulation and laydown, combined with a strong yet blendable 4 mm core that sharpens to a fine point for creating detailed layers. Ideal for blending, layering, cross-hatching, and other colored pencil techniques, Derwent ProColor Colored Pencils also feature a clean, no-dust formula.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends all layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills space; lightly blends.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; lightly blends; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; blends okay; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; lightly blends; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills space; blends well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends very well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Pine Needle oil, Dipropylene glycol, Liquid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Derwent Lightfast
Colors tested: Scarlet, Sun Yellow and White
Guaranteed to be 100% lightfast for up to 100 years under museum conditions, Derwent Lightfast Colored Pencils have thick cores that combat the effects of UVA light, assuring longevity of your artwork. These professional-quality, oil-infused pencils have smooth, creamy cores that lay down dense, opaque color and mix well with other media to create new colors.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends all layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends okay; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills space; lightly blends.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; lightly blends; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; blends okay; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; lightly blends; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills some space; blends well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends well.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends very well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Triethyl citrate, Pine Needle oil, Dipropylene glycol, Liquid and Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Bruinzeel Design
Colors tested: Deep Red, Lemon Yellow and White
These colored pencils are crafted with extreme care to meet artists' exacting standards. The 3.7 mm wide-gauge, perfectly centered, and double-glued colored cores combine with the finest light cedar casings to make Bruynzeel Design Colored Pencils very resistant to breakage and a joy to sharpen. A balanced color range, with matching pigments between the colored pencil and watercolor pencil ranges, in addition to subtle color release and incredible lightfastness, make them a top choice for the discerning graphic artist, fine artist, designer, illustrator, or hobbyist.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends okay; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Fills space; lightly blends.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends very well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn't blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; lightly blends; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; lightly blends; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills some space; blends well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends very well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends very well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; doesn’t blend.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills space; blends well. Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends very well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends very well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends okay.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends okay.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Triethyl citrate, Pine Needle oil, Liquid and Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Tombow Irojiten
Colors tested: Crimson, Firefly Yellow and Eggshell
"Irojiten" is the Japanese expression for "color encyclopedia." Available in 90 unique, natural colors, these beautifully crafted, artist-grade pencils possess qualities that have made them an all-time classic in Japan. Irojiten Colored Pencils have an elegant enamel finish and a rich, creamy texture that allows for smooth, even blending and easy layering with no waxy buildup. Pencils are sold in sets of 30 or open stock. There is no pure white.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Doesn't blend; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends okay; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends well.
Erasing: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Scraping: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn't blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; lightly blends; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills some space; blends well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; lightly blends.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vaseline: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends very well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends well.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: Triethyl citrate, Pine Needle oil, Isododecane, Kleen Strip OMSS, Dipropylene glycol, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Brutfuner
Colors tested: #073 (Red), #004 (Yellow) and #024 (White)
Brutfuner is a Chinese brand that is advertised as an oil based professional quality pencil. The colors aren’t named, but the pencils are numbered.
They’re being sold on Facebook and advertised as the same quality as Prismacolor. I saw two fake reviews and pointed them out, and they blocked me. Buyer beware!!
These pencils are made of basswood that is prone to knots, making them difficult to sharpen.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends okay; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends well.
Erasing: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Scraping: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn't blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; blends okay; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills space; blends well.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends okay.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Fills space; blends very well.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills some space; blends okay.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends very well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends very well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills space; blends well.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills space; blends okay.
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: D-Limonene, Eucalyptus oil, Pine Needle oil, Kleen Strip OMSS, Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Sort Kwik, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
Crayola
Colors tested: Red, Yellow and White
Crayola colored pencils are an essential creative tool for kids. With thick, soft points, the pencils create brightly colored lines that are great for school projects and detailed artwork. Difficult to sharpen and lead breaks easily.
Dipropylene glycol: Blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Baby oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Liquid Coconut oil: Spreads; blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Vegetable Glycerin: Doesn't blend; evaporates slowly.
Solid Coconut oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Vaseline: Smudges; blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Triethyl citrate: Blends all layers well; evaporates slowly.
Eucalyptus oil: Blends heavy layers; evaporates quickly.
Pine Needle oil: Blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Blends heavy layers; evaporates slowly.
Klean Strip OMSS: Smudges; blends all layers well; evaporates quickly.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Cotton smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Paper stump smudging: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Aluminum oxide: Fills space; blends well.
Erasing: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Scraping: Doesn’t fill space; doesn’t blend.
Lyra Rembrandt blender: Fills space; doesn’t blend.
Caran d’Ache burnishing: Smudges; fills space; doesn't blend; wax bloom.
Prismacolor blender: Fills space; lightly blends; wax bloom.
White burnishing: Fills space; doesn’t blend; dilutes color.
Sort Kwik: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Cocoa butter: Smudges; fills space; blends well.
Dipropylene glycol: Fills space; blends well.
Baby oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Liquid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends well.
Vegetable Glycerin: Doesn't fill space; doesn’t blend.
Solid Coconut oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Vaseline: Fills some space; blends okay.
Lacquer Thinner:
Lighter Fluid:
Medicinal Gum Spirits:
Industrial Gum Spirits:
Rubber Cement Thinner:
D-Limonene: Fills space; blends very well.
Triethyl citrate: Fills space; blends well.
Eucalyptus oil: Fills some space; lightly blends.
Pine Needle oil: Fills space; blends very well.
Gum Spirits EO:
Isododecane: Fills some space; blends okay
Kleen Strip OMSS: Fills space; blends very well.
Gamsol OMS:
Weber Odorless Terpenoid:
Silicone Brush Cleaner:
B-12 Chemtool:
Mineral Turpentine:
Goof Off Pro Strength Remover:
Best overall: D-Limonene, Triethyl citrate, Pine Needle oil, Kleen Strip OMSS, Solid Coconut oil, Baby oil, Cocoa Butter, Prismacolor white, Aluminum oxide.
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