Have you heard about new Filana Organic Beeswax Crayons? I am so excited to introduce them at the beginning of this new year at Bella Luna Toys!
Click on the video link above to learn more about Filana Crayons, how they are different from the Stockmar Wax Crayons that we also carry, and see a comparison of the color quality.
TRANSCRIPT:
Stockmar is a German company, that originally produced beeswax candles. More than 50 years ago, they began producing crayons containing beeswax for use in Waldorf schools. Stockmar crayons have been used widely in Waldorf schools around the world since then, and have become known for their rich pigments and quality of color, and for the warmth and scent that the beeswax lends.
What I and many other Waldorf educators were not aware of until recently, is that Stockmar crayons are made from a base of paraffin and contain only 10% beeswax.
A base of pure beeswax would not work for crayons, as by itself, it would not allow the pigments to glide onto paper, so the beeswax must be combined with other waxes and oils.
Now paraffin is the base of most conventional crayons like Crayola®, and is considered non-toxic and safe for children. However, paraffin is a petroleum product and petroleum is not a renewable resource.
When a blogger posted research she had done on Stockmar’s ingredients, there was some alarm among parents that Stockmar Crayons weren’t as natural as previously thought, and there was even surprise among Waldorf teachers, and those like me who sell Stockmar products.
Since then, there has been a desire among many Waldorf families, homeschoolers and teachers for a more natural alternative to Stockmar Crayons, which led to the birth of new Filana Crayons.
Filana Crayons were developed by a Waldorf teacher and are made in small batches here in the USA.
By comparison, Filana Crayons are made from a proprietary blend of 100% natural waxes and oils and contain 25% certified organic beeswax. They contain no paraffin or petroleum products, and are made from renewable resources, so these crayons are a great choice for anyone who is concerned about the environment and prefers to avoid petroleum products.
On the other hand, Filana Crayons do contain some soy wax, and soy is an increasingly common allergen. So if you or your child have a soy allergy, you may prefer to stick with tried-and-true Stockmar Crayons.
You may wonder how the quality compares.
I used Stockmar Crayons in my class for many years as a Waldorf teacher. I am very familiar with them and have always loved the vibrant rich colors, the quality of warmth the beeswax lends, and the pleasant aroma.
Filana Crayons were developed in response to the desire for a new paraffin-free crayon, and I was sent samples to try before they came out on the market. I was not only excited about the more natural ingredients, but I was also very impressed with their quality.
The colors are just as bright and vibrant as Stockmar Crayons (if not more so), but I also discovered that because of the addition of soy wax, Filana Crayons glide much more easily and smoothly on paper than Stockmar Crayons.
I’ve found Stockmar crayons to be a bit sticky on paper, and sometimes the color doesn’t glide on as evenly as I’d like.
Click on the video above to watch a demonstration of the crayons and to see a comparison of the quality and colors!
Have you tried Filana Crayons yet? What do you think? If you decide to give them a try, please share your feedback!
Moon Child readers are invited to save 10% on your purchase of Filana Crayons through January 31, 2015. Enter code FILANA10 at checkout.
Happy Coloring!
10 Comments
We’ve had the Filana crayons for a few months and have really enjoyed them very, very much! We have both the block and the stick Filana crayons, and we also have the Stockmar block crayons that we’ve had for quite a while. My daughter loves the vibrancy of the Filana crayons, and the ease with which she can blend and layer the color(s) for her rainbow drawings (which are the current favorite!).
My only concern with the Filana crayons stems from the difference in texture, which is great for drawing (they really are “smoother” and less “sticky”) but which makes them more brittle. Our block crayons arrived with the corner section chipped off the yellow, and one of the stick crayons has snapped in half. Crayon breakage is not the end of the world, but I think it is worth mentioning since it is a difference In our experiences with the two brands.
Overall, the Filana crayons have been greatly enjoyed by us all, and we look forward to using them for a long time to come.
My son (7) has been much more interested in coloring with block crayons since we purchased the Filana set. He is still building his fine motor skills, and these crayons are so much easier for him to apply to the paper. We have had breakage as mentioned by others, but it is still worth having these crayons if it means my son will color and enjoy it more.
I wrote a review of the Filana crayons on my blog a few months back after receiving a set as part of their Indiegogo launch campaign. In short, I prefer them to Stockmar. Here is why: http://www.wedowaldorf.com/filana-organic-beeswax-crayons-review/
It does appear that the Filana Crayons are softer, which is probably why the glide on paper so easily. Hearing lots of reports of breakage. Could be another reason Stockmar uses paraffin-to make the crayons stronger.
I have a question regarding Waldorf Crafts in general. Do you have any advice about doing projects with adolescents with moderate to severe disabilities? What projects would you recommend? (They should have some kind of “sensory play” element to them). What could make them easier? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! 🙂
I love how bright & beautiful these colors are, not to mention the natural quality!
Dear Sarah,
I read your comparison of Filana to Stockmar crayons, and have just now seen the Waldorf crayon rocks.
It is alarming to learn that ordinary crayons contain petroleum products, but I am also concerned about soy in the Filana and Waldof crayons. I have read that over consumption of soy products can cause hormonal problems, and now I worry about the use of all crayons that children and adults alike grip tightly in their hands and absorb through their skin.
What do you think?
Dear Linda,
My personal opinion is that parents today worry too much. I know that I certainly did when my children were younger, but now that they are grown, I realize how much needless anxiety I caused them and myself by worrying about every report I read of possible dangers to my children. If I had it to do all over again, I would worry much less.
Yes, paraffin is a petroleum product, but it has been used widely in Crayola and other crayons for decades and for generations. It is considered non-toxic, even if ingested.
That said, given a choice of product between one that is petroleum-based and one that is organically-based, I personally would choose the more natural product.
As for the Filana crayons, I have since learned since making my video that soy wax is not a base, but rather just one ingredient in a blend of natural oils and waxes. Further, even though a child might put a crayon in his or her mouth, I don’t think any child is going to ingest a whole crayon. They don’t taste very appetizing and I don’t think one bite would have any negative health consequences on a child. Again, both crayons have been tested and certified as non-toxic.
Finally, I don’t think there’s any need to worry about skin absorption from holding a crayon, which is a solid. I don’t think there’s any possibility of over-consumption of soy through contact with a crayon to cause hormone disruption.
My advice is to choose whichever crayon appeals most to you and trust that either choice will be safe for your child.
I hope this helps put your mind at ease some!
Warmly,
Sarah
I was trying to decide between Stockmar and Filana crayons, so I googled “Filana crayon review” and your blog/video came up. My primary concern with crayons for my two-year-old were the amount of effort it takes to press a particular crayon to get pigment. She gets very frustrated with how lightly her current off-brand crayons color. I can barely see her pictures. Your video was so helpful! Was going to buy directly from the Filana website (I had not heard of your store before), but purchased from you instead because I found you through the review. Thanks for taking the time to put it together!
I was trying to decide between Stockmar and Filana crayons, so I googled “Filana crayon review” and this blog/video came up. My primary concern with crayons for my two-year-old was the amount of effort it takes to press a particular crayon to get pigment. She gets very frustrated with how lightly her current off-brand crayons color. I can barely see her pictures. Your video was so helpful! Thanks for taking the time to put it together!