They were discontinued Crayola Colors. Crayola crayons are in 80 countries, and almost everyone in the U.S. knows them. Back in 1990, Crayola did something different. They discontinued eight colors like maize, lemon yellow, blue gray, raw umber, green blue, orange-red, orange-yellow, and violet-blue. Not only this, but they also brought in some cool ones like vivid tangerine, jungle green, cerulean, fuchsia, Dandelion, teal blue, royal purple, and wild strawberry.
Then, in 2003, they threw a big party for their 100th birthday. They discontinued blizzard blue, magic mint, mulberry, and teal blue. But, they brought in new pals like inchworm, mango tango, wild blue yonder, and jazzberry jam.
And guess what? On National Crayon Day in 2017, they told everyone Dandelion was taking a break. They even sent Dandelion on a trip to all his favorite spots! And on May 5, 2017, they spilled the beans about who took Dandelion’s place.
Yes, you read that right! The dandelion crayon was discontinued then, and a new blue one came. It was the third time Crayola discontinued colors. But the first time, they changed one in the 24-crayon box. Now, let’s look at a list of discontinued Crayola Colors!
List Of Discontinued Crayola Colors
Did you know that Crayola, the company making crayons, discontinued over 500 colors? They decide to retire a color by changing the color or its name. These retired colors can become rare and valuable for collectors. There are different categories of retired colors, like those with additives (glitter or smell), permanent name changes, and temporary changes for contests or unique sets.
Colors discontinued in 1910:
- Celestial Blue
- Charcoal Gray
- Chrome Green, Dark, and more
Color Names temporarily changed for a commemorative or promo set:
- Inventors Hall of Fame Set
- Carbon Black
- 100 Billionth Crayon, and more
Colors discontinued in 1999:
- Thistle
Color Names changed temporarily for a contest:
- Macaroni and Cheese Contest (2003)
- C-Rex
Color Names temporarily changed for a brand:
- Chili’s (2003)
- Banana Berry-Blitz
- Pepper Pal’s Red and more
Discontinued Colors with Additives (Glitter or Smell):
- Silver Swirls (1990)
- Aztec Gold
- Burnished Brown
- Cinnamon Satin and more
There’s a lot of history behind Crayola colors, with names changing for various reasons. Some of these colors are rare and hard to find now, making them unique for collectors.
Moreover, Crayola has made over 200 colors. Check out some of the Crayola Colors that we might miss now:
- Bright orange-red called “Permanent Geranium Lake” lasted from 1903 to 1910.
- “Middle Yellow” was a medium bright yellow from 1926 to 1944.
- “Medium Chrome Green” was a hunter green from 1903 to 1939.
- “Teal Green,” a teal color, was produced from 1990 to 2003.
- “Mulberry” was a magenta violet from 1958 to 2003.
- “Carmine” was pink-red from 1935 to 1958 and “Carmine Red” from 1949 to 1958.
- “Raw Umber” was a brown color from 1903 to 1990.
- “Raw Sienna” was a mustard yellow from 1903 to around 1910.
- “Magic Mint,” a pale mint green, was produced from 1990 to 2003.
- “Atomic Tangerine” was a bright orange from 1972 to 1990.
What Is The Timeline Of Crayola?
Crayola is the company that makes all kinds of art stuff, especially those colorful crayons we all love. It used to go by Binney & Smith, but now Hallmark Cards owns it.
They were started in 1885 by two cousins, Edwin Binney and Charles Harold Smith. At first, they made industrial stuff. But then they switched gears to make cool art things for homes and schools. First came chalk, then the famous crayons. Later on, they added colored pencils, markers, paints, and more. And guess what? Everything they make is safe for kids like us to use.
Crayola is a big deal in the U.S.; you can find their stuff in over 80 countries. The word “Crayola” was made up by Edwin’s wife, Alice. It comes from French words for “chalk” and “oily.”
They’ve been making crayons for ages. In 1903, they introduced those famous Crayola crayons. They even won awards for their dustless chalk and started sticking gold medals on their products. As the years rolled on, they added more colors and bought another crayon company in 1926.
In 1958, they did something huge – they made a 64-color pack with a built-in crayon sharpener. That was a big deal! They went public in 1963 and later moved to the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1977, they got the rights to Silly Putty.
In 1984, Hallmark Cards took them under their wing.
They just kept growing, adding colored pencils in 1987. Crayola crayons made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Then, in 2007, Binney & Smith switched things up and changed their name to Crayola LLC.
In 2011, they thought about us little ones and launched ‘My First Crayola.’ They made special crayons and markers with fantastic shapes like triangles.
In 2015, they brought out “Color Escapes,” this special coloring kit for grown-ups to chill and have fun.
On March 31, 2017, Crayola announced that Dandelion, one of their crayon colors, was retiring. But, they brought in a new color called “Bluetiful” on September 14, 2017. Scientists at Oregon State University figured out this cool hue while experimenting with electronics. How awesome is that?
In 2021, Crayola teamed up with Kellogg’s to make a cereal called Kellogg’s Crayola Jazzberry Cereal. It’s not just any cereal; it’s rainbow-colored corn puffs! They even threw in a coloring book on the box. You can also access a digital pet in the Scribble Scrubbie Pets App. How fun is that for breakfast?
On August 3, 2023, Crayola started a new division called a studio. This studio will make excellent shows and videos for kids and families. Victoria Lozano, who works at Crayola, oversees this exciting new part of the company.
What Is The Oldest Crayola Color?
The first box of Crayola Crayons was made way back in 1903. It had 8 crayons and cost only five cents. The colors in that box were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, and black.
Scientists at the University of York found something extraordinary – a crayon that’s like 10,000 years old! It’s a long piece of ochre with one end all pointy. They found it near an old lake in North Yorkshire, with lots of ancient stuff from the Mesolithic.
Does Crayola Still Make Colors?
Yes, Crayola still makes colors! They’ve got more colors than you can imagine – 120 in the regular box! Over the years, they’ve discontinued some colors. Sixty of them, to be exact. They call it “retiring” the colors.
You can now find 120 regular crayon colors in the 120-count box. And guess what? Crayola did something super cool in 2020! They made a special box called “Colors of the World” with 24 crayons that match the skin tones of people from all around the globe. The box even has color names in French, English, and Spanish.
Why Are Crayola Colors The Best?
Here’s why Crayola colors are the best:
- The Marines are like Crayola.
- They have a ton of colors.
- They’ve got super bright colors for drawing happy things like Unicorns, Rainbows, and sunsets/rises.
- They also have more muted colors for people who like darker stuff, like emos and witches.
- Crayola is the first to do it, the OG (original gangster).
How Many Colors Does Crayola Have Now?
Crayola has 120 crayon colors! That’s a bunch of choices. The best part is that you can see the list of these colors on their website.
Who Are The Competitors Of Crayola?
Crayola is like a bunch of crayon brands. Some are Faber-Castell, The Pencil Grip, Dixon, Sargent Art, and Prang. There are more, but these are some of the ones that do things like Crayola.
Are Crayola Colors Vegan?
No, Crayola Colors aren’t vegan! This is why Crayola isn’t suitable for vegans because they might have animal stuff in them. A person who talks for Crayola said they use animal things in some of their stuff.
Crayola doesn’t tell everyone what’s precisely in their markers. But people say they might have milk, bug shells, beeswax, gelatin, or bone stuff. These things could stick the markers together or keep them sound. Crayola crayons are believed to have something called stearic acid. This thing can be from plants or animals, like cow fat. People say Crayola admitted to using animal stearic acid. A vegan website says this thing makes the crayons have a unique smell.
Where Can You Buy Crayola Colors?
You can get Crayola crayons in many stores, both online and in regular shops. On Amazon.com, you can buy a pack of 24 colors for $6.99. If you prefer going to a store, places like Staples and Office Depot might have them. If you need a lot of one color, there are some suppliers you can contact for big orders:
- Art Supply Wholesale
- Blick Art Materials
- Essendant
- Nasco Arts & Crafts
- Paper People
- SP Richards
- Variety Distributors Inc.
Bottom Line
Finding out about discontinued Crayola colors is like discovering hidden treasures from the past. Once part of the vibrant Crayola family, these forgotten hues add a touch of nostalgia to our coloring memories. Exploring these discontinued shades is like taking a colorful journey through time, unlocking the creativity of yesteryears. Each retired color holds a story, a unique chapter in the ever-evolving Crayola palette. Though they may be gone from the current box, their presence lingers in the hearts of those who once wielded them to bring their imagination to life. Discontinued colors, though faded, remain vivid in our colorful recollections. But fret not! You can still buy Crayola Colors.