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True water-soluble wax pastels are a narrower category than regular oil pastels or watercolor pencils — the wax base has to dissolve into a wash when a wet brush hits it, not just smear. Caran d’Ache dominates the premium end of this niche, but a handful of other brands make genuinely water-soluble wax crayons/pastels worth knowing about.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle | $2-$3 per stick, $25-$130 for sets | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Caran d’Ache Swisscolor Water-Soluble Wax Pastels | $20-$60 per set | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Reeves Watersoluble Wax Pastel Sets | $8-$18 per set | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Lyra Aqua Color Crayons | $2-$4 per crayon, $15-$40 for sets | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 | $2-$3 per pencil, $15-$35 for sets | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle
The benchmark professional water-soluble wax pastel, prized for high pigment load, lightfastness and smooth blending with a wet brush.
- Available in sets from 10 to 84 colors
- Artist-grade pigment concentration
- Works on both dry and wet paper
- Richest, most reliable water-soluble wash of any wax pastel
- Excellent lightfastness for archival work
- Usable dry as a crayon or wet as watercolor
- Premium price per stick
- Softer sticks wear down and need sharpening/peeling
Caran d’Ache Swisscolor Water-Soluble Wax Pastels
A lesser-known Caran d’Ache line offering the same water-soluble wax formulation in a different set configuration for classroom or studio use.
- Water-soluble wax pastel formula
- Swiss-made, same manufacturer as Neocolor II
- Sold in boxed sets
- Same trusted Caran d’Ache quality
- Good option if Neocolor II sets are unavailable
- Reliable wash-out with water
- Less common/harder to find than Neocolor II
- Fewer color-count options
Reeves Watersoluble Wax Pastel Sets
A more affordable, student-grade water-soluble wax pastel, good for practicing wash techniques before investing in artist-grade sticks.
- Student-grade water-soluble wax formula
- Sold in multi-color boxed sets
- Softer, budget-friendly pricing
- Much cheaper entry point into the technique
- Good for students and casual use
- Genuinely washes out with water, unlike basic wax crayons
- Less pigment richness than Caran d’Ache
- Lower lightfastness, not ideal for archival pieces
Lyra Aqua Color Crayons
Chunky, water-soluble wax crayons from the German Lyra brand, popular with illustrators for bold line-and-wash work.
- Thick, wax-based crayon form
- Fully water-soluble
- Sold individually or in sets
- Bold, saturated color even before adding water
- Durable, chip-resistant crayon body
- Good for mixed-media and illustration work
- Chunkier format than traditional pastel sticks
- Fewer color options than Neocolor II’s largest sets
Stabilo Woody 3-in-1
A thick, water-soluble wax pencil that doubles as a crayon and watercolor tool, popular for its chunky, durable format.
- 3-in-1 use: pencil, crayon, watercolor
- Extra-thick, break-resistant core
- Water-soluble wax-based pigment
- Very durable for kids/classroom use
- Genuinely washes out into a wax-based watercolor wash
- Fun, chunky format for large-scale work
- Less refined pigment quality than artist-grade pastels
- Bulkier than a traditional pastel stick
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