If you’re a crayon connoisseur, you know Crayola. While they offer a cool collection of colors, I submitted a few of my own for their consideration…

Dear Crayon Color Coordinator:

Since Crayola Crayons always have the best selection of colors, I was wondering if you ever plan to offer a box of more obscure colors. For example, there’s Icteritious (an intriguing jaundiced yellow). How about Puccoon (a captivating reddish bloodroot)? There’s always Filemot (a lovely shade of dead leaf). And don’t forget Hoary (gray or white with age) or Rubiginous (the ultimate in rusty).

If I melted a bunch of Crayola Crayons in a pot, stirred them together and let the colorful heated liquefied crayon crud harden in the shape of crayons, would I be able to create my own colors?

As far as the colors you have created, what is the most unusual one? And what color(s) do you recommend for kids that enjoy coloring who are color-blind?

A Crayola Consumer Affairs Representative responded with:

Thank you for sharing your kind comments with us. I am happy to learn that you enjoy using Crayola(R) products. Our company receives hundreds of letters and e-mails each week. Most are inquiries for product information. Few people take the time to write and share their thoughts and experiences with us.

At Crayola, we develop new products and improve current ones through our own departments. We understand consumers like you are very valuable. By listening to your comments, we can provide the best quality products and services available. Your comments have been recorded with similar ones received from consumers.

Crayola is the manufacturer of high quality creative experience products and artist materials, marketed primarily under the Crayola and Silly Putty(R) brand names. Most of our color names are taken from a book called “Color: Universal Language and Dictionary of Names” which was published by the U.S. Bureau of Standards. We use this reference guide because everyone sees and expresses color differently. Using the Universal dictionary as a base, we can refer to a standard color system and color names. Many crayon names are also borrowed from traditional artists’ paints.

In addition, we have asked consumers, through various promotions, to help name crayon colors. To learn about any future color naming opportunities, please register to receive our newsletter at http://www.crayola.com/registration.

You may be interested to learn that customized crayon colors can be made using the Crayola Crayon Maker(TM), a machine that remakes and remolds Crayola crayon pieces. Crayola also offers many craft ideas on our sites, including some where crayons are melted. We do have a warning note in these techniques that states care should be exercised when melting Crayola Crayons and that irritating fumes can be released if heated at a high temperature. Our crayons have a melting point between 128-147 degrees Fahrenheit and they will begin to soften at about 105 degrees Fahrenheit. For more information,  please visit the Art Techniques section of our site.

I am sorry to disappoint you; however, we are unable to recommend colors for children who experience color vision confusion. An option for these children would be Crayola Silly Scents(TM) Crayons and Super Tips Washable Markers with Silly Scents Markers. These are wonderful art products for these children because they can use their sense of smell to identify a color as they see it with a familiar scent.

Enclosed is a variety of information about Crayola and our products I hope you enjoy. We appreciate your contact, and hope you continue to choose Crayola products for your creative needs. Best wishes for a colorful future!

Colorfully yours,
“Name of Consumer Affairs Representative”

Final Thoughts: Crayola clearly cares about their consumers. They delivered a comprehensive response filled with passion for what they do. The reply included several fun printouts and interesting reference materials, many of which you can view at www.crayola.com. In the “Crayola Media Center,” check out the links to the far right under “About Crayola.” In particular, give “Crayola Fun Facts” and “Crayola Colorful Moments in Time” a look. If you’re into colors, follow Crayola® Crayon Chronology from 1903 to today.

Few companies offer customer service as complete — and creative — as Crayola. Since many questions about products are not black and white, one way to see a brand’s true colors is to Write The Company.