The handmade process is the key. Machine-made pastels are mixed in large vats with pigments, gums, water, and additives, pushed through an extruder, chopped into lengths and sent to the drying operation.

In the Unison handmade process, the pigment hardly gets pressed at all—the sticks are instead rolled lightly. It makes them very fluent when you use them—like soft charcoal. These pastels are more expensive than the machine-made pastels, but worth every penny!

This set has 18 rich, beautiful colors that I feel are a great value.