8 Back-to-School Supplies You’ll Want to Share (or Steal)
Photo-Illustration: Ellen Digital Ventures; Photos: Retailers
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by FRANCESCA NUNEZ HOBSON
Pop quiz! What’s the best part of Back to School? Brand new school supplies, duh! Fresh highlighters, untouched erasers, and unchewed pens. We had fun (maybe too much fun?) putting together this list of the coolest products on the market. This is the most fun shopping list you’ll come across as you prep for the school year! You’re absolutely going to want to steal, er, borrow, some of these from your kiddos – or straight up buy them for yourself!
Sunday Brunch Scented Pens
Our jaws dropped when we discovered these pens. We might have even drooled a little. May we present: a pack of Sunday Brunch scented pens. Paper Mate, you didn’t have to do this, you crazy geniuses, but we’re so glad you did. We’re just gonna leave the lineup right here, then all you’re going to want to do is click to buy. Must. Add. To. Cart!
Scents include: Sugared Grapefruit, Honeydew Melon, Vanilla Blueberry Tart, Floral Blossoms, Homemade Raspberry Jam, Hazelnut Latte, Buttermilk Biscuit, Frosted Cupcake Sprinkles, Lavender Lemon Square, Strawberry Scone, Blueberry Pancake, Vermont Maple Syrup, Pink Peony, Honeyed Tangerine, Peaches and Cream Cobbler, and Fresh Fruit Parfait.
Silly Scents ‘Sweet & Stinky’ Scented Markers
Buyer beware: when Crayola says “stinky,” they mean it. We were intrigued by the name of this product. How sweet could these markers be, and how stinky could they really get? We did a little digging, and were shocked to discover how far Crayola was willing to go into aromatically-disturbing territory. Pleasant scents like coconut, grape, and strawberry are lumped into a lineup of bizarrely specific “stinky” scents, including, and we quote: “garlic, dirty potatoes, and old rotten tooth.” Whaaat?? Of course we’re curious enough to try these! P.S. The Amazon reviews are hilarious... and haunting.
Gelly Roll Classic Set
Just looking at the picture of this neatly packaged set fills us with nostalgia. These “ice cream smooth” gel pens with waterproof and fade-resistant ink are perfect for color-coding notes, bullet journaling, and doodling in the margins of college-ruled notebooks.
Gelly Roll Moonlight Edition Set
Gelly Roll’s “Moonlight Edition” Set may sound like a studio album, but it’s actually a set of 10 creamy-smooth gel pens in a tasteful array of jewel and earth tones. The shades sound très chic, with colors like yellow ochre, vandyke brown, and bordeaux. Ooh la la!
Vibrant Liquid Highlighters
If you’re looking for the brightest, the smoothest, most vibrant highlighters in existence, then you’re in luck. Sharpie’s fluorescent liquid highlighters are the most brilliant we’ve ever used. In fact, the neon coral highlighter is so lovely, so precious, that we only use it for special occasions. Not to worry – the little plastic carrying case that comes included will help you keep track of these beautiful tools.
Throwback Chunky Highlighters
We love these chunky highlighters in a soft pastel palette. Stabilo Boss Original Highlighters were designed in 1971 and have been going strong ever since. Don’t be fooled by the retro silhouette; these highlighters are thoroughly modern, equipped with water-based ink and anti-dry-out technology. You can forget to replace the cap on any of these for up to four hours, and the marker will still be good to go! If you’re feeling like a real boss, check out these 15- and 23-color packs.
Neon Ticonderoga #2 Pencils
A classic writing tool with a 2021 twist: a neon paint job! Even the eraser on these packs pizzazz, matching the vibrant barrel color. These Ticonderogas are so truly neon that they’ll even glow under a blacklight. Not sure if that would ever really come in handy, but hey, it’s a fun fact to know.
Mechanical Pencils… with Color Blocking!
Bic’s ubiquitous mechanical pencils are all dressed up for Back to School! We love the unique color pairings of these refillable #2 pencils. It’s the little things, you know?
Colorful Erasable Pens
Every time we remember to use an erasable pen, we ask ourselves why we don’t do it more often. The smooth, colorful writing of ink with room for error that usually only a pencil can grant! We love this 10-pack of pens because it has professional colors like red, blue, and black, plus a rainbow of colorful options to add creativity to whatever project you’re poring over – homework, crosswords, shopping lists, you name it.
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