Pencils may look alike, but they can be very different!
Here's how you can tell them apart:

Pencils made from Incense-cedarⁱ (a renewable resource) are a reddish brown inside with a smooth, fine grain and a visible seam. They also have that familiar cedar scent when sharpened!

Pencils made from plastic have a pinkish color with no grain or seam, because plastic composite pencils are extruded by machine. They bend easily, and snap cleanly when broken. They do not have a scent.

Pencils made from tropical rainforest wood have a brownish color with little dark brown or red flecks. It is very hard to see the grain, and they have a slight scent.

To be sure you're buying pencils made from genuine Incense-cedar, look for the CedarMark on the package or on the Pencils.com Store item description.