The difference is in the material. Essentially, they are all dyed wood chips :) (Yeah, the true and pure bark costs a fortune.) What wood is used for chips and what dye make the difference. The ones sold at 4/$10 usually use synthetic dye. I'm not sure about Cypress blend, but I do use a lot of Hemlock. The Hemlock bark itself is a good dye, and conventionally used in tanning leather, so you know its effect lasts long. Blend it with common wood chips, you gotta what's sold as Hemlock mix. I love its smell as it reminds me there is nothing synthetic in it.