#ink

In the off-chance this review sounds familiar to you, let me tell you that I have, in fact reviewed Noodler's Gruene Cactus Eel way back in 2011 at the beginnings of this blog, which puts it more than 4 1/2 years back. The current review isn't about an updated ink formula, or a new bottle I...

This, my friends, will be my last new ink review for a good while. I have reached the last of my ink samples and, after blogging about fountain pens and inks for more than 4 years, I will be taking a break from it all to focus on other, unrelated, projects. I wish I could say I saved the best ink...

I bought this sample of Diamine China Blue some time ago because I was attracted by the exotic name. It wasn't too bad looking either, judging from other reviews I'd seen. I tested it in my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib and eyedropper conversion. Quick note here. To my dismay, when I was...

This will probably be my last green ink review for a while, so I present J Herbin Vert Pre, reviewed in my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib and eyedropper conversion. Bottle capacity: 30 ml / 1 oz Price: $11 Price / ml: $0.37 I'll say this from the get-go: Vert Pre is a type of green...

I find it fascinating how a small, boutique ink maker like Noodler's can offer not only a vast range of colors, but also a large variety of specialized ink features. But perhaps that's the secret: a 1-man company like Noodler's can be a lot more flexible than a large corporation. Today's special...

A review of Noodler's Shah's Rose has been a long time coming. This is one of the first inks I had heard of when the fountain pen craze first struck, around 2011. By now, everyone and their grandma has reviewed Noodler's Shah's Rose. Perhaps because of that, I didn't feel a lot of pressure to...

Private Reserve Invincible Black is one of those inks that seem to have vanished from the market between the time when I bought the sample and now, when I finally got the chance to review it. It's quite a shame since waterproof inks (which it is) are not in every manufacturer's portfolio. Outside...

My ink sample supply is dwindling fast and I found myself scraping the bottom of the barrel as I reached for the vial of J Herbin Bleu Azur. For a while now I've been reviewing the inks that I thought would be the most interesting, so what's left are, naturally, the runts of the litter. Well, ok,...

I haven't reviewed a bright blue ink in, like, forever, so I was almost taken aback to realize that I actually had some Private Reserve Daphne Blue among my samples. Here it goes then: PR Daphne Blue reviewed in the Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib and eyedropper conversion. Bottle...

Noodler's Mandalay Maroon is one of those inks that I wanted to test for a while and its time has finally come. Two things attracted me to this ink: the exotic name, and the color burgundy. It is also a V-Mail ink, resembling vintage inks to some extent. Along with this label, water resistance...

Diamine Pumpkin is yet another orange ink from Diamine. How does it measure up to other orange inks? Does it shade? Is it worth picking up? Why Pumpkin over other inks? Pumpkins in March? All these, and more, will be answered shortly. But first, a short reminder that I tested this ink in my Kaweco...

Diamine Evergreen is one of the more special greens that have passed through my hands in recent memory. I tested the sample in my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib. I can tell you right away that I like this ink but read on to find out more details. Bottle capacity: 80 ml / 2.7 oz Price:...

Christmas Edition Ink Review Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays folks! This is my last ink review for this year and I decided to post it on Christmas day, at the risk of no one reading it. But Noodler's Air Corp Blue Black is a rather special and quirky ink so it's probably fitting. Don't get me...

Noodler's GI Green marks the 4th ink tested by me in the V-Mail series, after North African Violet, Burma Road Brown, and Operation Overlord Orange. Read more about V-Mail inks directly on Noodler's site. I always enjoyed the way Noodler's comes up with all these different ink series, with similar...

Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia is a special ink from Noodler's, in that there's an interesting story behind it, it comes only in 4.5 oz bottles which include a free pen, it has a peculiar scent, and the color is rather unique. One more, very important detail, is that this is one of Noodler's...

Crazy as it may sound, I've been using Diamine Coral in my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib and eyedropper conversion at work for the past couple of weeks. Yes, a hot pink ink. What baffles me is how my co-workers can be completely oblivious to the fact. Oh well, I like flying under the radar....

Parker is a consecrated name in the fountain pen world but it's the first time I'm testing an ink from this brand, and I'm kicking it off with Parker Quink "Permanent" Blue Black. You'll find the reasons for the quotes shortly. Saying that Parker doesn't have a wide range of inks is a bit of an...

Slowly but surely I am moving into the less voted-for inks in my ink sample survey. This time it's Diamine Prussian Blue and I loaded it into my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib and eyedropper conversion. Bottle capacity: 80 ml / 2.7 oz Price: $12.95 Price / ml: $0.16 Diamine Prussian...

Looks like I'm caught in a vicious circle of red and burgundy ink reviews, because it's time for yet another red ink: Diamine Red Dragon. This is easily the darkest red I've tested, to the point where it could just as well be classified under burgundy, but since it has "red" in the name, this is...

You voted for it, so the next ink in my ink sample survey is Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris. I tested the sample (in fact I'm still using it as we speak) in my Kaweco Sport Classic with broad nib. A bottle of Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris holds 50ml / 1.7oz and retails for $12. That's...

With my recent reviews of burgundy inks - Diamine Syrah and Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses - I thought it might be fitting to end this "series" by reviewing the other ink in Noodler's Black Swan family, English Roses. Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses (BSER) is a bit of a departure...

In my Diamine Syrah review I waxed poetically about how great this ink is. I will maintain my opinion (kind of), but in the meantime I discovered two things which made me cool down my assessment somewhat. Usually Diamine inks are very well behaved so I was surprised to discover that... It stains...

There's been some discussion lately surrounding Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses (see here for example). What essentially happened is that one of the components in the original ink was changed subtly by the manufacturer of said component, without informing anyone of the fact, much less...

The next ink from my ink sample survey, which got equal votes to Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrun, is Diamine Syrah. This ink is perfect for today's review because it is similar to the subject of a recent controversy: the change in formula for Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses (aka BSAR)....

Today's review marks a double-premiere: my first contact with the De Atramentis brand and the first partnership with one of my favorite pen shops, Goulet Pens, who were very kind to send me a bottle of De Atramentis Black Green ink. As a disclaimer I will have to mention that I received the ink for...

As per my ink sample survey, I present you with the second ink you voted for: Sailor Jentle Apricot. In truth, this ink tied with 2 others, but I decided to review it first because, as you might (or might not) know, Sailor is discontinuing all their old inks, including this one, and replacing them...

Here I am, finally able to review one of the ink samples that I still have an abundance of. I asked you a while back if you would like to participate in my ink sample survey and the response was excellent. It was a good idea to hold a survey, if I say so myself. So it turns out that Rohrer &...

I know, I know, I promised that my next review would be from my collection of ink samples, based on the ink sample survey I ran a few weeks ago. I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint those who were expecting this, at least for another week. If you don't care why, skip the next paragraph....

I don't often review full ink bottles anymore, but when I do, it's mostly because Jetpens were so kind to send me one. Today's review is for Waterman Florida Blue, an ink that is somewhat extinct, which is probably another reason why there's no giveaway this time. Jetpens told me that the only...

Time for another giveaway, courtesy of Jetpens, as well as a review of the ink itself. It is a special ink, one that I wanted to review as soon as I heard it was being produced. It is another "limited edition" ink from J Herbin, 1670 Anniversary Bleu Ocean (or Ocean Blue). The reason why I put...

In my last post I promised that I would review another grey ink, back to back with Diamine Grey. Well, the mystery ink is revealed today, and it is, you guessed it, Diamine Graphite. I could save myself the trouble, and you the time, and simply state that Diamine Graphite is an almost identical...

It's been a long time since I reviewed a grey ink so I got the urge to test one of the grey samples I have. I settled on Diamine Grey. If you're looking for a generic ink name, Diamine's got you covered. Now, grey inks can be rather boring, in my humble opinion, but I like to keep an open mind and...

With Rohrer & Klingner Fernambuk I'm yet again stepping in unknown territory by reviewing a new ink manufacturer. It's been a while since I reviewed a pink ink and while I realize that perhaps not many folks may be interested in such an ink, this is what I decided to pick for my everyday "red"...

As fate would have it, Jetpens were kind enough to send me another ink for review. This time I opted for a brown ink. I can't explain it but I have a weakness for brown inks. Maybe because I love chocolate, brown leather boots and my brown cargo pants. For the first time I'm also reviewing a...

The day has finally come when I can review an Iroshizuku ink. Deviating slightly from my usual format for recent reviews, instead of a sample, I'm able to play with an entire bottle, courtesy of Jetpens. Full disclosure: while Jetpens provided the ink, they haven't paid me for this review so the...

I haven't posted in a long time, and going forward it is highly likely that I will post very sporadically. While I still enjoy using inks and fountain pens, and I still have a large number of ink samples to review, life has guided me in a different direction and I find myself with very little time...

Back to another green ink and this time it's Noodler's Green. In what has almost become a tradition these days, I'm reviewing a sample of this ink in my Pilot Varsity. Bottle A bottle of Noodler's Green will run you the usual $12.50 for 3oz (90ml) or $0.14 per milliliter. Cheap as rainwater......

I haven't reviewed many Private Reserve inks so far, and Invincible Aqua Blue makes my third. It's also the most "exotic" of them, mostly because it has been discontinued (correct me if I'm wrong). This means that you won't be able to buy it anywhere, which makes this review almost pointless....

3 months into 2013 I'm finally posting something new on this blog. I've neglected it for too long, but in my defense I've been concerned with my personal well-being and healthy living in general, which left me with very little time to test and review new inks. As for fountain pens, I haven't bought...

Diamine Cerise is one of those inks that really stands out. You might need to blink several times after staring at something written in Cerise because it's bound to make your eyes water. If you're looking for a hot pink (novelty) ink, this might be the one for you. Because Diamine inks are...

I think it's bad form to start any review with the conclusion but I'm afraid I can't help it in this case. In a nutshell, I absolutely love Noodler's Green Marine and it is definitely the best green ink I have tested so far. If your tastes are similar to mine, you can stop right here and...

It's been a long time since I wrote a review and here I am now, typing this from an airport waiting-lounge on another continent. In truth, I haven't been using other inks save for the one I'm reviewing now: Private Reserve Tanzanite. In what has almost become a tradition, I tested this new ink in...

For my next Warden-series ink I tested a sample of Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher, as usual in my Pilot Varsity. Incidentally, this will be my shortest ink review yet. Why, you ask? Because Bad Belted Kingfisher and Bad Blue Heron which I tested a while back are almost identical twins, differing...

I love testing new inks but reviewing a new brand altogether can be even more exciting. So is the case with my first ink from Sailor, Jentle Grenade. Once again, this is just a sample that I picked up to review, and not a full bottle. I will admit that the name of this ink is rather peculiar....

Ah, Noodler's Fox Red, an ink that I wanted to test for a very long time. Its turn has finally come. Being a red ink, I didn't have much use for it, except in my red fountain pen that I use at work. I use red mostly to underline stuff and make small notes so it takes a long time before I exhaust...

Bad Blue Heron is yet another Noodler's ink with a quirky name. This particular ink belongs to the Warden series, which features extremely high resistance to forgery techniques and substances. This is always good to have, as a feature, because there aren't very many ink manufacturers who make...

Welcome to my first review of a Pelikan ink! Although I didn't know what to expect from Pelikan Brilliant Green, the experience was so-so, leaning on the positive side. I only bought a sample which I tested in my trusted Pilot Varsity for over 2 weeks of daily writing. Bottle Brilliant Green...

For my second Waterman ink, after Waterman Havana Brown, I tested their Purple ink, which is now called Tender Purple. Tender, perhaps, because that's the shade of a particularly nasty bruise? Maybe. I bought a sample of this ink and tested it for two weeks (that's about how long a typical 2ml...

This is my first time testing and reviewing a Private Reserve ink and so I feel a little bit like a pioneer exploring new lands. I bought a sample of this ink partially attracted by the name, Electric DC Blue, which hinted at a more unusual shade of blue. I will admit that the name is a bit...

Noodler's Dragon's Napalm is an ink that I wanted to try for a long time. I finally decided to test the sample I've been saving. My general impressions are good. This is a very balanced ink but the color may be off-putting to some due to its brightness and saturation. Oh, in case you're wondering,...

Well then folks, here we are, finally, with the fabled and notorious Noodler's Baystate Blue ink. If you've been watching the fountain pen community for a while, you are probably aware how controversial this ink is (or at least was). I'm not going to repeat what the controversies are because I want...

Noodler's Polar Green marks the third ink in Noodler's "Polar" range that I tested, the other two being Polar Brown and Polar Blue. Third time's the charm they say but not in this case, I'm afraid. Due to a combination of factors I just couldn't enjoy this ink. I tested Polar Green first in my...

Noodler's Kung Te-Cheng is a very interesting ink. It is apparently reproduced from an ancient Chinese formula and it is meant to mimic the color of the inks used by Chinese emperors. If you ask me, I tend to agree that this color seems particularly royal. The ink itself is purple but it can trick...

Noodler's #41 Brown is the first brown ink I wanted to buy a long time ago, but because it wasn't in stock at the time, I ended up with Polar Brown. It turns out that these two inks are so similar that they could be identical twins which only their mother can tell apart. The main features of #41...

Happy New Year everyone! To continue where I left off last year, I'm going to do a quick review of another yellow highlighter ink, namely Noodler's Year of the Golden Pig. Why a quick review? Because this ink is incredibly similar in appearance to my previously tested highlighter ink, Noodler's...

As a departure from my usual reviews, I will attempt for the first time to review a highlighter ink. There aren't many companies that make such inks, in my knowledge, apart from Pelikan with a single yellow ink and Noodler's which has a large variety of them. For now I will review Noodler's...

What's in a name? J Herbin Diabolo Menthe is not the only ink that mesmerized me into trying it thanks to its catchy name. Nor will it be the last. Luckily I didn't buy a whole bottle - just a sample. You will find out shortly why I'm so "lucky". I am going under the assumption that Diabolo Menthe...

Hunter Green is yet another of Noodler's "special" inks, not only in some of its properties but also its price, which is 3 times higher than the usual crop of Noodler's inks. I am on a perpetual quest to find the perfect green ink and this is my second tryout for a contender, after Noodler's Gruene...

Havana Brown is the first ink under the Waterman brand that I have tested. Though the brand name might suggest otherwise, apparently Waterman is a French company. Also, on the bottle and box there is no mention of "Havana Brown" per se, just Encre Havane and Havana Ink. I was so intrigued by this...

At one point in my short fountain-pen-and-ink-loving career I got the notion that I should get a grey ink to use in my drawing endeavors. I must specify at this point that I'm not an artist by any stretch of the imagination. I just like art, I have a great admiration for the drawing side of art and...

Looking for a gorgeous dark blue ink? You might just fall in love with Diamine's Majestic Blue. This is the darkest blue ink I've tested so far and I got a sample because I heard good things about its color and shading. A bottle typically costs $12.50 for 80ml (or 2.7oz) and the price per...

Operation Overlord Orange is the third ink in Noodler's V-Mail series that I've tested. The other two were Burma Road Brown and North African Violet. I liked NA Violet, didn't like Burma Road Brown but I really disliked Operation Overlord Orange. Read on to find out why. Like all V-Mail inks, "OO"...

I'm on a quest to find the perfect blue ink. With Noodler's Polar Blue, I'm so very close but not there yet. Read on to find out why. Noodler's Polar range of inks is interesting because it has some very cool properties. One of them is them is resistance to forgery, including exposure to water....

How many of us fountain pen aficionados write in yellow ink? Not many I would guess. And yet, there are yellow inks out there and there are very valid reasons to use them. First, let me get this right out of the way: I don't believe anyone will use a yellow ink in a fountain pen just for...

I've been quite enthusiastic about the fountain pen inks I've tested so far and that's because all of them have shown overall more positive aspects than negative ones. Noodler's Burma Road Brown is the first ink which has left me disappointed. Before you read too much into this, just bear in mind...

Many words have been written about J Herbin's 1670 Anniversary Rouge Hematite (whew what a mouthful!) and now it's my turn to give my impressions on this special ink. I had set my sights on this ink even before I got into fountain pens. From various reviews I came to the understanding that this is...

Noodler's North African Violet is a V-Mail series ink and it is, of course, purple. V-Mail inks are a collection of inks from Noodler's, with "vintage qualities" though I'm a bit unclear as to what that means exactly. All I know is that the term "V-Mail", which stands for Victory Mail, was used...

Slowly but surely I have arrived at reviewing one of my favorite inks: Noodler's Polar Brown. There are several reasons why I purchased this ink. I needed an ink that would be suitable for writing in a journal. I decided to write a chronicle of my family, my life history and so on. Such an ink...

And now for something different... I'm not sure how many people enjoy unconventional ink colors but I'm a sucker for bright inks. Fountain pen ink to me is more than just a medium for writing by hand. It is also paint, glorious color that I can lay down on paper with my favorite instrument, a...

We will BURY YOU! is written on the 4.5oz bottle of Noodler's Nikita ink, right above an emblem of the former Soviet Union and next to a picture of a gesticulating Nikita Khrushchev. While Nathan Tardiff's (the owner and creator of the Noodler brand) political statements might not be to everyone's...

The reason I bought Noodler's Gruene Cactus Eel was because I wanted a dark green ink that I could use for writing. It had to be dark enough and saturated enough that the words would show nicely on paper. In this regard, the ink performs. The "Eel" line of Noodler's inks refers to the fact that the...

I don't know what possessed me to want an orange ink but I decided that I needed a shade of orange in my ink collection. My requirements were rather simple: I wanted a very bright and saturated ink. In fact that is generally my mantra in regards to inks: they have to be punchy. I was naturally led...

For my first black ink I wanted an extremely dark shade of black so after much research I decided to go with Noodler's Heart of Darkness or HOD as it is also known. Though there are darker blacks, Heart of Darkness is black enough for me and considering it is a generally well-behaved ink, I...

Before I start this review I feel like I have to make a big disclaimer. First, I hope you will forgive my handwriting. It is terrible, although fountain pens do help to improve it. Things get worse if I write quicker. Second, I've tried scanning my ink samples but unfortunately the scanner really...