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Jacques Herbin Bouqet d’Antan Ink Review # 236 --- 🧾 Description Bouquet d’antan translates to Bouquet of Yesteryear. All classic J Herbin inks are now marketed as Jacques Herbin. This belongs to original La Perle des encres series (now 40 inks). It’s a lovely, legible pastel pink with gentle shading. The ink behaves wonderfully on copy paper. While lubrication is below average, the writing experience was surprisingly pleasant. A wonderful surprise. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan & photo) Quotes: Translations from the original French are provided for reference only. They are unofficial and may differ slightly from published translations. Rhodia “Perfume heralds a woman’s arrival and prolongs her departure.” — Coco Chanel Iroful “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Midori “Memory is the perfume of the soul.” — George Sand Tomoe River 68gsm “Nostalgia is the desire for we know not what.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Hammermill 20 lb “Time does not protect you from love, but love, to some extent, protects you from time.” — Jeanne Moreau - Pens Used: Pilot F3A, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1), Kanwrite with a FPR Flex. JEF denotes Japanese EF, roughly equivalent to a European extra-extra-fine. Rhodia Iroful Midori Tomoe River 68gsm Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. Hammermill 20lb Closeup 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring swatch cards. Scans are approximative. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork INKTOBER 52, Day 10: Lift Mouse is terrified at the option of a lift off. Kitty Inkpot Unstoppable Snake, Jinchen Lantau Dream, Jacques Herbin: Vert Pré, Bleu Azur, Bouquet d'antan, Orange Indien, Uniball Signo White Gel, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook. Covered Cat & Mouse take their first shower together. Cat wears its wellingtons and grabs an umbrella. I wonder if, 20 years later, Cat will get used to water and take a shower instead of grooming itself, while Mouse adapts to Cat’s grooming. Jinchen Purple Forest, J. Herbin Bouquet d’Antan, Uniball Signo, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook. Great Maiden’s Blush Inspired by my love of Old Garden Roses, in this instance Great Maiden’s Blush, known since 1593. When Mouse kissed Cat for the first time, she blushed and saw pink. Lennon Tool Bar Bixi, J. Herbin Bouquet d’Antan, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook. --- - What I Liked: Muted dusky colour, legible. - What I Did Not Like: I’m still thinking about it. - Writing Experience: Quite good. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Subtle. - Ghosting: Only with a primed flex nib. - Bleed Through: Same as above. - Flow Rate: Average. - Lubrication: Below average, but nice to write with. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice - Start-up: No problems. - Saturation: No. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only when the flex was primed. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): No. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Relatively easy, but it’s a pink dye, so maybe overtime it’ll take more time to clean. - Water Resistance: Decent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 10, 30 ml bottles worldwide. Cartridges and 100 ml bottles in select stores. --- 💬 Closing I was pleasantly surprised by this elegant rose colour and enjoyed writing and drawing with it. The pastel colour softens the soul and is a balm for those seeking inner peace in turbulent times. No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.