Adding Fragrances & Extracts To My Ink

[PolarMoonman]

I am fairly new to the world of fountain pens but love incense and candles. So I was delighted when I was looking up bottled inks on Amazon and saw Waterman made a special red holiday ink that was Vanilla scented. So inspired by this I went to the store and bought a small bottle of Vanilla Bean & Spice fragrance. Here is a link to it......

 

http://www.amazon.com/Elegant-Expressions-Concentrated-Fragrance-Aromatherapy/dp/B007A7HA68/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357519281&sr=8-1&keywords=vanilla+bean+and+spice+fragrance+oil

 

I got an empty mini ink cartridge I washed out and added:

 

1 mL of Parker Quink Ink

3/4 mL Fragrance Oil

 

I then put it into my Parker IM Prem. fountain pen. It smells nice and the flow does not seem to be affected. But the color of the ink is much lighter now, which doesn't bother me. I would never add any fragrance oils or extracts into my bottle of ink itself only cartridges. But am very interested in trying some new fragrances or extracts, particularly mint. So I guess I have two questions:

 

1. Is it safe to add fragrances or extracts into my ink?

 

2. Is it a common practice to add fragrance to inks?

 

Thanks,

 

P&P

Edited January 7, 2013 by ParkersandPilots

[jbb]

I'm curious about this too. I've always thought adding oils were not a good idea for fountain pen ink because they'd clog the pen. I sometimes scent my writing paper with sachets of spices, vanilla or cocoa.

[PolarMoonman]

I had worried about that too, but it hasn't clogged yet, it's been in the pen several hours and I have used it periodically all through the evening, clean start every time. I did add a drop of dish soap to the mix so that may have helped lubricate it....

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

 

Based on my very limited experience with scented inks, it seems that the scent is often quite fleeting, and is likely to dissipate before what is written is in the hands of the recipient.

 

Apparently in ye olde days, letters would be kept with dried flowers so the pages would be imbued with the scent of the blossoms, or given a spritz of perfume from an atomiser. Consequently, I would be more inclined to treat the paper itself, either before or after writing, rather than tinkering with the ink.

 

EDIT - to add: Perhaps if one stored sheets of uncoated rag writing paper loosely with some potpurrie, that scent would be absorbed by the paper. Or if one has bottled scent, perhaps that could be sprayed on a sheet of blotter paper, and the heavily scented blotter paper stored with the writing paper.

 

I hope that provides you with another avenue of pursuit.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited January 7, 2013 by Sandy1

[PolarMoonman]

Most of my writing is like short stories and poems and I'm just looking for something that will produce a pleasant smell as I write. I'm more interested in the short term than the long term....

[RainbowBright]

Most of my writing is like short stories and poems and I'm just looking for something that will produce a pleasant smell as I write. I'm more interested in the short term than the long term....

 

DeAtramentis has a vast array of scented inks, it might be what you're looking for. I own quite a few of them. They're made for fountain pens and thus perfectly safe, and the scents really do come through as you write. They don't remain on the paper, but are very noticeable on the nib and during writing. If you like blues, Forget-Me-Not smells wonderful.

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/De_Atramentis_Scented_Flowers_Plants_Inks_s/1112.htm Flowers and Plants

http://www.gouletpens.com/De_Atramentis_Scented_Fruits_Flavors_Inks_s/1113.htm Fruits and Flavors

http://www.gouletpens.com/De_Atramentis_Wine_Whiskey_Inks_s/1141.htm Wine and Whiskey

Edited January 7, 2013 by RainbowBright

[Garageboy]

I don't think the oil and ink will stay mixed together for long

[PolarMoonman]

It doesn't. It separates in the cartridge, so you have to shake it to make it mix.... That's why I keep the fountain pen stored nib up that way the oil stays in the cartridge not the nib. I don't want it to clog it.

[PolarMoonman]

Uh oh I just got my answer, pen is clogged with oil....

Edited January 8, 2013 by ParkersandPilots

[Octo]

There are several chemists on FPN and at least one perfume chemist. It would be great if they could offer suggestions of fragrances that are safe for pens.

[PolarMoonman]

I second that!