Sailor's Inks Smells...weird

[hungh]

Hello folks,

 

So, I own a couple of Sailor's inks, mainly the Kiwa-guro, Jentle Apricot, Peche and Sky High.

I've been noticing that these inks have a certain smell to them that other inks don't, and I don't mean that in a good way. The smell reminds me of wet paint, which makes me kind of nauseous.

 

I was wondering if thats just me or do others also feel this way? And if you do, how do you deal with it (aside from the obvious "use other inks")?

 

 

Regards,

Hikari

[lapis]

All clear! They all smell of phenol and that is a good thing. Phenol is one of the best chemicals added to inks to prevent contaminations. That was first started at least 80 years ago. I love that smell. It is a sign of security.

 

Mike

[hungh]

Hello Mike,

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me! I was a bit worried because it smelt so different from all the other inks I have that I was afraid it was contaminated or something.

I guess if its something good for the ink I'll put up with them, even if they do smell a bit.

 

Regards,

Hikari

[Oranges and Apples]

Pilot inks smell that way as well.

 

The smell reminds of how ink is "supposed" to smell. I could only relate that smell to inks.

[lightless]

All clear! They all smell of phenol and that is a good thing. Phenol is one of the best chemicals added to inks to prevent contaminations. That was first started at least 80 years ago. I love that smell. It is a sign of security.

 

Mike

So that's what it is! I thought it was just Kiwa-guro, but then I got Sky High, and it smelled the same. Good to know, nice to have a mold-shield with an agreeable smell. The smell seems to linger on a nib, though, even after a thorough flushing and filling with another ink. The prophylactic that just keeps on going?

 

On that note, what's the stuff that smells in Noodler's? I like that smell even more!

 

Pilot inks smell that way as well.

 

The smell reminds of how ink is "supposed" to smell. I could only relate that smell to inks.

Yeah - somehow, the smell recalls calligraphy and art class, even though I can't remember ever smelling something like it back then, and I haven't spent considerable time on or in either.

Edited September 11, 2013 by lightless

[brunico]

On that note, what's the stuff that smells in Noodler's? I like that smell even more!

 

Some sort of citrus-scented biocide, no idea what. El Lawrence is cool - most people say it smells like wet earth, but to me it's that old upset tummy medicine, kaolin and morphine.

 

Glad you liked the ambient netlabel stuff on the other thread, and thanks for the link!

[lapis]

Getting back to history... when I was in school in the 50s and we started using fountain pens -- and/or dip pens -- we always had those now-celebrated Skrip ink-well bottles. Nothing else, and, boy, did those smell of phenol! I still have a few bottles via the forum, but the main thing is that those inks which are more than 60 years old are still flawless, perfect, immaculate, impeccable....

[The Good Captain]

I have some Super-Quink Blue-Black with Solv-X. Phenol in abundance.

[hungh]

Pilot inks smell that way as well.

 

The smell reminds of how ink is "supposed" to smell. I could only relate that smell to inks.

Now that you mention it, it kinda does remind me of calligraphy ink...

 

 

So does the phenol have other properties other than being a mold-shield?

 

 

Regards,

Hikari

[lapis]

I sometimes have... okay, okay... in a sort of figurative sense... the idea that we here in this forum could actually include a sub-forum entitled "Smells". Honestly!

[lightless]

 

Some sort of citrus-scented biocide, no idea what. El Lawrence is cool - most people say it smells like wet earth, but to me it's that old upset tummy medicine, kaolin and morphine.

 

Glad you liked the ambient netlabel stuff on the other thread, and thanks for the link!

Awesome! I haven't sampled El Lawrence yet, but if it smells of petrichor...

 

Yeah, thanks for that, and sure thing!

 

Now that you mention it, it kinda does remind me of calligraphy ink...

 

 

So does the phenol have other properties other than being a mold-shield?

 

 

Regards,

Hikari

I guess just smelling good! It probably has other applications in stuff too.

 

I sometimes have... okay, okay... in a sort of figurative sense... the idea that we here in this forum could actually include a sub-forum entitled "Smells". Honestly!

I agree!

 

I'm always disappointed when an ink doesn't really have a distinctive smell.

Edited September 13, 2013 by lightless

[Jadie]

Lapis, good way to put it! The "smell of security"...makes me want to make a advert for Sailor inks.

 

(Also a good way to identify which ink you have in your pen, in case it gets mixed up...) XD

 

 

I'm always disappointed when an ink doesn't really have a distinctive smell.

 

Now I'm curious---has anyone here bought scented inks, just for the smell alone?

[aenjin]

Like you I found that the smell made me (very) nauseous and I had to stop using Sailor inks (my nose would pick up the smell coming from the nib) so if it's really unbearable I'd say don't force it.

 

But if you wanted to stick with the inks, I wonder if having something with a stronger scent would help mask it, like incense? Or burning a candle while you write, it works for neutralizing onion fumes sometimes...

[..lol..]

Yes it's Phenol, but please stop sniffing it! xD

[amberleadavis]

And some of us have been "convinced" to buy phenol to add to our current collections.

[Pengrump]

The old Waterman inks used to absolutely reek of phenol. I can't say I liked the smell, but I kept having to sniff it because it was just so…ink-smelling.

[WirsPlm]

I've recently noticed that my Noodler's Polar Brown smelled strongly, and then realized that all of my inks smell a little. Haven't found one to beat the PB though, it's terrrrrible and worse than the other Noodler's I have. Does this match anyone else's experience, or should I be worried?

Edited September 13, 2013 by WirsPlm

[Scriptorium Pens]

Now I'm curious---has anyone here bought scented inks, just for the smell alone?

 

I have! I got De Atramentis Frankincense and Myrrh just because I really, really wanted to see what they smelled like. Turns out I love the aromas and the inks. Frankincense is a nice grey, while Myrrh is a Turquoise. On the other hand, I got De Atramentis Mimosa and Violet because I love those flowers. The inks, however, were so cloyingly sweet I shut the bottles and never opened them again.

[hungh]

I sometimes have... okay, okay... in a sort of figurative sense... the idea that we here in this forum could actually include a sub-forum entitled "Smells". Honestly!

That's a really interesting idea, but you'd have to smell so many things...not always pleasant.

 

Like you I found that the smell made me (very) nauseous and I had to stop using Sailor inks (my nose would pick up the smell coming from the nib) so if it's really unbearable I'd say don't force it.

 

But if you wanted to stick with the inks, I wonder if having something with a stronger scent would help mask it, like incense? Or burning a candle while you write, it works for neutralizing onion fumes sometimes...

I only smell it when I'm refilling or when I put the nib close to my face (got a habit of doing that when taking notes in classes), so I guess I'll stick with it and see if anything changes.

 

 

I have! I got De Atramentis Frankincense and Myrrh just because I really, really wanted to see what they smelled like. Turns out I love the aromas and the inks. Frankincense is a nice grey, while Myrrh is a Turquoise. On the other hand, I got De Atramentis Mimosa and Violet because I love those flowers. The inks, however, were so cloyingly sweet I shut the bottles and never opened them again.

 

I was very interested in their Frankincense and the whiskey one (forgot the name) because the colors were nice and I was curious about scented inks, but was discouraged because I didn't wan't to repeat what happened with Sailor's inks...

 

 

 

Regards,

Hikari

[Moshe ben David]

I will guess no one is still following this thread. But just in case.

 

Phenols are a class of organic chemistry compounds; characterized by a hexagonal ring structure. Most famous (infamous?) are benzene and toluene. {I did my BS in Biochemistry back when dinosaurs walked the earth....!}

 

Any way, in addition to their obvious preservative properties, I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that there is still a usage with enough present so that the 'aroma' is discernible. Yes, I have inks that may include them; but my sense of smell was forever altered during an advanced lab course in organic synthesis.... but I digress.

 

The reason I'm surprised? Phenols have long been tagged as carcinogens. For example when I was in school we handled them manually; pipetted by mouth (which meant we inherently ingested fumes!), etc. Handling now requires some basic precautions. I'll assume the concentration in inks is very low; but I'm still surprised.

 

Sorry to spoil your day(s).