Ink Review: J Herbin Poussiere De Lune (Moondust Purple)

[Chrissy]

I have decided to review some of my inks. These aren't necessarily in any particular order. This is a particular favourite. It has many fans, and rightly so, it's a lovely ink to use and to look at.

This one is J Herbin Poussiere de lune (Moondust Purple)

J. Herbin is the oldest name in pen inks in the world. M. Herbin created “The Jewel of Inks” in his shop on the Rue des Fosses Saint-Germain in Paris in 1700.

Herbin uses all natural dyes in their fountain pen inks. This natural composition is reflected in the very neutral pH of the inks. Each bottle of 30 ml/1 oz ink is elegantly labeled and has a pen rest. They are known as “D bottle pen inks.” The “D” refers to the old French unit of measure “la Demi Courtine.”

"Poussière de lune (Moondust purple): A very poetic name, the color of the night when only the crescent moon is glowing in the dark."

I'm not sure that I have seen that many night skies that are this lovely purple colour. I shall just wish. http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

• This isn't a waterproof or archival ink.
• Bearing in mind the paper I use is very smooth, and the nib was a medium round, this ink took 16-17 secs to dry
• It flows slightly wet. I feel that lubrication was OK because of the paper. However, I noticed a little feedback with the pen.
• It is currently available in 10ml sample glass bottles and 30ml glass D bottles.
• It is widely available from many B&M shops and online retailers worldwide.

 

[jasonchickerson]

Great review. I haven't tried this one yet, but I think I'll get a sample.

[ENewton]

How does it compare in color to Montblanc Lavender Purple?

[benbot517]

How close would this be to something like R&K Scabiosa? I love the color of that ink, but it's too dry for my tastes.

[knarflj]

How close would this be to something like R&K Scabiosa? I love the color of that ink, but it's too dry for my tastes.

 

The little mini-review of a Scabiosa sample in my ink notebook starts out "Very like Poussière de Lune in colour…" That was a couple of years ago, though; to look at the two writing samples now, you'd never know they come out of the pen almost the same colour. Poussiere de Lune has stayed much more bluish purple, very close to its original colour; the Scabiosa has dried and aged much redder.

 

Jenny

 

*Edited to say: See below about the formulation changing. The writing samples I was looking at were dated 2012.

Edited May 7, 2015 by knarflj

[inkstainedruth]

I tried a sample of this a while back (about a year and a half ago) and didn't really care for it -- but your scans make it look a lot redder violet than I remember my sample being. Has the formulation changed?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Chrissy]

I tried a sample of this a while back (about a year and a half ago) and didn't really care for it -- but your scans make it look a lot redder violet than I remember my sample being. Has the formulation changed?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

The formulation has changed but I don't know when that happened.

[Chrissy]

How does it compare in color to Montblanc Lavender Purple?

From memory Mb Lavender Purple is redder, but I have some so I can compare them in the daylight tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

[wastelanded]

I think it was three years ago that the formulation changed? It used to be my favourite ink of all. It's still lovely, but doesn't have that dusky grey undertone any more. Wish I'd stocked up on the 100ml bottles of the old formula when they were available. Scabiosa is close to the old formulation, and water-resistant to boot, but the long term effect is to be noted as stated above.

 

Lovely review though, as always.

[Tanzanite]

This is a lovely ink. One of my favourite J Herbin inks.

[Bitzel]

This ink is my second favorite purple, led slightly by the Edelstein Amethyst. I have PDL in my Lamy Al-Star, and I use it for all kids of every-day writing, while I use Edelstein Amethyst in my Monteverde Limonada for journaling and letters. The PDL had great character without being too flashy for day-to-day needs, while the Edelstein Amethyst adds mystery and dun to more pleasurable writing.

 

Thanks for the review!

A