Violette Pensee - J. Herbin

[visvamitra]

http://www.jherbin.com/images/logo_ship.jpg

J. Herbin was established in 1670.

M. Herbin was a sailor, and from his many journeys to India he brought back to Paris formulas for manufacturing sealing wax. His special lacquer formula improved the quality of the seals in adhesion and neatness, helping him to become famous throughout the kingdom.

J. Herbin is also the oldest name in ink production in the world.

By 1700, the company was producing “l’Encre de la Tete Noire,” followed by “Perle des Encres,” (The Jewel of Inks) and “l’Encre des Vaisseaux” (The Ink of Ships).

J. Herbin made ink for Louis XIV, and a black ink for the sole use of Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables. These formulas still reside in our company headquarters in Paris.

At the moment company belongs to Exaclair Inc, that has rights to brands like Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Brause or G. Lalo.

J. Herbin offers 30 standard colors:

http://www.zany.co.nz/Images/Assets/2555912/6/J+Herbin+Fountain+Pen+Ink++Available+in+30+Colours.jpg

1. Ambre de Birmanie
   
2. Bleu Azur
   
3. Bleu Myosotis
   
4. Bleu Nuit
   
5. Bleu Pervenche
   
6. Bouquet d'Antan
   
7. Bouton d'Or
   
8. Cacao du Bresil
   
9. Cafe des Iles
   
10. Diabolo Menthe
    
11. Eclat de Saphir
    
12. Gris Nuage
    
13. Larmes de Cassis
    
14. Lie de The
    
15. Lierre Sauvage
    
16. Orange Indien
    
17. Perle Noire
    
18. Poussiere de Lune
    
19. Rose Cyclamen
    
20. Rose Tendresse
    
21. Rouge Bourgogne
    
22. Rouge Caroubier
    
23. Rouge Opera
    
24. Rouille d'Ancre
    
25. Terre de Feu
    
26. Vert Empire
    
27. Vert Olive
    
28. Vert Pre
    
29. Vert Reseda
    
30. Violette Pensee
    

The sample was kindly sent to me by Michael R. Thank you!

Violette Pensee is dull and rather boring.

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/9742/l5aVPI.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4749/HafGjK.jpg

Oxford notebook, Kaweco Sport Classic, B

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/4594/3qhpiO.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img908/4607/tRMxzM.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/6659/D98rfr.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/4661/9rJNBL.jpg

Firmowy notatnik, Kaweco Sport Classic, B nib

http://imageshack.com/a/img903/3231/RNQhQt.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img905/7663/TG5NDB.jpg

Kalendarz, Kaweco Sport Classic, B nib

http://imageshack.com/a/img913/6017/VUrJO3.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/7644/ppbSn7.jpg

[sombrueil]

Or you can think of it as old-fashioned and subtle.

[Frank C]

Dull, boring, old-fashioned, subtle, I have nothing to add, except, thanks for making this review.

[carlos.q]

Does this ink have any water resistance?

[Tritonus]

I love this colour and find it cheery. It really pops off a page with the right pen.

[visvamitra]

Glad you like it I don't but I see it can have some charm for others, as for waterproofness - not really. Once I complete the line (I need to put my hands on Larmes de Cassis, Bouquet d'Antan, Rose Tendresse and Rouille d'Ancre) there'lll be some nice water test.

[VivienR]

Good review. I have this ink, and well, not my most used ink, despite I like purples, this one not my most favored one. Its a bit light for my taste, so usually I use it with a 1.5 nib.

[Tessy Moon]

I like this ink. It is gentle, tender, lovely, soft. I do love pastels and I think this lavender ink is so pretty. It is a very soothing ink to me personally. A bit more blue leaning then I had originally anticipated, but I still really enjoy it.

[AAAndrew]

Wasn't this supposed to be the standard French student ink for many years? Something like every student in the French schools used this specific ink for many years? I seem to have remembered reading that somewhere.

 

It's a pleasant purple ink. It won't set the Seine on fire, but it works well for notes on good, smooth paper.

[4lex]

Glad you like it I don't but I see it can have some charm for others, as for waterproofness - not really. Once I complete the line (I need to put my hands on Larmes de Cassis, Bouquet d'Antan, Rose Tendresse and Rouille d'Ancre) there'lll be some nice water test.

 

Thanks for the review. It would be even better without copy pasting info from the J Herbin website. Very nice pictures. This is one of my favourite inks. It served million of french students well for decades and is still as reliable and user friendly as ever.

 

Water test does not really interest me. When it is raining I tend to write indoors.

[Barkingpig]

I have this ink in an older Omas with a broad nib & it is a VERY wet writer but my ink is far from boring & although lighter than Pouissere de Lune it is surely dark enough for me. And I do have & enjoy Bung Box's "Ink of the Witch" for a dark purple but this is pleasing to me as well. I do like a "good purple" so perhaps I am prejudiced. I fought "heaven & Earth" to get a bottle of Asprey Purple after seeing it reviewed here. It is privately labelled Diamine & no longer available in the exclusive Asprey bottle from it's introduction to accompany their Onoto purple pen. I enjoyed seeing it "for myself" & enjoy it's use as well.

[cleosmama]

I was unimpressed by it, but your post makes me want to try it again (I really like purple). I do like Larme des Cassis quite a lot, so I would love to know your reaction to it.

[VivienR]

I was unimpressed by it, but your post makes me want to try it again (I really like purple). I do like Larme des Cassis quite a lot, so I would love to know your reaction to it.

 

I like Larme de Cassis better than Violette Pensee..

[amberleadavis]

Vis, I appreciate your reviews.