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Herbin Inks: A Comprehensive Guide

September 25, 2023 - Posted by Emily V. to Guides, Inks, Fountain Pen Inks, Drawing Inks

Founded in 1670, Herbin is one of the oldest names in formal ink production in the world. The company's history can be traced back to a French sailor named Jacques Herbin, who drew on the techniques and innovations found on his voyages to establish himself as a master wax maker, later expanding into the production of ink and fine stationery. Herbin's high-quality formulas and array of colors, from the classic black of Perle Noire to the sparkling deep green of Emerald of Chivor, have made their inks beloved by fountain pen users through the years.

Herbin inks have come up again and again in our searches for great all-purpose black inks, dramatic gray inks, colorful quick-drying inks, and more. Read on to find out the special properties of each line.

Table of Contents

Herbin Fountain Pen Inks

Herbin Standard Inks

Three Herbin Standard Inks: Bleu des Profondeurs, Poussiere de Lune, and Perle Noire.

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Herbin's standard line of inks is known as "La Perle des Encres" or "The Jewel of Inks." These dye-based inks are smooth-flowing and easy to clean out of your pen, making them ideal for beginners—or if you don't always practice perfect pen hygiene. They perform well even on copy paper, without too much of the feathering or bleedthrough that often occurs with fountain pens.

These inks are nontoxic, lightfast, and pH-neutral, so your work lasts as long as you keep it safe from water. Even then, some colors of Herbin ink, such as Perle Noire and Bleu des Profondeurs, have proven to be water-resistant in our tests. They balance vivid, smooth lines with fairly quick drying times as well, although they're not the fastest-drying inks out there.

Herbin's standard inks come in 35 colors, in both portable 10 ml bottles and larger 30 ml sizes. 20 of their colors also come in standard international cartridges that can be used in a number of popular pen brands, including Kaweco, Faber-Castell, and Visconti.

Herbin Standard Inks:

Herbin Special Collection Inks

Three Herbin Special Collection Inks: 1798 Cornaline d'Egypte, 1798 Amethyste de l'Oural, and 1670 Emerald of Chivor.

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Herbin’s Special Collection inks celebrate the company’s rich history as well as unique artists. The Anniversary inks are divided into two lines: the 1670 inks, which commemorate Herbin’s founding, and the 1798 inks, for the year Herbin opened in Paris and expanded their ink production. Vert Atlantide was created for the 350th anniversary of Herbin's founding.

The Artist Collection Shogun Ink was created with Kenzo Takada, a Japanese fashion designer.

All of the Special Collection inks feature beautiful shimmer. The Anniversary inks include colors that reflect aspects of Herbin’s history—for example, Émeraude du Chivor (also known as Emerald of Chivor) is inspired by the emerald Herbin kept in his pocket as a good luck charm during his voyages.

The inks are safe to use in any pen, but their glittering effects show up best when used with broad or italic nibs. Like all shimmering inks, the particles can build up and clog your pen if the ink dries inside, so be sure to give your pen a good cleaning every few weeks.

The inks come in attractive 50 ml glass bottles, with wax caps and seals that are tributes to Herbin’s origins as a wax maker. To find out more about the inspiration behind each anniversary ink, check out our guide here.

Herbin Special Collection Inks:

Herbin Artist Collection Ink - Shogun Ink by Kenzo Takada

Herbin 350th Anniversary Ink - Vert Atlantide

Herbin Scented Inks

Three Herbin Scented Inks: Lavender Blue, Violet Purple, and Rose Red.

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Made with floral waters in Grasse, France—known as the perfume capital of the world—these inks feature nature-inspired colors and light scents. Each ink is designed to match its scent and color, with combinations like Violet Purple and Rose Red. They come in individual 30 ml bottles.

The inks' scent lingers for up to several days on paper. If you use these inks to write letters, the scent will last long enough for you to smell it as you write, but unfortunately it may fade by the time your friends receive their mail.

Herbin Scented Inks:

Herbin Scented Ink - Cacao Chocolate Brown

Herbin Dip Pen Inks

Herbin Calligraphy Inks

Three Herbin Calligraphy Inks: Black and White.

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Made for use with dip pens, Herbin's calligraphy inks are as fuss-free as their fountain pen inks. The inks' smooth consistency makes them among our top recommendations for beginning calligraphers. The inks are fade-resistant and water-resistant to help ensure that your work lasts.

Herbin Calligraphy Inks:

Herbin Authentic Ink

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This gray-black ink is also known as "Lawyers' Ink," so called because it was used by French notaries for its long-lasting qualities. The ink uses Campeche wood tannin to help preservation, so it retains its legibility for up to 300 years.

Herbin Authentic Ink:

Herbin India Ink

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Of all the calligraphy inks made by Herbin, India Ink is the darkest and glossiest. Its shiny, slightly raised finish makes your lettering stand out, and it is indelible and solvent-resistant.

Herbin India Ink:

Herbin Pigment Inks

Three Herbin Pigment Inks: Copper, Silver, and White.

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Much like Herbin's pearlescent inks, their pigment inks are smooth and opaque, perfect for calligraphy. The white pigment ink is one of our favorites due to its easy flow. It shows up well on dark paper, although it can take a few layers to cover other inks. The metallic pigment inks contain particles that sparkle as you write and show up well on both light and dark paper.

Herbin Pigment Inks:

Herbin Phosphorescent Ink

Herbin Phosphorescent Ink.

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If you want to hide special messages in your calligraphy or artwork, look no further than Herbin's Phosphorescent Ink. This dip pen ink dries to a translucent finish that is faint on dark paper and nearly invisible on light paper. The ink then glows when viewed in the dark or under UV light. If the ink doesn't seem to be glowing brightly, try tracing over your work once or twice.

Herbin Phosphorescent Ink:

Conclusion

The rich history and high quality of Herbin inks make them a great choice for beginning fountain pen users, experienced calligraphers, and everyone in between. On top of their variety of inks, Herbin also makes fountain pens, dip pens, and writing accessories—including, of course, sealing wax. You can find all of Herbin's products here.

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