Sailor Jentle Irori

This is my favorite red ink. Maybe that'll change in the future, but this has been the one I've used for most of the last year. It's a bright, vivid red with just a bit of gold sheen. It behaves itself on cheap papers, and it's worked perfectly in every nib I've used it in.

The first sample was from Anderson Pens, but I liked it so much that I asked for a bottle of it for Christmas (and got it from my lovely wife!). It's really good.

The Written Review

This review felt really short. I kept thinking, "I need to write more words." I think the reason that I didn't write more is that there aren't any caveats or "but"s in my mind. This is just a really good ink. Totally worth the $18 per bottle.


Close Ups!

Copy Paper Test

Tomoe River Paper
From an Ink Journal

You can see the gold sheen in the picture below. It's not overwhelming, as it is in some other inks, but it's present when you use a wet enough ink.

Wheat Straw Paper
From a Pen Habit Currently Inked notebook.

The sample below was written with a SIG nib, and not with the SIG flex that is currently on the pen.

Color Comparisons!

Here are some more comparisons, and a way to compare it to whatever else you'd like. I think it looks a little more orange than usual in that picture, but that's probably just some of the gold sheen showing up. 

Water Test and Video Review!

Bonus!

**Anderson Pens provided a sample of this ink for review, but the bottle was a Christmas gift that was paid for with money. The review above represents only my experiences with the ink.**

Papier Plume's Red Beans & Rice

Thanks to Papier Plume for sending the bottle of ink for review!

It's the newest ink in the New Orleans Collection from Papier Plume! Debuting this weekend on line and at the Miami Pen Show, Red Beans & Rice is an ink whose name perfectly represents its subject.

This ink looks just like the kidney beans and sauce in the dish. It's uncanny. Well done, Papier Plume!

It also shades nicely, flows well, and behaves itself well on most papers. All in all, if you're looking for an ink in this shade you should totally check this one out.


Written Review

I'm not 100% sure why this one is a little dark. Just the way it goes, I guess. 

Close Ups

Copy Paper Test

There's just a little bit of bleed on this 20lb paper.

Pen Habit Currently Inked Journal

I really like it on this wheat straw paper. It's good stuff, and this ink looks really nice on it.

InkJournal Tomoe River

Color Comparisons

This is an odd color, so I've included lots of comparisons.

Chromatography

That's a cool result!

Review Video and Water Test

Check out the water resistance of this ink below!

Bonus picture! With beads!

Lastly, if you're a fan of this blog, consider becoming a patron! 

Lamy Petrol

This is one of those limited edition inks that came and went very quickly. I was lucky enough to get a bottle from a local vendor (Crazy Alan's Emporium) when the first (and maybe only?) wave of the ink went out to vendors. You might be able to find some online, but your best bet might be a smaller local vendor if you have one.

The matching Lamy Safari is still available, but I think they made far more of those than the ink. I still haven't gotten one, but I'll probably pick one up at the DC show if they're still available. I don't need another Safari, but I do like the matte finish on this pen.

Petrol is an interesting ink. It's a super-dark blue-green that can easily pass as a black ink under most circumstances. It's got some shading (on the right paper and with the right nib) and some sheen (same caveats). There are some other inks that are a fairly close approximation, but they're all a bit more expensive than Petrol.  Look for those further down in the post.

Written Review

Close Ups!

Copy Paper Test

Wheat Paper

Tomoe River Paper

Color Comparisons

Chromatography
 I just published a tutorial on how to make these, if you're curious. It's fun and easy!

Water Test and Video Review!

You're going to get a lot of smear from this ink when you get it wet, but you should also have plenty of text left over in a darker green color. Maybe cool for some artistic purposes?

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