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. :)


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.


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[inlovewithjournals]

Love this ink! Thanks for the review.

[elaineb]

One of my favorites as well. (Kaweco Summer Purple is another similar color.)

[tiffanyhenschel]

This is my all time favorite ink color. If I were limited to only one color for the rest of my life, this would be the one.

[Chrissy]

You're all very welcome. :)

I am aware that there was a shade change with this ink. I'm sure this sample is the new shade, but does anyone have the old shade for a comparison?

[migo984]

I much prefer the old formula as this has too much red for me. The original shade really was 'Moondust'; it had beautifully cool & muted tones. Also my bottle of the new shade suffered the notorious Herbin SiTB sludgy contamination. I have even seen someone else's PdL turn into a jelly-like substance! A chemist friend of mine always adds a phenol-type (I think) additive to his Herbin inks as they contain no preservatives from the factory. They are not typically long-lasting inks, so it pays to check your bottles carefully before use.

[Crazyorange]

Great review. I love this color. Beautiful muted purple. :)

[Chrissy]

Great review. I love this color. Beautiful muted purple. :)

You're welcome :)

[Uncle Bud]

You're all very welcome. :)

I am aware that there was a shade change with this ink. I'm sure this sample is the new shade, but does anyone have the old shade for a comparison?

Chrissy, I have the older shade, I'd happily send you a sample if you want to compare them. PM me if you'd like some. Bud

[Chrissy]

You're all very welcome. :)

I am aware that there was a shade change with this ink. I'm sure this sample is the new shade, but does anyone have the old shade for a comparison?

Chrissy, I have the older shade, I'd happily send you a sample if you want to compare them. PM me if you'd like some. Bud

PM sent

[Uncle Bud]

You're all very welcome. :)

I am aware that there was a shade change with this ink. I'm sure this sample is the new shade, but does anyone have the old shade for a comparison?

Chrissy, I have the older shade, I'd happily send you a sample if you want to compare them. PM me if you'd like some. Bud

PM sent

Got your pm. Have you tried Violette Pensee, I could pop that in the envelope too if you like. Bud

[Misfit]

Another excellent review Chrissy.
I really like this ink.

[Lady Onogaro]

I like this ink, but it clearly looks very different in a broad nib than in a fine nib. In a fine nib or EF nib, it strikes me as a lot more brownish or reddish. I'm going to have to try it in at least a medium nib, I can see.

[VertOlive]

My current favorite purple ink. Great review!

[Chrissy]

Another excellent review Chrissy.
I really like this ink.


My current favorite purple ink. Great review!

Thank you. You're both very welcome :)

[Chrissy]

With grateful thanks to Uncle Bud, I have now been able to compare the old and new versions of J Herbin Poussiere de lune together.

Actually when I first wrote this test sheet, I couldn't see much difference. However, as the ink has dried for an hour or so, I can now clearly see that the new version has more red in it than the old version did. This tends to make the new version resemble Mb Lavender Purple slightly more than the old version used to. Interestingly that ink is slightly more red than the old withdrawn version was too.

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[Laura N]

That is a good comparison, thanks Chrissy and Uncle Bud.

I feel like the older version may be less saturated and more dusky, too? In any case, despite the differences there, I like them both. :)

[Uncle Bud]

Thanks for doing the great comparison Chrissy, I was just as interested as everyone else, luckily for me (coz it's what I've got), on balance I prefer the older version. To my eyes it is more dusky than the new version.

[Chrissy]

That is a good comparison, thanks Chrissy and Uncle Bud.

I feel like the older version may be less saturated and more dusky, too? In any case, despite the differences there, I like them both. :)

You're welcome Laura N. :)

The older version looks slightly less saturated and is definitely more dusky. It's similar to Diamine Grape, leaning slightly more towards the blue end of the spectrum than the red end.

I like them both too. However, I'm a realist so I'm not going to hanker after the old version that I can't get. I'm very happy to write with the new one that's in my ink drawer. :)

[Chrissy]

Thanks for doing the great comparison Chrissy, I was just as interested as everyone else, luckily for me (coz it's what I've got), on balance I prefer the older version. To my eyes it is more dusky than the new version.

You're welcome Uncle Bud. It was only thanks to you that the comparison could be done at all. :thumb:

[migo984]

I agree with Uncle Bud. As I mentioned in my post #6 above, I have always preferred original PdL. It is distinctly different to the current version, being cooler and more muted. "Dusty" is a good word for it. Much more befitting of the name & it was a very original colour.
The red under-tone of the new version doesn't do it for me & imakes it look too similar to a number of other inks.

[Uncle Bud]

Thanks for doing the great comparison Chrissy, I was just as interested as everyone else, luckily for me (coz it's what I've got), on balance I prefer the older version. To my eyes it is more dusky than the new version.

You're welcome Uncle Bud. It was only thanks to you that the comparison could be done at all. :thumb:

What did you think of the other sample Chrissy. Have you even had a chance to try it out?

[Chrissy]

What did you think of the other sample Chrissy. Have you even had a chance to try it out?

Not yet, but I will very soon. :)

[Edith]

With grateful thanks to Uncle Bud, I have now been able to compare the old and new versions of J Herbin Poussiere de lune together.

Actually when I first wrote this test sheet, I couldn't see much difference. However, as the ink has dried for an hour or so, I can now clearly see that the new version has more red in it than the old version did. This tends to make the new version resemble Mb Lavender Purple slightly more than the old version used to. Interestingly that ink is slightly more red than the old withdrawn version was too.

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In my pens, Montblanc Lavender Purple (new version) and J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune (new version) are difficult to tell apart. The only difference is that Poussiere de Lune is wetter. Right now I have Lavender Purple in a Waterman fine point and Poussiere de Lune in a Prera fine point; the line width is about the same, despite the finer nib on the Prera, and the color looks virtually identical. In a side by side comparison of lines written with the Prera, the Lavender Purple is slightly lighter and redder than the Poussiere de Lune.

[Uncle Bud]

What did you think of the other sample Chrissy. Have you even had a chance to try it out?

Not yet, but I will very soon. :)

I'll look forward to another of your excellent reviews then. Cheers, Bud

[tamiya]

I am aware that there was a shade change with this ink. I'm sure this sample is the new shade, but does anyone have the old shade for a comparison?

Curious to ask when did the recipe get rejigged?

This week acquired an old D bottle of PdL, it'll be at least over 5yo.

Notice there's a serial number... are they of any useful significance?

[Chrissy]

Curious to ask when did the recipe get rejigged?

This week acquired an old D bottle of PdL, it'll be at least over 5yo.

Notice there's a serial number... are they of any useful significance?

If your bottle is 5 years old you stand a good chance of having the old recipe. The old version is a dusty/dusky violet with less red in it than the current version

[tamiya]

Thanks Chrissy

yes mine dries to a dusky aubergine whereas your first testsheet looks nearly brown :)

Got it off a gentleman a few blocks away who said he brought it back from Japan 5yrs ago.

[Scrawler]

I am down to my last few drops of old formula PdL. These dusky violets have been a favourite for a while. I had not realized until reading this that they have reformulated it. I will not be replacing it with the new redder PdL because I have a large bottle of Akkermann Vourhout Violet as a substitute and it is a more true violet than this has become. AVV is a wetter ink than PdL so in a wet pen it can be almost black, and I have pretended that I am signing in black on occasions, when I wanted to be naughty and flout the rules. I will be keeping my eye open for old bottles though.

[migo984]

Snap. I switched to AVV because I really don't like the reformulated PdL. It's murky and too brownish.