View Full Version : Ink Review: KWZ Honey
AzJon
February 23rd, 2016, 09:04 PM
Howdy Geeks! This is my first ink review. I recently picked up a bottle of KWZ Honey. I've been looking for a good gold/brown ink for a while and this one more than fit the bill.
This ink has some great shading and, unlike other inks of its ilk, is readable and could be used for taking notes and informal correspondence. It has good flow and can even be a little on the wetter side. That being said, on Rhodia, I didn't notice any feathering or bleed through, which is to be expected. I haven't tried it out on printer paper yet, but I will give an update when I do.
KWZ Honey isn't waterproof, but even letting water pool on the page for a few minutes, the lines are still surprisingly visible.
I do apologize for not having a broad nib to use during the review, though I imagine the result will be very similar to the flex writing.
Enjoy
http://i.imgur.com/ZEpWUHN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xdlHCIC.jpg
AzJon
February 23rd, 2016, 09:26 PM
Wow. Those images came out more yellow than I thought they would. I will do a scan of them tomorrow at work and upload them!
Lady Onogaro
February 24th, 2016, 09:49 AM
Thank you for your images. They are very pretty!
AzJon
February 24th, 2016, 11:15 AM
Ok, here is a scan of the images that isn't quite as yellow. Hooray!
http://imgur.com/lssNvFr
http://imgur.com/amhEvqw
AzJon
February 24th, 2016, 11:26 AM
Ah, figured it out...I hope.
http://imgur.com/lssNvFr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/amhEvqw.jpg
bluesea
February 24th, 2016, 01:24 PM
Interesting that the scan took Toffee Brown from its yellow-red tint to violet.
AzJon
February 24th, 2016, 01:38 PM
Interesting that the scan took Toffee Brown from its yellow-red tint to violet.
It is quite interesting. It looks more like the scan on my paper than the picture above, but it is quite the drastic change. I've really only liked Toffee Brown on cream colored paper, to be honest.
penwash
February 24th, 2016, 06:31 PM
A very nice golden-brown ink.
Aptly named.
It's sweet!
TSherbs
February 24th, 2016, 06:37 PM
I love Noodler's Golden Brown. This is very nice, too. Thanks for the review.
EHV
January 9th, 2017, 07:17 AM
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
AzJon
March 29th, 2017, 06:11 PM
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
Hey there,
not sure if you ever got a response for this elsewhere, but I, too, have a bottle of pre-refomulation and I've cleaned this out of my pens a plenty of times with no discernible sent left over.
Hope that helps.
dfo
March 29th, 2017, 06:39 PM
Wow, this post made me realize that I want a bottle of Diamine Golden Brown.
Do the KWZ non-iron gall inks leave the sticky residue in pens like their iron gall brethren? I have a bottle of KWZ Turquoise and Mandarin that sit unused, but I am interested in Konrad's standard ink line.
KKay
March 29th, 2017, 07:42 PM
I don't know about the Honey (although I do have a sample), but the Grapefruit smell is coming out of my converter. You can smell it when you take the barrel off the pen. It is kinda stout, but I don't mind it. The barrel is on most of the time anyway. I'd rather have it a little powerful, than moldy.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
AzJon
March 29th, 2017, 07:57 PM
Wow, this post made me realize that I want a bottle of Diamine Golden Brown.
Do the KWZ non-iron gall inks leave the sticky residue in pens like their iron gall brethren? I have a bottle of KWZ Turquoise and Mandarin that sit unused, but I am interested in Konrad's standard ink line.
Well, I haven't used any of Konrad's IG inks (yet), but I wouldn't say any of the inks leave a residue. IIRC, the standard turquoise was pretty highly saturated and took a number of flushes to clean, but no residues left that I can remember.
EHV
March 30th, 2017, 02:25 AM
Thanks very much! I've actually held off using it because I was fearful that the smell would remain in a converter or worse, the barrel of a piston filler.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
Hey there,
not sure if you ever got a response for this elsewhere, but I, too, have a bottle of pre-refomulation and I've cleaned this out of my pens a plenty of times with no discernible sent left over.
Hope that helps.
EHV
March 30th, 2017, 02:27 AM
Grapefruit, (or honey) wouldn't be so bad but the biocide, chemical scent if off-putting. I also tend to shy away from the scented inks even though they may smell good......or at least, better than biocide.
I don't know about the Honey (although I do have a sample), but the Grapefruit smell is coming out of my converter. You can smell it when you take the barrel off the pen. It is kinda stout, but I don't mind it. The barrel is on most of the time anyway. I'd rather have it a little powerful, than moldy.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
Empty_of_Clouds
March 30th, 2017, 03:05 AM
KWZI is a little costly to get from here, but the comparison has raised another ink as an option - Diamine Sepia. Going to have to look into that one.
AzJon
March 30th, 2017, 08:54 AM
KWZI is a little costly to get from here, but the comparison has raised another ink as an option - Diamine Sepia. Going to have to look into that one.
As a comparison (stolen from the Inkcyclopedia) you can see that the Sepia has a bit of an orange undertone vs the yellow in Honey. Sepia would probably be best, or at least more interesting, in a broader/wetter nib.
Edit: it is worth noting that the Inkcyclopedia is done on copier paper, IIRC, so the shading isn't as pronounced.
http://i.imgur.com/9blJWAY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6OKSaIE.jpg
KKay
March 30th, 2017, 09:01 PM
No, the Grapefruit smell isn't Grapefruit. The smell is sort of strange, I cannot describe it correctly. It definitely isn't a fruit like smell. It is more of a chemical type, but not bad to me.
After I saw this post, I went to go get the Honey sample I have. (it came from a friend) It had a very similar smell to the Grapefruit ink, but not as strong. Maybe somebody else can describe the smell a little better. Like I said, I don't mind the smell at all.
Grapefruit, (or honey) wouldn't be so bad but the biocide, chemical scent if off-putting. I also tend to shy away from the scented inks even though they may smell good......or at least, better than biocide.
I don't know about the Honey (although I do have a sample), but the Grapefruit smell is coming out of my converter. You can smell it when you take the barrel off the pen. It is kinda stout, but I don't mind it. The barrel is on most of the time anyway. I'd rather have it a little powerful, than moldy.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
AzJon
March 30th, 2017, 10:59 PM
No, the Grapefruit smell isn't Grapefruit. The smell is sort of strange, I cannot describe it correctly. It definitely isn't a fruit like smell. It is more of a chemical type, but not bad to me.
After I saw this post, I went to go get the Honey sample I have. (it came from a friend) It had a very similar smell to the Grapefruit ink, but not as strong. Maybe somebody else can describe the smell a little better. Like I said, I don't mind the smell at all.
Grapefruit, (or honey) wouldn't be so bad but the biocide, chemical scent if off-putting. I also tend to shy away from the scented inks even though they may smell good......or at least, better than biocide.
I don't know about the Honey (although I do have a sample), but the Grapefruit smell is coming out of my converter. You can smell it when you take the barrel off the pen. It is kinda stout, but I don't mind it. The barrel is on most of the time anyway. I'd rather have it a little powerful, than moldy.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
Honestly, I smell vinegar. Or something similar to it. I assumed it was an acid in the ink.
dfo
March 31st, 2017, 12:10 AM
I have a hard time removing the smell from their iron gall inks. I stopped using them in my Lamy 2000, because the smell would linger. I am not trying to diss the brand. I really like Konrad and I want to come back to his inks after he works out some of the kinks (bad smell).
No, the Grapefruit smell isn't Grapefruit. The smell is sort of strange, I cannot describe it correctly. It definitely isn't a fruit like smell. It is more of a chemical type, but not bad to me.
After I saw this post, I went to go get the Honey sample I have. (it came from a friend) It had a very similar smell to the Grapefruit ink, but not as strong. Maybe somebody else can describe the smell a little better. Like I said, I don't mind the smell at all.
Grapefruit, (or honey) wouldn't be so bad but the biocide, chemical scent if off-putting. I also tend to shy away from the scented inks even though they may smell good......or at least, better than biocide.
I don't know about the Honey (although I do have a sample), but the Grapefruit smell is coming out of my converter. You can smell it when you take the barrel off the pen. It is kinda stout, but I don't mind it. The barrel is on most of the time anyway. I'd rather have it a little powerful, than moldy.
I wanted to revisit this review to ask a question if I may. I have a bottle of KWZ Honey from just prior to the reformulation and the smell is absolutely overwhelming. As I understand it, this is from the biocide(s) used in the formula.
The reformulated version is not supposed to have this strong smell.
My question is; has anyone had an issue with the smell remaining in their pen or converter after finishing the fill or changing ink colors?
I'm actually hesitant to use the ink for fear of never getting rid of the biocide smell.
Thank you!
Eric
Honestly, I smell vinegar. Or something similar to it. I assumed it was an acid in the ink.
KrazyIvan
March 31st, 2017, 08:43 AM
It smells like stale root beer to me. :) I really like the shade of golden brown that KWZ Honey offers. I have been into a brown ink kick the past couple of years.
KKay
March 31st, 2017, 11:48 AM
Well I just went back and smelled the KWZ inks again. The Grapefruit has a stronger odor than the Honey. (but the Honey is just a small sample now) The two smell similar, but not exactly the same. I also smelled the Green Gold, and Maroon. I think maybe I'm smelling the dye too. I actually preferred the smell of the Honey and Grapefruit. Some days I notice it more than other days. The Honey and Grapefruit has a familiar odor to it, but I can't name it. Maybe KrazyIvan is right. I actually am starting to like the Grapefruit ink smell. Maybe it is because I LOVE that ink...lol. I like it with an extra fine or fine western pen though. It starts out more orange, and darkens to a more reddish orange when it is drying. I did like the Honey ink a lot, but I have to limit my ink purchases. I had a very big sample from a local friend. Honey is her favorite ink.
laurielindly
April 3rd, 2017, 10:01 PM
My sample of Honey smells of vanilla and something g else. I have had it for almost 10 month so I believe it was before it was reformulated. Inks that smell of fungicides don't really bother me. I notice them but that's it. I am also used to working with chemicals, stains and various biocides/fungicides. I have used Honey several times since receiving the sample and I have never noticed any lingering scent in my converters.
AzJon
April 3rd, 2017, 10:36 PM
My sample of Honey smells of vanilla and something g else. I have had it for almost 10 month so I believe it was before it was reformulated. Inks that smell of fungicides don't really bother me. I notice them but that's it. I am also used to working with chemicals, stains and various biocides/fungicides. I have used Honey several times since receiving the sample and I have never noticed any lingering scent in my converters.
In danger of this sounding like a contest, I've had my bottle for a little over a year. I'm pretty sure I got one of the last because the turquoise sample I ordered with it did smell like vanilla. Konrad made a post about it....at some point. The old formula kwz inks had a pretty distinct smell to them. Never thought it was bad, but definitely something different.
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