Review: Pharmacist's Darkening Absinthe Ink

[Jimmy James]

This review is an original of mine from my infant blog, The Inked Nib, that I am also sharing here in hopes it will be useful as a resource.

TWSBI Diamond 540
Ink Form: Hammermill Tidal MP
Handwritten Page 1: AMPAD efficiency Legal Pad
Handwritten Page 2: Staples Sustainable Earth Legal Pad


Am I really subjecting one of my beloved TWSBIs to an iron gall ink? Yep! I chose it because after inking two cheap Hero models with the other two colors of Pharmacist’s ink (aside from the original), it only made sense to me to put something more at risk. I think the only damage concern would be the nib, and I have been wanting a reason to buy an italic replacement nib anyway! I also thought it would be a good idea to try one of the inks in a broad nib I know to be on the slightly wet side (note: most TWSBIs in my experience are a bit dry but this particular one is a bit wet).


After each ink fill, I thought the color (of Pharmacist’s ink) I chose was my favorite. This one, however, is definitely the best. I am detecting some shading, but that may disappear with oxidation (it did not).


The ink really isn’t all that dry. I would say the pen writes about average on wetness when it was a +1 wet before with other ink.


These inks are available only by contacting Pharmacist on Fountain Pen Network and awaiting a batch to be prepared. He charges a reasonable approximately $40 shipped for the three “fancy” iron gall inks (this one, Oriens-Occidens orange-brown, and Terra Incinerata mossy green-brown). The inks come in handy plastic bottles, but I may buy and repurpose empty Sailor or other similar bottles for these inks.


I am straining to come up with a color comparison to these colors, but I am coming up with nothing. I do not know if Pharmacist is a pharmacist or what his day job may be, but I think these inks are so promising that he could be the next Nathan Tardif or Jansen. If not, I hope his hobbyist ink making continues so the rest of you will be able to experience the joys of this ink for yourselves.


I will be adding a water test of the bottom part of the ink review form and some other things as I get them prepared!

Video of the oxidation -- I thought my phone was in horizontal mode but it wasn't:


Ink form scans (before and after water test):


Darkening Absinthe by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Darkening Absinthe by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Ink form photo (before water test):


Darkening Absinthe Photo 2 by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Photo showing oxidation from bottom to top:


Darkening Absinthe photo by Erechtheus, on Flickr

Handwritten review duplicating content above:


Darkening Absinthe by Erechtheus, on Flickr


Darkening Absinthe by Erechtheus, on Flickr

[Bogon07]

Darkening Absinthe's oxidation is fairly fast isn't it.
The end colour is like a lighter version of Noodler's Aircorp BlueBlack or maybe Catalpa.

How does it perform on a cream colour paper like some of the Rhodia pads ?

[Jimmy James]

I don't have any cream paper, but I will say that when using Oriens-Occidens (another one of the inks), I found that there was no oxidation even after a couple of hours on a manila folder. I'll try to check the same folder tomorrow when I'm back at work.

[writingrav]

Well done. And good luck on the blog; it seems like a good idea.

[KrazyIvan]

I was thinking it was like a darker Diamine Asa Blue or a greener Waterman Blue Black. How corrosive do you think this will be to a pen. Good pen hygene is probably a must with this one.

[goldiesdad]

Thanks for the great review ... these take time and i for one appreciate them ...

[fourseamer]

Sweet! I have to have this.

[WendyNC]

Thanks so much for this review. I really enjoyed watching the color change--and I love the end result.

[southpaw52]

Great review thank you for your outstanding effort.

[writingrav]

Yeah, I'm still trying to get a handle on what these inks do to pens before I order.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[ink mixer]

I really like the shading.

[klpeabody]

Thanks for the review! I recently received a sample of this from a friend. I swabbed it, and like the color but have not yet inked a pen with it. You've just now inspired me to put it at the top of my list. It's pen cleaning night, and I'm definitely inking a pen with it later. I'm just curious though, with FPN down, is there another way to contact Pharmacist to place an order?

[drgoretex]

I love this ink. I bought two bottles of it, and wish I bought more. It has become my go-to ink for work (records department demands that we use permanent black. So I partially comply and use permanent green). Beautiful colour, behaves perfectly (no bleed through/showthrough even on crappy cheap paper).

Ken