Orange doesn’t seem to top many people’s lists of favorite colors, but there’s something energetic about this bright and happy hue. Orange is the color of blazing sunsets and autumn leaves. It is vibrant in food, whether you’re eating fruits like oranges themselves or baby carrots for dinner. And, for the writing enthusiast, it is especially beautiful on paper.
Orange may not be a very conventional fountain pen ink color, but that makes it all the more exciting to have a bottle or even a sample of it in your collection. Here are some of the best orange fountain pen inks you can try:
1. Diamine Autumn Oak
If you’re looking for a beautiful orange with gorgeous shading properties, then Diamine Autumn Oak is for you. It is the perfect representation of autumn leaves as it ranges from a dark orange with bits of brown to a lighter orange, similar to leaves that change color during this time of the year.
As expected with many Diamine inks, Autumn Oak flows well in many different pens. It has just a bit of water resistance, and dry time is decent depending on the size of the nib you are using.
2. Pilot Iroshizuku Yu-Yake
Another ink with a lot of shading is Yu-Yake from the Pilot Iroshizuku line. This color is reminiscent of papaya or an orange lollipop — soft, enticing, and delicious! Similar to other Iroshizuku inks, this one is well-lubricated and has low water resistance. This gives it an excellent flow and makes it smooth and easy to write with. With larger nibs, you’ll be able to see more shading. This ink is for you if you prefer a slightly more subdued orange that is anything but boring.
3. J. Herbin Orange Indien
If you prefer drier inks, then J. Herbin Orange Indien would make a great addition to your fountain pen ink collection. There is some shading but no shimmer, and it leans ever so slightly towards brown in heavier applications. This color may make one think of hot Indian summers that are rich and vibrant or autumn days with orange sunsets.
One of the great characteristics of this ink is that it dries quickly compared to wetter inks, so if you’re a fast note-taker or a left-handed writer, then this ink is a great option.
4. Robert Oster Glistening Orange Rumble
Sometimes we need a bit of shimmer in our inks, and Robert Oster certainly delivers with Glistening Orange Rumble from his Shake n’ Shimmy line. This color is a rich burnt orange that stays on the light side; it is by no means a dark or brownish orange color. It is high in saturation, but not overly so, making it a unique shade of orange.
In terms of the ink’s flow and texture, it isn’t the wettest Robert Oster ink, but it is wetter than average when compared to other inks on the market. It has some nice shading depending on the paper and the wetness of the pen that you use. This ink is also generally well-behaved, even for a shimmering ink and shows no issues on fountain pen-friendly paper.
5. Pelikan Edelstein Mandarin
The Pelikan Edelstein line is known for high-saturation inks that perform well, and Mandarin is no exception. Similar to several of the inks on this list, it exhibits some great shading and shows up as a nice vibrant orange without being too loud.
This ink is perfect when used with a wetter pen, such as the Pelikan M600. This is because, like J. Herbin, it is a little on the dry side. If you’re looking for an orange ink that is more on the bright side without looking too neon or too brown, then this is a great color to choose.
Finding the best fountain pen ink for your needs will ultimately come down to your preferences. Do you like a more vibrant orange, or are you more partial to burnt or even orange-brown shades? Perhaps you prefer a wetter ink over a drier one. Take your pick from any of the inks we’ve listed here, and you’ll definitely have a great orange ink to add to your collection.
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
