Inks are the lifeblood of our fountain pens. As such, it is no wonder that a new ink to match with your fountain pen and paper brings a certain measure of excitement and anticipation. I believe that the dynamic interplay between these three elements — pen, ink, and paper — helps keep the enthusiasm for our shared avocation alive. That being said, I am always excited to try out fresh potions to fuel my fountain pens, especially for sketching.
Enter Cozy Comforts, the current ink series concocted by Robert Oster Signature inks, in collaboration with Instagram creative @micahfinds and EndlessPens. Such a charming moniker! It calls to mind moments of relief and relaxation. The inks are aptly named for each instance or memory that can serve as a balm for our weary selves. These inks are personal and particular, evoking a resonant feeling from a specific experience that has helped us take our time to just be present and mindful.
Cozy Comforts Review
I played with this ink series with just one fountain pen, my Sailor Lecoule Power Stone in Garnet with a medium-fine steel nib. I used a Hobonichi Plain Notebook with Tomoe River paper for writing and a Peg and Awl Carson Journal with 130 gsm Strathmore drawing paper for sketching. Now, on to the inks —
— Campfire Crackle
This ink takes me back to my Girl Scout days, when we had built our own fires, roasted fresh fish, and sang several rounds of songs to the accompaniment of the quartermaster’s guitar. The blazing fire, with its scintillating sparks and snaps from the burning wood sap, was always the focal point of our fellowship nights.
This ink is a deep and desaturated red-orange, easy on the eyes. It has no shading, but with a subtle black sheen in concentrated areas, and fine, orange shimmer that does not overwhelm. It is well-lubricated, and flowed smoothly from the fountain pen nib. There was not a lot of shimmer evident after writing or sketching. I think this can be attributed to the nib width that I used. There was no feathering or ghosting noted for both Tomoe River paper and Strathmore drawing paper.
— Coffee Date
Yes, I love coffee and I prefer lattes. This ink makes me want to brew myself a cup and add in a splash or two of cream or milk just to complete the experience. When I wrote and sketched with this ink, I was reminded of the invigorating ambient buzz of a cafe as I waited for my best friends to join me.
The ink is a vibrant yet not overbearing yellowish-brown color with shading and no sheen. It is a well-lubricated ink, flowing smoothly from my fountain pen. There was no feathering nor ghosting noted with writing on Tomoe River paper and sketching on Strathmore 130 gsm drawing paper.
— Old Book Smell
Aaahhh, the pleasure of flipping the pages of an old book and the sweet smell of lignin wafting afterwards, there is nothing quite like it. Running my fingertips over the worn leather cover of a well-read tome is like touching a bit of history. For a bookworm like myself, I have always found a calm joy within the hushed confines of a library.
The ink is a lively and warm red with shading, with a black-brown sheen in pooled areas. It is well-lubricated, flowing smoothly from the medium-fine Sailor nib. With the two types of paper that I used, no feathering nor ghosting was evident.
— Soft Kitty Warm Kitty
For anyone who is a cat person, the warmth of that small body on your lap as it purrs contentedly is pure bliss. It is these moments shared with our feline fur babies that fill our cup when we need some caring and affection, and softness from touch.
Alright, I adore grey inks so I am admittedly biased when it comes to this one. This is a cool grey ink with blue leanings, and exhibits light violet undertones when mixed with water. It shows shading, but no sheen. It flows freely from the nib as well. There was no feathering nor ghosting noted on both Tomoe River and Strathmore papers. (Help me, I love it!)
— Stargazer
“Starlight, starbright, the first star I see tonight..” — I must admit, I still chant this rhyme whenever the sky turns dark enough for that earliest twinkling to shine through. Who hasn’t, at least once in their lives, looked up at the endless sky and felt awe at the vastness of it all? Looking up at those celestial jewels scattered amongst the deepening blue is both grounding and exhilarating.
This ink has a deep, blue-green color, with delicate silver and blue shimmer, and no sheen. It is well-lubricated, flowing freely from my medium-fine nib. I think the fine shimmer particles would be better appreciated using a broader nib width. There was no feathering nor ghosting seen with Tomoe River and Strathmore papers.
— Tea Time
I did say I love coffee, but tea is special to me. It is the hot drink I make when I’m in the mood for some self-reflection. Its herbal fragrance is a tiny taste of verdant, open fields of new leaves kissed by a benevolent sun. It also helps me center myself, as I wait for the flavor to fully bloom while steeping. It calls to mind the little but necessary rituals we hold dear as we claim our space and time to slow down and look inward.
This ink has a subdued, golden green color with shading and no sheen. It is well-lubricated, and flows well from my Sailor fountain pen. There was no feathering nor ghosting seen on the different papers that I used.
In A Nutshell
The Robert Oster Cozy Comforts ink series is an engaging set of new fountain pen inks. I appreciate how the colors are rich yet balanced enough not to be garish. Each ink in the line is well-behaved and on the wet side. I have yet to try them with a fine or extra-fine fountain pen nib though. They were easy to clean from the single pen I had used, and the shimmer particles from Campfire Crackle and Stargazing both easily came off the feed of my pen. There was no water resistance noted from all of them when I used my water brush for sketching. I recommend these inks for those who are looking to add more mellow colors options to their collection.
Special Mention
Along with Robert Oster Cozy Comforts, @micahfinds has other EndlessPens Exclusive collaborations with Tailored Pen Company. Take a look at her other storied creations, such as Vaadhoo Sea of Stars, Fushimi Inari Taisha, New Year New Hue, Cocoa Cafe, and most recently, Dare To Dream and Transfiguration fountain pens.
Happy Birthday @micahfinds! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.
And thank you, Clement of Rants of the Archer, for reviewing these inks as well.
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Written by @lekzumali
Check out her musings on Instagram!
