Fountain Pen Ink Review: "Citrus Black" by Platinum

Feb 1
4 min read

This unique iron gall ink transitions from a bright, translucent yellow to a deep, sophisticated golden-brown as it oxidizes, offering exceptional shading and permanent water resistance once fully set.

🖋 Core Properties

Features: (This is just a description of the ink properties)

✅ Standard Fountain Pen Ink

✅ Waterproof/Permanent Ink

❌Sheen

❌ Glitter/Shimmer

❌ Scented

✅Unique Properties

The Review:

I really enjoyed testing this ink, mostly because the color change is such a unique feature. When you first start writing, the ink is a very light yellow—honestly, my biggest complaint was that it’s actually hard to see what you're writing at first. But if you give it some time to dry and oxidize, it turns into a really nice light brown. The shading is excellent and probably some of the best I've seen. It’s also a solid choice for a permanent ink; once it fully oxidizes, it’s waterproof. Even if some of the unoxidized ink washes away, your writing stays completely readable.

In terms of performance, I didn't have any issues with ink flow in a variety of nibs. A big plus is that it reacts great with almost any paper—I didn't see any feathering or bleed-through even on lower-quality paper. Just keep in mind that it is a bit of a dry ink, delivering less ink to the paper and lacking the super smooth feel of some of the more lubricated inks, but it is great if you prefer a dry ink.

The dry time is on the high side, especially as you go up in nib size. Because this is an iron gall ink and I noticed some small amounts of staining in the converter, I definitely recommend sticking to pens that are easy to clean. I’d avoid using this in a demonstrator pen, but if you use a standard converter pen and clean it a bit more frequently, it’s a great, solid ink that I’d definitely recommend trying.

To bring the review to life, I’ve included a series of photographs that demonstrate the ink’s behavior under real writing conditions. These images highlight everything from smudge resistance and drying time intervals to the flow characteristics observed during extended writing. You are seeing my authentic comments penned using the ink itself, offering a direct glimpse into its consistency, saturation, and personality of the ink. These snapshots serve not just as proof, but as part of the ink’s narrative—capturing its strengths, quirks, and overall impression.

**Please note that our reviews may differ significantly from what you typically see from other individuals or companies. This is more than just a review—it's an ink test conducted for both our benefit and yours. We use each ink for one and a half to two weeks to gather as much information as possible. During this time, we test a range of nib sizes to evaluate how the ink performs across different writing styles. Some inks are tested with everything from a fine nib to a 1.1 mm stub, while shimmer inks may only be used with broad and stub nibs, as we generally advise against using shimmer inks with fine or extra-fine nibs.

This isn’t a “sit down, open a bottle, and write a review in 15 minutes” kind of approach. Instead, we aim to offer insights based on real-world tests and extended daily use. Keep in mind, every pen writes a little differently, and ink performance can vary from one to another. We also conduct several tests on various types of paper. Most of the time, we use Clairefontaine Triomphe 90g paper as our high-quality benchmark, and Pen+Gear 20lb copy paper as a lower-quality comparison.**

Performance Factors

Saturation & Depth - (How rich and bold the ink appears)

3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Well-saturated. A nice balance between bold and soft.

Shading / Sheen / Shimmer - (How the ink performs against other inks in this category)

5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Exceptional! Stunning shading, sheen, or shimmer.

Consistency & Flow - (Is is smooth & reliable while writing?)

4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Smooth & steady. Reliable, no skips, great ink performance.

Feathering & Bleed-through - (How much the ink spread/bleed on different paper types)

5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Perfect! No feathering, no bleed-through—works flawlessly!

Drying Time - (How fast the ink dries on paper?)

1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Painfully slow. Takes 30+ seconds to dry, smudges easily.

Smudging & Smear Resistance - (How well the ink resists smudging)

4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Low smudging! Stays clean with careful handling.

Water Resistance - (How well the ink holds up against moisture)

4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Highly resistant! Only minor fading after water exposure.

Cleaning - (How easy it is to flush ink from a fountain pen?)

3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Manageable. Cleans out fairly easily with normal maintenance.

Staining – (Does the Ink Leave a Mark Where It Shouldn't after cleaning?)

2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) - Noticeable stains remain after cleaning.

Overall Opinion

Even though the slow dry time and light initial color can be a bit of a pain, the incredible shading and the way Platinum's Citrus Black handles any type of paper make this ink totally worth it if you’re looking for something unique for your easier-to-clean pens.

Interested in this ink?

Check it out now!!

Platinum Citrus Black Fountain Pen Ink - 60ml - Standard / Document Ink

$32.00$25.60

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