You’re invited to join your fellow ink heroes seeking ink perfection with certain specifications guiding their efforts. Today’s brown fountain pen ink comparison is just the beginning. See where it takes you.

The Inspiration Behind the Journey: a Single Comment

Every great journey begins with a single comment. One of our readers recently mentioned they were about to embark on a quest for umber, chestnut, and brown fountain pen inks. Naturally, we couldn’t just sit back and let a fellow ink enthusiast set out alone, especially when the treasure map leads to such a rich and rewarding palette.

Meet the Ink Heroes: On a Quest for the Perfect Brown Fountain Pen Ink

So we rummaged through Pen Chalet’s inky vaults and selected a handful of fabulous browns that offer variety, character, and flair. From earthy and warm to shimmering and color-shifting, these five inks deserve a moment in the spotlight.

This Week’s Featured Inks:

• Monteverde Canyon Rust ink
• Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri ink
• Monteverde Brown to Green Color Changing ink (don’t forget you need the color changing solution)
• Ferris Wheel Press Majestic Maple Syrup – Woven Warmth Ink Collection
• Wearingeul Purgatorio ink – Dante’s Divine Comedy Collection

Whether you’re craving depth, sparkle, or a hint of drama, these inks each bring their own character to the story.

Ink Test Results: Brown Fountain Pen Ink Comparison

📽️ [Watch the #shorts video of our brown ink swatch session here!]
(Spoiler alert: there’s shimmer, color shifts, and a lot of swooning involved.)

Today’s Ink Bottles and Packaging:

Monteverde always brings value and versatility. Both Canyon Rust and Color Changing Brown to Green come in their 30ml bottles with broad openings and budget-friendly pricing.

Pilot Iroshizuku’s 50ml bottle is as elegant as ever, with its curved glass and minimalist label. (It’s a favorite of many for good reason).

Ferris Wheel Press continues to charm with its round, ornate 38ml bottle and gold hardware inspired by jewelry design.

Wearingeul Purgatorio, a dramatic entry from the World Literature collection, comes in their signature square bottle with classy and clean themed packaging.

Other Products Used During the Brown Fountain Pen Ink Comparison:

• Rhodia ICE Notepad (bright white, high quality, fountain pen friendly paper that highlights the true ink colors nicely)
• Col-o-ring Ink Swatch Test Cards
• Glass Dip Pen for even swatching (J. Herbin and El Dorado glass dip pens)
• Cotton swabs for broad ink swatches
• Paint brush (just a standard general use paint brush)
• Soft cloth to keep everything tidy and ink-hero approved (we often use the Dee Charles Designs Pen Wipe Wallet)

Brown Ink Comparison: 1-Dip Test

We used a dip pen for each ink and were able to write about a sentence and a half before needing to re-dip. The wetter inks (like Ferris Wheel Press and Pilot Iroshizuku) gave a smoother glide and slightly longer writing time.

Dry Time: How Fast Did the Inks Dry?

Monteverde Canyon Rust: ~10 seconds

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri: ~15 seconds

Monteverde Color Changing Brown to Green: ~12 seconds

Ferris Wheel Press Majestic Maple Syrup: ~18 seconds

Wearingeul Purgatorio: ~20 seconds

Our Brown Inks and the Water Test:

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri held up surprisingly well with only slight smudging.

Monteverde Canyon Rust faded considerably.

Color Changing Brown to Green washed out but left behind some greenish traces.

Purgatorio and Majestic Maple Syrup showed moderate water resistance — expect some smearing but readable lines.

Did We Notice Any Special Properties with Today’s Brown Inks?

Monteverde Canyon Rust offers subtle shading with a warm, rusty tone.

Yama-guri is a classic deep brown with low sheen and high legibility.

Color Changing Brown to Green shifts colors depending on the light and paper — brown in the center, green edges.

Majestic Maple Syrup is a warm golden brown with fine gold shimmer.

Purgatorio is our surprise of the group. Once it’s side by side with the other browns, it comes off as a pale blushy burgundy pink (I know those are a smidge contradictory), but it’s Purgatorio, what do you expect? Described by the manufacturer as a deep brown with a dramatic red sheen (and occasional sparkle?), Wearingeul Purgatorio stepped into its bad boy rebel phase to take us completely by surprise. It’s lovely – just unexpected. And while I can see the “brown” undertone when I am working with it alone – when it’s side by side in today’s brown fountain pen ink comparison – it seems like a game of “one of these things is not like the others.” And that’s saying something since there’s an ink in the mix that turns green when its color-changing solution is applied.

Was There Any Feathering or Bleeding?

All five inks performed beautifully on high-quality Rhodia paper as well as the Col-o-ring swatch cards. No feathering or bleeding to report — though lower-quality paper may show some ghosting with the wetter inks.

Final Thoughts / Conclusion: Brown Fountain Pen Ink Comparison

If you’re starting your brown fountain pen ink journey, this comparison is a great place to kick things off. Here’s a quick recap of where each ink shines:

Monteverde Canyon Rust: Best for earthy tone lovers on a budget.

Yama-guri: Your go-to brown for professional notes and daily journaling.

Color Changing Brown to Green: Great for the curious — and lovers of a little ink magic.

Majestic Maple Syrup: Made for shimmer fans and fall ink palettes.

Purgatorio: For unexpected drama, subtle strength, and literary inspiration.

So grab your favorite pen, maybe a journal or two, and let us know which brown speaks to your inky soul. After all, this isn’t just a brown fountain pen ink comparison — it’s the start of a serious ink quest, and every ink hero deserves the perfect sidekick.

Have a favorite brown ink we should add to the next round? Let us know in the comments or on our socials. Happy inking! And until we meet again – keep yourself inked up by shopping your favorite pens, inks, and writing accessories at PenChalet.com.