The tradition of creating scented inks originated in Italy in the 19th century. Romantic letter writing reigned supreme among correspondence at the time, its sophisticated forms highly coveted and lending added meaning to feelings. Lovers' declarations were enhanced by the subtle scent of perfume, which was first sprinkled on the letters and then added to the inks. Production technology was continually refined to achieve the most lasting scent possible.

Founded in 1670, the French company J. Herbin, whose history you can read about here, offers six fragrances in their respective shades. Blue lavender, green apple, amber orange, brown cocoa, pink rose, and violet violet are all based on floral waters. These waters are produced in Grasse, France, a Provençal town known as the world capital of perfume. This is where the plot of "Perfume"—the novel by Patrick Suskind, based on the film of the same name—takes place.

Les Subtiles, as the collection of scented inks is called, spreads its subtle aromas primarily around the person writing with the pen. However, if the paper is sealed in an envelope, the delicately powdery scent will last for several days – just long enough for the recipient of the letter or message to also smell it.

J. Herbin scented inks are free from artificial colors and have a neutral pH. They work perfectly with fountain pens, but can also be used for drawing or painting.