Herbin inks are water based, non toxic and pH neutral. The ink flows smoothly and is fast drying. All ink colours in the Herbin line are made with natural dyes.

The 30 ml ink bottle has an integrated pen rest which is an unique feature specific to the Herbin ink bottle. Herbin 30 ml ink is often referred to as the “D” bottle pen inks. The “D” refers to the old French unit of measure “la Demi Courtine”.

Vert Empire (Green Empire) ink colour represents the proclamation of Napoleon Bonaparte on December 2nd 1804 as the French Emperor at the cathedral Notre-Dame in Paris. Napoleon Bonaparte famously crowned himself Emperor taking the imperial crown (the laurel crown) from the hands of Pope Pie VII to put it on his head. He then crowned his wife Josephine Empress. This scene is depicted in the painting by Jacques-Louis David, Le Sacre de Napoleon (The Coronation of Napoleon).

It was tradition among the Greeks and the Romans to crown the poets and the winners with a laurel wreath.

In the Middle-Ages it was also a tradition to crown the distinguished scholars at the university with a laurel wreath.