Alongside its conventional writing inks, the De Atramentis ink manufactory run by Jansen produces a range of perfumed inks whose scent matches the name and colour of each variety. The fragrance is strongest when the bottle is opened and remains perceptible as a discreet smell in the room while writing. The inks have been popular as gifts for collectors since they appeared around 2007.
Among the more unusual varieties in an early test batch are: the car or Dream Car ink, available in several versions from small car to luxury car, which in dark blue smells of fine leather and wood; the black steam-locomotive ink, a mixture of smoke and oil; the sky-blue aeroplane ink, which smells of kerosene and is therefore not to everyone's taste; the football ink, with a note of leather, grass and stadium atmosphere; the golf ink in a rich British Racing Green, which smells of freshly mown grass; the wood ink with a pine note that spreads a discreet forest scent while writing; and the deep black liquorice ink, whose scent recalls the strong Nordic liquorice varieties.
The intensity of the scent is naturally highest when the bottle is first opened. Anyone unsure whether a particular note will appeal should try a single variety before buying several bottles.