Need help deciding on a black ink, please

[JessicaC]

I'm putting in an Amazon order and need a black ink.  I've tried Moon Palace Sumi Ink and I just can't bear the odor, so thought I'd try one of these since I'm ordering some other stuff from Amazon anyway.  Are any of these worth trying?  Would love some opinions.  Or maybe something entirely different, as long as it's on Amazon, is good too!  Thanks!

Winsor Newton Drawing Ink Black Indian
Dr. Martin's Black Star India Ink Matte
Speedball India Ink Super Black

[Salman Khattak]

Jessica - Winsor & Newton Matt Black is an excellent ink for Calligraphy, especially with broad-edged pens. Their India ink is great for drawing but doesn't flow as freely as I like. The Speedball India ink also requires the nib to be wiped clean from time to time and isn't the best flowing ink in my opinion.

I have no experience with Dr. Martin's ink you mentioned.

Higgins Eternal is a good no-fuss black ink for practice with dip pens. It is well behaved with both pointed and broad pens and cleans up easily. It is not as dark or opaque as the W&N Matt Black ink though.

Interestingly, Noodlers Black, although a fountain pen ink, flows very well in pointed pens for me, it isn't that great with broad-edged pens though.

I hope this info. is of some use to you :-)

-Salman

[Blotbot]

Yes, I use Higgins Eternal a lot for practice as well.  As Salman said, "no fuss".  Easy to clean up, available at most craft and art stores, no mold and inexpensive.  Yes can leave the lid off overnight to make it a bit richer.

[Perfectsettings]

I have a love/hate relationship with Mr. Higgins.    I don't think it is rich and opaque enough but I'm finding that I don't like the look of most inks unless it's gouache.  I'm actually ordering some Sumi.

[JessicaC]

Thank you, Salman, Ellen, and Daisy.  You've been very helpful!  I'm going to try the Winsor Newton first and will see if my local Michael's has the Higgins Eternal.  I've used that before in broad nibs but not yet tried it in pointed pen.  Would be interesting to see which I like better.

[Sunny]

I've tried Moon Palace Sumi Ink and I just can't bear the odor...

I'm going to try the Winsor Newton first and will see if my local Michael's has the Higgins Eternal. 

In my opinion the Higgins Eternal stinks even more than the Moon Palace Sumi. I can't bear the oder of the Higgins. It stinks extremly.

[garyn]

I've tried Moon Palace Sumi Ink and I just can't bear the odor...

I'm going to try the Winsor Newton first and will see if my local Michael's has the Higgins Eternal. 

In my opinion the Higgins Eternal stinks even more than the Moon Palace Sumi. I can't bear the oder of the Higgins. It stinks extremly.

Man my nose must be desensitized from darkroom chemicals or something.
I have the open bottle of Higgins Eternal about 1-1/2 feet from my face, as I'm writing, and maybe a foot when I am reinking the pen, and I don't smell it.