Compiled from 6 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
J. Herbin Poussière de Lune, or moon dust, is a dusty plum-purple fountain pen ink made in France, sold in 10 ml, 30 ml (1 fl oz) and 100 ml bottles and in cartridges. It flows wet and dries slowly, 30 seconds or more in Goulet's test, with medium water resistance. The 30 ml bottle has a built-in pen rest.
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The 30 ml Poussière de Lune bottle, drawn in proportion, with a swab of the ink.
Product facts
Product
J. Herbin Poussière de Lune fountain pen ink, 30 ml bottle (13048T)
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Notes on these facts
Made by J. Herbin (Jacques Herbin), Exacompta Clairefontaine group, France. Made in France: Jacques Herbin's French product page for Poussière de lune says 'Fabrication française' (French-made). Herbin has belonged to the French Exacompta Clairefontaine group since 1990, as our Emerald of Chivor guide notes. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
Jacques Herbin's French site lists Poussière de lune as 11548T (10 ml), 13048T (30 ml) and 17048T (100 ml), plus a box of 6 cartridges.
Goulet's review says to wait 30 seconds or more to avoid smearing and rates water resistance medium.
Goulet lists the 30 ml bottle's opening at 18.5 mm (0.73 in) and notes its integrated pen rest.
Its 30 ml Amazon listing ranked 14th among Bottled Pen Ink best sellers on October 22, 2026, with about 2,900 ratings.
Herbin's French product page says 'Fabrication française' (made in France).
What is J. Herbin Poussière de Lune?
It’s a dusty plum-purple fountain pen ink from J. Herbin of France, whose name means “moon dust”. Goulet’s listing calls it the color of the night when only the crescent moon is glowing.
It belongs to Herbin’s La Perle des encres range, which Herbin’s French site describes as 35 writing inks with French, poetic names, made for everyday use in fountain pens, rollerballs and glass pens. Herbin’s 1670 shimmer inks, such as Emerald of Chivor and Rouge Hématite, are the brand’s showpieces; Poussière de Lune is its everyday purple.
On October 22, 2026 its 30 ml Amazon listing ranked 14th among Bottled Pen Ink best sellers, with about 2,900 ratings.
Poussière de Lune specs
Spec
Value
Maker
J. Herbin (Jacques Herbin), France
Codes
11548T (10 ml), 13048T (30 ml), 17048T (100 ml)
Cartridges
Box of 6 (Herbin)
Bottle opening, 30 ml
18.5 mm (0.73 in), per Goulet
Bottle extra
Built-in pen rest on the 30 ml bottle (Goulet)
Dry time
Slow, 30 s or more (Goulet)
Water resistance
Medium (Goulet)
Flow
Wet (Goulet)
Price band
$$ ($5–20 per 30 ml bottle)
Herbin’s page says the inks are finely filtered so they don’t clog pens. We found no bottle dimensions, so the cover draws the 30 ml bottle and its pen rest in proportion.
Fills per bottle (bottle ÷ capacity), with Poussière de Lune's sourced properties.
How does Poussière de Lune write?
Wet and dark, with a color that shifts between purple and purple-black depending on paper and nib. The Well-Appointed Desk calls it an eggplant purple-black that dries flat and matte, with a good amount of shading in fine nibs.
Goulet rates shading medium and says the darker tone means it isn’t as prominent as in other inks. Because the ink is wet, Goulet suggests a fine or extra-fine nib on everyday paper; one Well-Appointed Desk reader runs it in a Pilot Metropolitan and says it shades beautifully.
How fast does J. Herbin Poussière de Lune dry?
Slowly: Goulet says to put the page aside and wait 30 seconds or more to avoid smearing. Its review was written with a LAMY AL-star medium on Rhodia, a slick paper that slows drying.
Amazon’s listing describes Herbin inks as fast drying; on coated paper, trust the slower figure. Left-handed writers may prefer a quicker ink such as Iroshizuku Yama-budo, at 15 to 20 seconds.
Is Poussière de Lune water resistant?
Only partly. Goulet rates water resistance medium: the lines stay visible but blur a fair amount when water is added, which makes it fun for ink-wash sketches.
Goulet rates cleaning medium too. The dark color takes a little longer to flush out, but you won’t need to scrub.
What is the J. Herbin pen-rest bottle?
The 30 ml bottle has a groove moulded into it, so you can lay your pen down between dips. Goulet describes it as elegantly labeled with an integrated pen rest, and notes the opening is smaller than most but still roomy enough for a nib.
At 18.5 mm (0.73 in), the opening suits most pens; Herbin also sells the color in a 100 ml bottle and a 10 ml sample size.
Where is J. Herbin Poussière de Lune made?
In France. Herbin’s French product page says “Fabrication française”, French-made.
J. Herbin dates its ink making to 1670 and is part of the French Exacompta Clairefontaine group. In the US, the 30 ml bottle sits in our $$ band.
Frequently asked questions
What color is Poussière de Lune?
A dusty, smoky purple. Goulet calls it delightfully deep and smoky, and the Well-Appointed Desk an eggplant purple-black that dries flat and matte.
What does Poussière de Lune mean?
Moon dust. Goulet's listing describes it as the color of the night when only the crescent moon is glowing in the dark.
Is Poussière de Lune a wet ink?
Yes. Goulet calls it wet and suggests a fine or extra-fine nib unless you're writing on fountain-pen-friendly paper.
How long does J. Herbin Poussière de Lune take to dry?
Goulet says it's slow drying and to wait 30 seconds or more. Amazon's listing calls Herbin inks fast drying; on Rhodia, expect the slower figure.
Is Poussière de Lune waterproof?
No. Goulet rates water resistance medium: the lines stay visible but blur a fair amount when water hits them.
What sizes does Poussière de Lune come in?
Herbin's French site lists 10 ml, 30 ml and 100 ml bottles and a box of 6 cartridges. Herbin says the La Perle des encres colors also suit rollerball refills and glass dip pens.
Does the J. Herbin bottle have a pen rest?
The 30 ml bottle does. Goulet describes it as elegantly labeled with an integrated pen rest, a groove you can lay a pen in while you write.
Is J. Herbin ink made in France?
Yes. Herbin's French product page for Poussière de lune says 'Fabrication française', French-made.
