The company produces inks in 18 colours. The promotiional information indicates the inks are produced with inter alia modern raw materials, use high-class brilliant colorants, specially treated water and minimal amounts of additives. This well-balanced composition, Rohrer Klingner says, gives their ink optimal flow.

The inks come in a 50 ml bottle that is round and tall. This is a good basic design for ease in filling pens. The compact bottle nicely fits within a briefcase. The bottle is made our of brown glass to protect the ink from light.

Salix is one of the two iron gall writing inks made by Rohrer & Klingner. Iron gall ink is made from iron salts and tannic acids from vegetables. Nothing new here, it was the ink used in Europe between the 5th and 19th C. Historically, because of how the ink is formulated, it adheres firmly to parchment or vellum and would not be removed by rubbing or washing. But what we get today is not the historic iron gall ink of the past. The inks of today have small amounts of ferro-gallic optimized for fountain pen writing. From what I read, there is no concern in terms of how it impacts your fountain pen, although, numerous references -- unless left for long periods in a pen. So use, and then wash out the pen to store. I think a nice to to answer the question: Should I use an iron gall ink? Yes, as long as it is in a pen that you regularly use.

There is a gradual darkening of the ink as oxidation process takes place. The colour changing aspect varies dependent on the type of paper.

Iron gall inks have their unique chemistry. Other inks, such as pigmented inks, h ave tiny suspended solids in the ink that when left for long periods in the pen can remain in the feed.