Choosing fountain pen inks by sample can be harder than it looks. One choice foregrounds a named shading character whose appearance can change with paper; the other gives you a burgundy sample marked New. The practical decision is whether you want to explore a paper-sensitive visual effect or start with a clearly identified color sample. Kitty Inkpot Butter and Strawberry Bagel and Diamine Inkvent "Bah Humbug" serve those different briefs. Here's the useful split: choose Kitty Inkpot for effect-led swatching, or Diamine Bah Humbug for a simpler starting point.
Quick verdict
Kitty Inkpot is the fit when the "Butter and Strawberry Bagel" wording is the reason you are shopping. Diamine Bah Humbug is the clearer pick when New condition and a burgundy color are priorities. The two paths separate visual exploration from straightforward color-led sampling.
At a glance
| Sample | Listed price | Format | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitty Inkpot Butter and Strawberry Bagel Shading | USD 6.25 | 2mL sample | Used |
| Diamine Inkvent "Bah Humbug" | USD 3.17 | 3ml sample, 1 vial only | New |
Where each product wins
Where Kitty Inkpot wins
Kitty Inkpot's strongest use case is paper-to-paper swatching. The ink can look different depending on the paper, and "Shading" is part of the product name. That gives shoppers a concrete reason to choose it: the sample invites exploration of changing appearance, not merely identification of a color. The S5 "Crazy Party" Collection wording adds context for someone drawn to collection-based sampling. Kitty Inkpot wins for effect-led swatching, especially when paper variation is part of the fun.
Where Diamine Bah Humbug wins
Diamine Bah Humbug is the more direct route when country of origin matters alongside the ink choice: United Kingdom is named, and Inkvent "Bah Humbug" gives the sample a specific release label. Those are useful sorting cues for a shopper arranging samples by origin or release name. The burgundy color is another concrete reason to choose it when a color-led brief comes first. The single-vial wording keeps the format focused on sampling, while Kitty Inkpot centers on changing appearance on paper.
Product notes
Kitty Inkpot Butter and Strawberry Bagel Shading Sample
Kitty Inkpot Butter and Strawberry Bagel Shading Fountain Pen Ink Sample is the appealing pick for someone who wants a named visual character to explore rather than a plain color label. The S5 "Crazy Party" Collection wording gives it a clear identity, and the 2mL vial keeps the experiment at sample scale-useful when trying a full bottle would be too much commitment. Its small plastic vial is suited to testing an ink before buying a full bottle. The concrete limitation is the Used condition, so shoppers who require a New sample should choose differently. Kitty Inkpot makes the most sense when its distinctive name and collection context matter more than a standard color-first brief.
Diamine Inkvent "Bah Humbug" Fountain Pen Ink Sample
3ml Fountain Pen Ink Sample - Diamine Inkvent "Bah Humbug" - 1 Vial Only is a practical choice for a shopper who wants a burgundy sample with a specific release name. The 3ml format and "1 Vial Only" wording keep the purchase clearly sample-sized, which suits a focused color trial rather than a full-bottle commitment. United Kingdom origin adds a useful organizing detail for a sample collection. The limitation is the single-vial format: it may not suit someone looking beyond a sample-sized quantity. Diamine is the cleaner match for color-led discovery, while Kitty Inkpot's named character is the reason to look elsewhere when paper variation is the priority.
Final choice by use case
- For paper-led swatching: choose Kitty Inkpot Butter and Strawberry Bagel Shading.
- For a lower-priced color sample: choose Diamine Inkvent "Bah Humbug."
- If price is decisive: Diamine is USD 3.17 versus USD 6.25 for Kitty Inkpot, making it the lower-priced route for trying one clearly identified ink.
