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Romantic fragrances from perfumed pens don’t last very long on writing paper. And the aromatic ink tends to be much more viscous than the normal stuff, making writing look fuzzy and feathery. Now the Mitsubishi Pencil Company in Japan has found a natural answer (GB2365015-7). A fatty substance called lecithin, extracted from soybean oil, is the key. Adding a few per cent of it to perfumed ink helps it flow more freely, while holding onto fragrances like lilac so they continue to waft from the page days after being applied. The firm has also synthesised artificial chemicals that work in the same way as natural lecithin.