Ohuhu 72 Alcohol Markers Review: Honolulu Brush & Chisel Set

The Ohuhu Honolulu 72 Colors Brush & Chisel Alcohol Markers set is a sensible middle ground for adults who want to explore alcohol-marker coloring without jumping straight from a small starter pack to a case containing well over 100 colors.

ASIN B07TH5NMQG is the brush-and-chisel Honolulu variant. The set contains 72 colored markers plus one colorless blender, bringing the total to 73 markers, and includes a carrying case. Every colored marker combines a flexible brush nib with a wide chisel nib.

That pairing is strongest when a page mixes organic shapes with larger areas. The brush end gives you pressure-sensitive control for curves, tapered strokes, shadows, and transitions. The chisel end fills backgrounds, clothing, furniture, and other broad shapes more efficiently. The trade-off is that neither end behaves like a firm fine point, so very intricate coloring pages may be easier with a brush-and-fine set.

Who the Ohuhu Honolulu 72-color set is for

I think this set best suits adult colorists, hobby artists, and beginners who already understand that alcohol markers need suitable paper. Seventy-two colors offer more room for light-to-dark combinations than a compact set, but the case is still easier to learn and organize than Ohuhu’s largest collections.

It is a particularly good match for single-sided coloring books, loose coloring pages, marker paper, and hobby illustration. The broad palette lets you reserve lighter shades for a first layer, add mid-tones for form, and use darker colors selectively for shadows and contrast.

I would look elsewhere if most of my coloring books were printed on both sides. Alcohol ink commonly travels through paper, and a protective sheet can save the next page or tabletop but cannot preserve an illustration printed on the reverse of the sheet being colored.

This is also not the most natural tip configuration for tiny mandalas, miniature patterns, or pages packed with narrow enclosed spaces. A Honolulu B brush-and-fine set gives up some broad coverage in exchange for firmer detail control.

What comes in the Ohuhu 72 alcohol marker set?

The set includes 72 colored alcohol markers, one colorless blender, and a black carrying case. The colorless blender is useful for pushing pale ink toward an edge, softening some transitions, lifting small areas, and creating texture. It should not be treated as a magic eraser or as a substitute for choosing compatible shades.

Color-coded caps help with identification, but I would still make a swatch chart on the paper I plan to use. Alcohol-marker color can look different once dry, and cap colors are only a quick visual guide. A paper-specific chart is much more dependable when choosing neighboring shades for a gradient.

Switching tips is a matter of rotating the round Honolulu barrel. That shape also means a marker can roll on a sloped desk, so the carrying case is useful during a coloring session rather than only for storage.

Brush-tip control and chisel-tip coverage

The brush tip is the main reason to choose this set over a cheaper dual-marker format with two rigid nibs. A flexible brush can make a narrow line with light pressure, widen as more of the nib meets the page, and taper at the end of a stroke. That range is useful for hair, leaves, folds, rounded characters, and shadow edges.

It does take practice. Pressing too firmly can put excess ink into a small area, while repeatedly scrubbing dry paper can wear the nib and create uneven edges. Controlled strokes and a light hand are a better starting point than trying to force a smooth fill in one pass.

The chisel tip is the speed side. Its broad face covers open shapes quickly, while its edge can make narrower straight marks. It is useful for backgrounds and blockier sections, but rotating a chisel nib through tight curves is less intuitive than using a brush or fine point.

For adult coloring pages with a mixture of medium and large shapes, the two tips complement each other well. For highly detailed books, brush and fine tips are likely to feel more precise.

Blending, layering, and the 72-color palette

Alcohol ink is transparent, so each pass affects the color underneath it. That makes the Honolulu set useful for building shadows and gradients, but it also means repeated layers can darken an area faster than expected.

The easiest approach is to select two or three nearby colors from a swatch chart, begin with the lightest shade, add the darker color where the shadow belongs, and return with a lighter shade while the ink is still workable. Small sections are easier to blend before an edge dries completely.

Seventy-two colors give you more neighboring choices than a small starter set, which reduces the need to bridge a large value jump with heavy layering. Even so, this is a general palette rather than a dedicated skin-tone, pastel, or gray collection. People who focus on portraits or muted illustration may eventually want a specialized expansion set.

The included colorless blender can help move ink or soften a light boundary, but it can also push color outward and leave a visible edge if too much is applied. I would practice with it on scrap paper before using it near finished line art.

Paper compatibility and bleed-through

Paper choice is the most important limitation in this Ohuhu 72 alcohol markers review.

Alcohol ink is expected to bleed through many ordinary coloring-book pages. Thick paper can still allow ink to reach the back, especially after several blending passes. Paper weight alone does not guarantee that a page is safe.

I would use these markers with dedicated marker paper, smooth single-sided coloring pages, or another surface that has been tested with alcohol ink. Very absorbent paper can pull ink out of the nib quickly and shorten the time available for blending. Coated or bleed-resistant marker paper can keep the ink workable nearer the surface, although the exact result varies by paper.

Always place a non-porous protective sheet or several pieces of scrap paper beneath the active page. Test a small area first, and remove a single-sided page from its book when practical. If preserving artwork on both sides matters, colored pencils or suitable water-based markers are a safer choice.

Odor and workspace considerations

These are alcohol-based markers, so some odor is normal. I would use them in a ventilated room, recap both ends promptly, and take a break if the smell becomes uncomfortable.

That makes them less convenient for a closed bedroom, a cramped shared desk, or anyone sensitive to marker odor. The ink dries quickly, but quick drying does not remove the need for airflow and sensible storage.

Refills and replacement nibs

The current Honolulu system is more maintainable than a fully disposable marker set, but there is an important qualification.

Ohuhu currently offers refill inks for 101 popular colors across several alcohol-marker series. That does not mean every shade in this particular 72-color case has a matching refill. Before buying the set specifically for long-term replenishment, I would compare the marker codes I expect to use most with the current refill catalog.

Replacement brush nibs are sold separately for Honolulu and Honolulu B markers. That is useful because the brush end is the tip most likely to show wear after repeated pressure and blending. I could not verify an equivalent official replacement pack for the chisel nib, so I would not assume that both ends have the same replacement support.

How it compares with relevant alternatives

The Ohuhu Honolulu B brush-and-fine sets make more sense for intricate coloring pages. Their fine end is easier to place inside small printed shapes, while this Honolulu brush-and-chisel version is faster across broad areas.

The Copic Ciao 72 Colors Set B is a more expensive alternative for artists who want an established refill and replacement-nib system. Copic’s Set B palette also leans toward darker, earthy, and neutral shades rather than acting as a straightforward bright starter collection.

For thin or double-sided coloring books, a water-based set such as the Ohuhu Maui dual-tip markers may be a more practical direction. Water-based ink can still ghost or bleed when paper is thin or overworked, but it does not have the same predictable soak-through behavior as alcohol ink.

The biggest advantages

The strongest advantage is the balance of palette size and tip versatility. Seventy-two colors provide meaningful shade variety without creating the storage and swatching workload of a very large case.

The brush tip is the most creative part of the set, giving adult colorists useful control over curves, tapered marks, and shadows. The chisel tip adds practical speed when a page has open backgrounds or larger shapes.

The colorless blender and carrying case make the package more complete, while available refill inks and brush nibs give at least part of the collection a longer useful life.

The main drawbacks

Bleed-through is the drawback I would take most seriously. These markers are a poor match for double-sided coloring books when both illustrations matter, and they require a protective barrier beneath the active page.

The second drawback is detail control. A chisel nib is versatile, but it is not as easy to steer through very small printed spaces as a fine tip.

Finally, the refill story needs careful wording. The marker system is refillable, but current refill availability covers 101 popular Ohuhu colors rather than automatically covering every shade in every Honolulu set.

Final verdict

I think the Ohuhu Honolulu 72 Colors Brush & Chisel Alcohol Markers are a strong fit for adult colorists and hobby artists who want a flexible brush tip, efficient broad coverage, and enough shades to learn multi-color blending without managing an enormous collection.

I would choose this set for single-sided marker-friendly coloring pages, loose illustrations, and projects that mix expressive strokes with larger filled areas. The 72-color palette should feel roomy enough for learning gradients and shadows, while the case remains approachable for a first substantial alcohol-marker purchase.

I would skip it for double-sided books, extremely intricate line art, or a poorly ventilated workspace. In those situations, a brush-and-fine configuration or a suitable water-based marker set is the more practical choice.