An improved ink composition comprised of a major amount of water; an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of tetramethylene sulfone; 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl urea; 3-methyl sulfolane; and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidone; which solvent has permanently dissolved therein spirit soluble dyes such as black, yellow, cyan, magneta, brown, and mixtures thereof.