With a
sample size of ten
permanent markers, and some spare
time today at
work, I have determined that the worse a marker smells, the more
permanent its
markings are. So when you are out
shopping for a
marker, be sure to buy the one that
smells the
nastiest.
This is probably due to the fact that stronger solvents smell worse than weaker ones (because they act more on the sensory tissue in your nose.) Therefore, these solvents dissolve the surface slightly and bring the ink into more intimate contact with it.