Richard somebody of Abe Books talks about the smell of old books, and research done on the components that make up that particular odor. You can read more about the research at this 2009 article in the Guardian. Hat tip to Sondra!
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Have you sniffed CB I Hate Perfume In the Library? It’s supposed to have this old book smell. I had never really paid much attention to the odor before I got my sample, but when I sniffed that it was very familiar. Not something I need to wear, though, even though I am a librarian.
Yes, I like that one!
American books don’t smell the same as British or French ones, for instance. I always sniff books before I buy them. 🙂
I used to buy mostly used books, and I sniffed them too. Now that all my favorite used book stores have disappeared, my books come from Amazon and all smell about the same. One more reason to give up and just read on a Kindle, I guess!
Yep me thinks the same too! and certain magazines also have different smells.
I think Amouag’es Opus range is also supposed to evoke the smell of books?
Is it? I didn’t know that, although clearly the packaging is inspired by books.
I love the smell of books. Which is why I just cannot switch from books to kindle. When I was little and wanted to escape caligraphy lesson, I would hide away in my father’s library, which was filled with old books and an antique sewing machine. I used to hide behind the old sewing machine and read books. The smell of old books and old machine oil were somehow comforting to me.
I think Barbara Bui perfume smells just like old paperbacks, the ones make with pulpy, high-acid paper. It’s supposed to smell of sandalwood and patchouli, but aged paper is the image I get whenever I spray it on & go to work (Librarian).