8/26/2023 0 Comments Smell of old library books![]() ![]() And I have always loved the smell of libraries (as well as bookstores). ![]() His description PERFECTLY sums up how I feel about old books. Of course my deep love of reading is exactly what lead me in the first place to begin capturing the scent of books and of the libraries where they live. These scents mean Excitement, Adventure, Discovery, Enlightenment and Knowledge. But to an avid reader and collector like myself, these smells are as magical as the bouquet of a great wine is to a connoisseur - a sort of literary terroir. To many of course, these various bookish odors mean nothing. And yes, sometimes if a book has had the misfortune of being very poorly kept, I can detect a faint whiff of mildew. I can tell books that have come from humid places - these have a musty richness in the scent of their pages.Īnd then of course there are the scents of different bindings: the glues, the leathers, the cloths and boards, even the paperbacks all have very unique characteristics and, to my mind, add an extra dash of personality to an otherwise mundane object. Books from California smell very different from those I buy in New York, London or Paris. Occasionally I run across one that I am certain belonged to an older woman fond of powdery scent. I can often tell books that lived in libraries where pipes or cigars were regularly smoked. I can distinguish books that were well cared for from those that were neglected. These speak not only of their origin, but of their history to this moment. I’ve also noticed that books from different countries and different periods have very individual scents too. Illustrated books have a very different odor from those with straight text and this smell often speaks of their quality. Older books smell riper and often sweeter. The visitors most frequently described the aroma of the library as woody (selected by 100 of the visitors who were asked), followed by smoky (86), earthy. Their ink is so crisp though the odor of their paper is so faint. Newly printed books certainly smell very different from older ones. There are few things more wonderful than the smell of a much-loved book. Sealing the book in an airtight container along with an odor-absorbing compound (such as unscented clay kitty litter. Interleaving the book with paper towels and then putting it in the freezer. Leaving the book outside in fresh air (climate dependent) to air out. Whenever I read, the start of the journey is always opening the book and breathing deeply. Leaving the book, fanned open, under a fume hood for a few weeks to air out. According to perfumer Christopher Brosius, “these scents mean Excitement, Adventure, Discovery, Enlightenment and Knowledge.”īrosius further explains on the product page: As for the smell of musty books having 'unrecognised medical benefits', you should always avoid deliberately putting your nose into an old book and breathing deeply, as germs can be trapped. One strategy involves creating an enclosed chamber. There is no guaranteed way to remove the odor, but there are several strategies that may be successful. Brooklyn perfumery I Hate Perfume has released a scent called “In the Library” that is inspired by the smells of libraries and books. How can I remove the musty smell from old books A musty smell is often noted in books that have been exposed to high relative humidity and that may have been moldy or mildewed in the past. Once again I am forced to wonder why anyone hasn’t thought of this before. ![]()
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