what makes old books smell
What Causes Old Book Smell? âA combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustinessâ is how an international team of chemists describes the unique odor of old books in a study. Poetic, sure, but what causes it? Books are made up almost entirely of organic materials: paper, ink, glue, fibers.
Smell is chemistry, and the chemistry of old books gives your cherished tomes their scent. Smell is chemistry, and the chemistry of old books gives your cherished tomes their scent. As a book ages, the chemical compounds usedâthe glue, the paper, the inkâbegin to break down. And, as they do, they release volatile compoundsâthe source of the smell.