what causes people to be very musty?
Finally, some dry environments have a musty odor. One cause of this odor that I call the Antique Shop Odor is degradation of paper products and very old wood. Old waxes and polishes could also contribute. I am not aware of publications that discuss the specific compounds that cause these odors.
Musty odors are caused by volatile organic compounds. While mold is a common source for these compounds, they can come from other sources. If there is no water anywhere in the basement, then musty odors are probably not caused by mold. If there is water, mold probably plays a role, but may not be the entire problem. First, lets talk about mold. Actively growing mold produces a wide range of volatile compounds, some of which can impart a musty odor.