Everyone is familiar with the scent of old books, yet few know where this aroma comes from and why so many people are enamored with the smell of old books to the extent that they “nail themselves” in libraries or used bookstores.
We all know that the older a treasure is, the more valuable it becomes. Books are a treasure of humanity, so they are no exception.
Books that have been preserved for decades or centuries not only hold knowledge but also carry invaluable historical significance.
Old books have a very distinctive smell.
However, if you are someone who loves books and frequently visits the library, you will surely notice that old books have a very distinctive smell. As Matija Strlic, a scholar at University College London, once shared, this smell “is a mix of mustiness, vanilla, almonds… combined with several types of acid.” It sounds awful but is irresistible, as it “feels like a distinctive part of the book’s content, unmistakable and impossible to resist.”
But where does this smell come from? The secret lies in hundreds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are embedded in the paper, ink, and adhesive. Over time, these VOCs break down, releasing a considerable amount of chemical substances that are quite “nostalgic” and characteristic of old books.
In fact, every book will have a different smell, depending on the amount of VOCs used during its production. According to a survey from a printing company, the almond scent in books comes from benzaldehyde, sweet aromas are derived from toluene or ethyl benzene, and floral scents are due to 2-ethyl hexanol.
New books do not have a similar smell, partly because their components degrade less, and partly because over the past century, we have used lower-quality wood for paper.
Depending on when a book was printed, there may be additional chemicals, and these chemicals can be useful when the publication date is uncertain. For example, high concentrations of furfural are indicators of books published before the 1800s.
This research has been published in journals such as ACS Sensors, Analytical Chemistry, and Heritage Science.
Experienced librarians can “smell” and recognize which books are severely damaged.
Additionally, the smell of old books sometimes arises from unavoidable factors over time: smoke, mold, or even the scent of dried flowers pressed between the pages.
But why is this smell important?
This is a skill that only seasoned and experienced librarians possess: they can “smell” and identify which books are severely damaged.
This skill is essential because those books will need careful protection or should be copied as soon as possible. According to a study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry in 2009, there are about 15 VOCs that decompose faster than usual, so caution is necessary.
Books will deteriorate over time
Humans have been creating and using books for over 4,500 years. Initially, books were made from scrolls of papyrus, which over time evolved into softcover books, and today we even have e-books.
Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, an Australian science commentator, states that the strange smell of old books is due to the chemicals used in the paper, ink, and glue breaking down and emitting gases.
He explains: “Old books have various odors, from sour to musty. Many people describe the smell of old books, with some saying they smell like chocolate, vintage, burnt, and even like stinky socks. During the paper production and book printing process, many chemicals are incorporated into the book’s paper and do not decompose completely, remaining in the paper. The smell of a book depends on the type of paper used, the chemicals involved, and when the book was created.”
A glossy book used for reading during coffee breaks has a very different scent compared to a cheap black-and-white paperback.
The era in which a book was produced and the methods used at that time significantly influence the book’s longevity.
Dr. Karl also mentions: “You can read a book from 150 years ago, and you can also read a book from 1,000 years ago. However, books produced in the early 1920s can no longer be read today because they were made from cheap paper so that many people could afford them. To cut costs, they simply left acid in the paper without neutralizing it, which is why many books from that era did not last long as they deteriorated quickly.”
Why do old books evoke so many memories?
Bookstores often evoke many memories due to the unique smell of books.
For many people, the smell of an old book floods them with memories, nostalgia, and a pleasant feeling. Dr. Karl explains that the memories triggered when one smells an old book arise from our basic instincts.
The sense of smell is not stimulated by the forebrain but rather by the cerebrum. Smell is essential because all living organisms, even bacteria, have a sense of smell to perceive scents.
A fragrance you have encountered in the past can evoke memories such as the scent of your mother’s perfume on special occasions or the smell of a car your family once traveled in together.
An old book you hold in your hands for the first time may carry a scent that indirectly reminds you of events from the past or evokes associations with other objects or phenomena from bygone days.
