Why do I smell books?

It turns out that the smell of old books is due to the organic materials in books (like cellulose from wood pulp) reacting with light, heat and water, and over time releasing volatile organic compounds or VOCs.

What is it called when you like the smell of books?

Bibliosmia, the individual scent attached to a particular book, is the one thing an electronic book can never offer, just as we’ve never got ‘smellovision’. Why do books smell, though, and why do we find the smell so intoxicating, bordering on the addictive?

Why do library books smell good?

As a book ages, the chemical compounds used—the glue, the paper, the ink–begin to break down. And, as they do, they release volatile compounds—the source of the smell. As it breaks down, the lignin grants old books that faint vanilla scent.”

Why do I like sniffing books?

Books are made up of paper, adhesive, and ink. When these materials degrade over time, they give off organic volatile compounds, which in turn produce a smell that’s appealing to readers. The reason the smell is so appealing may be because it has a hint of vanilla.

Why do old books have a distinct smell?

As lignin oxidizes, it breaks down into acids that eat away at paper’s cellulose and turn the pages yellow. All of these processes of decay throw off volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that impart a distinctive smell to aging books.

How do you describe the smell of books?

When museum sniffers described the book smell, they most frequently used words like “chocolate,” “coffee,” and “old.” Library smellers, however, selected words like “woody,” “smoky” and “earthy” from the list, and described the smell’s intensity and perceived pleasantness.

What is Bibliosmia?

1. the smell of a good book. The best sense about a wonderful book is that sensation of bibliosmia.

How do you remove the musty smell from books?

Place a cup of baking soda or an opened box in a plastic box or bin with a lid. Put the book in the box with the baking soda and close the lid. Leave it for 48-72 hours, then check on the book. Repeat until the odor is gone.