Is it just me, or does anyone else love that new/old book smell?

Question

So I've just finished reading one of my favourite books again. I've lost count how man times I've read Stone Junction, but the evidence is there.
The dulled and fluffy page corners, the cracked and wrinkled spine, the the concave dip in the front cover, the coffee stains, fingerprint-smudges and age-yellowed pages.
But most importantly, that satisfying sandy aroma, that fish&chip shop-paper smell.

Who else is with me??

It's the smell of knowledge, the olfactory presence of the written word!

Answer 1

ME! ME! When i was really young, my mum asked me why I loved to read books, like I said I was really young and I didnt know how to answer this, so I just said I liked the smell. The smell. Thye should realy make a perfume with it. That musty sort of old smell as opposed to the new book smell which is (i dunno how to describe). It reminds me of an attic just filled with treausures waiting to be explored.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I read a Noel Streatfield book: Ballet Shoes about 10 times from my public library and I loved it for its smell as well as the wonderful story. I never found another book that smelled that way. I still think fondly of lying in my room and opening the book to start reading, but first I had to poke my little nose into the folds of the pages and sniff deeply. True nostalgia, for me. It gives me a wistful, bittersweet sensory memory. I loved the book because of how the little girls were cared for in WW2 London, where they attended a children's theatrical school and learned ballet. I was so lonely back then and desperately wished I could be one of those little girls. I even tried to learn ballet from another library book. I just ordered a copy of this book off the Internet because it hasn't been in print for a while.

I love your description of your experience with your book. Isn't it wonderful to have such a satisfying memory? Sometimes when I pick up an old favorite book I get a thrill just holding it before I even read a word. Lucky you, it sounds like you are British, I've had to make do with being an American. My genes are definitely English!! :)

Lovely question, thanks for asking!

Answer 3

I'm with you. Something about going into an old bookstore or the "old" book section of the library and the smell of the old tomes is like a comfy blanket to wrap around the senses. The best ones are the leather bound ones with the rice paper thin, gilt edged pages.

Answer 4

I'm with you! I've been known to wander used book stores, feeling and smelling the books. I absolutely love to pick up a book I've already read and the spine is creased, the corners fluffed for comfort and that old-paper-dust-and-love smell makes me melt and run for more books. It's the reason I used to "hang out" in the library, sitting in the rows of paperbacks and reference texts surrounded by the smell and sounds of pages turning, hard covers closing and the feel of soft paper under my finger tips.

Answer 5

yes i love it.

the other day I was in borders. and I couldnt resist

but going up to the non-fiction section and smelling

some books. As I was smelling a book the salesperson

came up to me and asked, "can I help you?"

I said back, "only if you can bottle this scent"

I swear it is the best smell of the world. I know its

dead trees but who knew that dead trees could smell

so good!

Answer 6

If I could, I'd make it a perfume. It's absolutely wonderful to step into a used bookstore...that scent is everywhere!

Answer 7

I love books....everything about them.

Answer 8

I agree.