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The nose knows how to sniff out a good book

10/7/2014

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Now I'm definitely not a big chemistry enthusiast (I do love me some Breaking Bad, though), but a recent tweet by the New York Public Library (@nypl) caught my eye:

Ever wonder what causes that old (and new) book smell? We've got the answer right here! http://t.co/40L4ONuSJN pic.twitter.com/MU3QMyNNMq

— NY Public Library (@nypl) October 7, 2014
Out of all the senses, scent has always been the one I enjoy the most. The musty aroma of a good, old book will always be one of my favorite scents, but I never really stopped to think about what makes it smell that way. Turns out the folks at Compound Interest did some science stuff and figured it out for me, fancy infographic and all!
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Infographic via Compound Interest / http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/06/01/newoldbooksmell/
According to Compound Interest, the smell of new books is mostly caused by three main sources: the paper, ink and adhesives used to make a book. Alternative combinations of these mediums result in different variations of "New Books Smell."

The aroma of old books, on the other hand, is derived from the chemical breakdown of compounds within the paper. Among other chemicals, paper in old books generally contain cellulose and small amounts of lingin – more than that found in modern books. It's the degradation of these chemicals that contribute to the smell we all know too well.

Can't get enough of that bookish scent? Check out this Smell of Books aerosol spray (Classic Musty Smell sounds right up my alley) and Paper Passion perfume! 

This post may or may not add a more literal meaning to the phrase "Go stick your nose in book."
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    Author

    Tessa Fox is the Early Literacy Librarian at the Kenosha Public Library. After working in the journalism and publishing fields, Tessa decided to dedicate her life to books and public librarianship, and went back to school to get her Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she graduated in December 2016. Tessa has been working in public libraries since 2014. Disclaimer: The views expressed here are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer.


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