Mmm. Richard from BC’s own ABE Books not only reminds us that old books smell rad but also explains why.

Walk into a used bookshop and you will encounter the unique aroma of aging books. The smell is loved by some, disliked by others, but where does it come from?

A physical book is full of organic material that reacts with heat, light, moisture and – mostly importantly – the chemicals used in its production. The smell comes from the reaction of the organic material to these factors.

Chemists at University College, London have investigated the old book odor and concluded that old books release hundreds of volatile organic compounds into the air from the paper.

Bonus: the lead chemist describes the aroma as “a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla, with an underlying mustiness.” Yay chemists.

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