The smell of new books

[Aithne]

What is it with people saying they love the smell of new books? I have never purchased an unused book that didn't faintly smell of chemicals. Old books though, they have a proper smell, a wonderful smell. It varies as the life the book has led varies but it always smells like the passage of time, it smells like an adventure. The book's smell tells another story than the one the book itself has written. All in all, I find it hard to understand what y' all are talking about when you talk about 'new books smell' :p

Agree. I love the smell of books from a charity shop. Some smell odd, admittedly but many have the smell of the previous owner or a perfume or some great dusty bookness which is just magic.

[Girlcoupon29]

New or old, I can't get enough of the aroma!

[JenniferBoyce]

I agree and disagree. What I do love is the smell of new picture books. Something about the smell of new picture books, that faint smell of chemicals and ink, reminds me greatly of my childhood and I love it.

I also love the smell of old paperback/hardcover books while I'm not too fond of the smell of new hardcover/paperback books.

[stoppoppingtheP]

i love the smell of new books. Really old books can smell a bit musty.

But I am definitely a sniffer of new books.

[jamie_in_space]

New books don't particularly smell good. (like new car smell - i hate that scent). Old books smell amazing, but the dust gives me a headache :/

[stoppoppingtheP]

New books don't particularly smell good. (like new car smell - i hate that scent). Old books smell amazing, but the dust gives me a headache :/

They do smell good, they have that chemically and papery smell. hmmmm...

Incidentally, I like new car smells too.

[ttuso22]

I do agree that old books smell better and make you often wonder what the book has been through. However, I love the smell of a new book because it represents the beginning. When you open a new book and you smell it you are starting the adventure that the book will perhaps take you or that may possibly one day take a fellow reader. Both smells are wonderful and fill me with excitement.

[Ropis]

Perhaps it's just the smell of a new book that triggers a deeper meaning. For example, once you open that new book and get a whiff of its unread pages, you garner a sense of excitement for the journey you are about to take through its many untouched pages. Just a thought.

I agree with you.

[Zipppers]

The new book smell is my drug, literally. Just smelling the new books get's me all excited because it's new and has never been read before.

[SidnayC]

I love love love the smell! Sometimes when I'm book browsing in a new bookstore, I secretly inhale the new book fumes. So delightful

[emmadbaker1]

Any book smells wonderful to me. A friend of mine has stated that old books smell disgusting to her, which I don't understand. But I do understand your reasoning behind not liking the smell of new books. But I can't quite explain the feeling I get from smelling a new book of mine. The magic is much less special if I don't care for the book, though. But In the past when I've gotten the latest book in a series I've become attached to, I can't help but sniff the pages. It's a sort of magic I may never understand fully. But it's magical, nonetheless...

[volpe-rossa]

Agree. OLD books smell better

[ghostpixie]

I love both smells, but the musty smell of old books is immensely preferable to me.

[GwenWood]

I love both smells! Used book stores have a wonderful aroma but I love that paper and ink smell of new books as well. A new adventure for me to devour!

[salberson 10]

I dislike the smell of new books and will sometimes air them out - yes might be strange. I LOVE the smell of old books its like a safety net.