People love the smell of old books so much that they are willing to buy perfumes made with it, and scientists decided to figure out where it comes from.
Not long ago, it was assumed that the advent of e-readers and the ability to read books directly from phones would make paper books outdated. However, the reality turned out to be somewhat different—people love the smell of old books so much that they’re not willing to give them up, reports IFL Science.
In a new study, Professor Matija Strlic of University College London and colleagues focused on understanding why old books produce this smell and why we enjoy it so much.
Using a special “electronic nose,” the researchers discovered that, as books age, certain molecules are released under certain conditions. This is important for two reasons: first, we’ll finally understand what makes the smell of old books so appealing, and second, scientists will better understand how to preserve old books.
In the first stage, the scientists identified a number of volatile compounds that form when rosin in ink and lignin in paper decompose over time. The researchers also discovered that over time, paper produces acetic acid, the main ingredient in vinegar.
The scientists note that new books don’t have the same odor because their components are less susceptible to degradation. However, this is also due to the fact that books were made in the last century using paper with a low lignin content.
