Old Book Smell
Did you know?
"Lignin, the stuff that prevents all trees from adopting the
weeping habit, is a polymer made up of units that are closely
related to vanillin. When made into paper and stored for years,
it breaks down and smells good. Which is how divine providence
has arranged for secondhand bookstores to smell like good
quality vanilla absolute, subliminally stoking a hunger for
knowledge in all of us."
~Perfumes: The Guide
Thank you, John Sokol, for providing this interesting information. I love all bookstores and can easily spend hours in them.. It is true that the bookstores holding all those wonderful old books have a certain smell that we book lovers can't help but be drawn to. I find that the new bookstores all smell of coffee and this is a welcoming smell too. I sincerely hope the future does not show us the death of the bookstore due to the birth of the electronic book.
~photo by Audrey
6 comments:
I always "flip through" a book no matter how old or new. I love the smell & sometimes it transports me to my childhood at my Grandmother's for she always had many, many books.
Have a Great Day!
Marilyn
Audrey, that explains it all...why I love old books. The only really cool bookstore here in El Paso, shut it's doors about 3 years ago...I cried when I heard about it...spent many hours there rummaging through old books and vinyl albums. I have my own collection of old books and even started collecting old elementary school primers for my grandchildren...need to get one just for my little Zoe.
I will not or rather will have to be dragged while I'm screaming before I will every read from a digital "book" pad. For now, it's the real deal!
Have a great week.
xxoo,
Georgina
Vanilla is one of the most seductive scents there are, no wonder I love books so much! And here I thought it was the content, not the smell;-)
Personally I don't believe book books will ever go completely out of fashion.
I miss book stores; at one time our little area here had 4 new book stores and then multiple used w/-w/o antiques.
I find used books at Goodwill now, and it's not the same.....
The scent of a very OLD used books store is wonderful.
There is still one up in Wabash I think~~on my list of things to do when flu season is over.
Lovely post!
XXOO~~
Anne
That smell.......it can always change my day for the better.........
Audrey-
I did not know that!!! But it's true/ old bookstores have that characteristic smell- always!! So- if I'm ever on the Millionaire show and they ask that question--- I'm all set!!!
Loved hearing from you again-- thanks do much for stopping by my place---
Love
Vicki
Post a Comment