December 2009 | Nate Pedersen

Smell Like Old Books

Back in November, Jonathan Shipley posted an entry on scientists studying the unique smell of old books.  Now you can dose your body in the same scent thanks to Christopher Brosius Limited, a New York based perfumery dedicated to unusual smells.  Brosius' perfume "In the Library" is based on "a signed first edition of one of my favorite novels, Russian and Morocco leather bindings, worn cloth, and a hint of wood polish."

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In short, you can smell like an antiquarian bookstore.  A scent that is irresistible to members of the opposite sex.  One assumes.

Christopher Brosius' full story behind the "In the Library" scent, taken from his website:

"I love books, particularly old ones. I cannot pass a second hand bookshop and rarely come away without at least one additional volume. I now have quite a collection!

Whenever I read, the start of the journey is always opening the book and breathing deeply. Don't you find there are few things more wonderful than the smell of a much-loved book? Newly printed books certainly smell very different from older ones. The ink is so crisp. I've also noticed that books from different periods & different countries also have very different smells. And then there are the scents of different bindings: leather is marvelous of course but I find a peculiar pleasure in musty worn clothbound books as well. Perhaps just a hint of mildew!

The main note in this scent was copied from one of my favorite books - I happened to find a signed first edition of this novel a few years ago in London. I was more than a little excited because there were only ever a hundred in the first place!"

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