What Old Books Smell Like
And what does “old” mean?
When opening an old book, many people instinctively hold it a little closer to their nose for a moment. There is that warm, slightly sweet scent, a little dusty, familiar—for many, it smells like history. Some even say: like vanilla.
This impression is so widespread that it has almost become an inherent characteristic of “old books.” And yet, it is only partly true.
Books do not smell the way they do because they are old. They smell the way they do because of the materials they are made from.
Many of the books we perceive as “old” today date from the nineteenth or early twentieth century. During this period, paper was predominantly produced from wood pulp. Wood contains lignin, a natural substance that gives trees their structural stability. Over time, lignin breaks down—slowly but inevitably—and in the process releases volatile compounds into the air. Some of these compounds have a sweet, warm scent, sometimes even reminiscent of vanilla.
The characteristic smell of old books is therefore more than romance fiction and for sure no coincidence: It is chemistry.
Yet many books are far older than wood-pulp paper. Manuscripts and printed works from earlier centuries were typically made from so-called rag paper, produced from cotton or linen fibres. This material contains little to no lignin. The degradation products associated with the classic “book smell” can therefore hardly—if at all—form.
Changes in materials mark key turning points—from parchment to the measurable scent signature of old books. (Figure made by Alexandra Gutmann)
Such books often smell quite different. They may be several hundred years old and still not smell the way we expect something “old” to smell.
In our project, we focus precisely on this invisible dimension of books. In collaboration with the Martinus-Bibliothek in Mainz, we have the exceptional opportunity to analyse a wide range of historical books instrumentally—including works dating back to the thirteenth century. This allows us to trace the emissions of very different materials, production methods, and states of ageing.
The books remain unharmed—only the volatile emissions they release into the air are measured. (Foto Alexandra Gutmann)
We measure the substances that books release into the air—their emissions. Using analytical methods, we identify which volatile compounds are formed, how they differ between paper types, and what they reveal about the condition of a book.
Through this, the smell of a book becomes a measurable trace. It tells a story about the materials from which it is made, its ageing process, and sometimes about how it has been treated over time.
Differences between wood-pulp and rag paper, as well as traces of later interventions. (measurement Kathleen Raap, analysis Alexandra Gutmann)
Scents are tied to places and to the histories that emerged there. In Mainz, the smell of old books is inseparably linked to the history of printing, which continues to shape the city’s cultural identity. For this reason, the scent is included in our City Scent Map.
Text: Alexandra Gutmann