If you are like me, the first thing you do is stick your nose into a book and sniff. There is just something about the scent of a book (old or new) that is fabulous. Matija Strlic, lead scientist of a study published in the journal Heritage Science, described the smell of an old book as: "A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness, this unmistakable smell is as much a part of the book as its contents." As a book ages, the chemical compounds used—the glue, the paper, the ink–begin to break down. For instance, as the cellulose in paper decomposes, it emits Furfural, which most people perceive as a sweet, almond-like fragrance. Lignin, present in the cell walls of trees (and therefore in all wood-based paper), emits Benzaldehyde and Vanillin, which impart a faint vanilla aroma. The decomposition of paper can produce such compounds as Toluene, which can smell sweet or pungent. Hexanal, also from the disintegration of cellulose and lignin in paper, can give books an earthy, musty, “old room” smell, which could be exacerbated by mold from environmental exposure. A common smell of old books, says the International League for Antiquarian Booksellers, is a hint of vanilla: “Lignin, which is present in all wood-based paper, is closely related to vanillin. As it breaks down, the lignin grants old books that faint vanilla scent.”
These fragrances will give you a great opportunity to try a variety of "Old Book" smelling fragrances.
You will receive a 1/2ml sample (1ml sample vial filled half full) of each of the fragrances in this sampler.
- Alkemia Book of Shadows Perfume Oil - Notes of parchment paper, antique ink, leather bindings and rare incenses.
- Nui Cobalt Bibliophilia: Love of Books Perfume Oil - The vanillic scent of aging paper, the tang of fresh ink, venerable bookshelves of oak and mahogany, a sweet trace of pipe tobacco and an undercurrent of faded leather.
- Death & Floral Old Book Paper EDP - The scent of antique book paper (that kind of musty smell). A smell similar to a used bookstore or antique store. The aroma palette is woodsy and earthy with highlights of old paper pages, aged suede, leather, subtle woods and lignin.
- Jorum Studio Athenaeum EDP - Athenaeum is the distillation of a once forgotten yet fond olfactory memory, awakened upon a chance encounter at the local athenaeum. Upon entering the athenaeum one is struck by the overwhelming aroma of degrading pulp and ink, shrouded in a haze of sun-kissed dust and the smell transports you to arable mid-summer fields and days lost in swaying pastures, nose buried in hundreds of papery leaves, crops and mulchy woodland. This is the first master-crafted perfume to make use of Scottish-grown, harvested and distilled biodynamic perfume materials and expertly showcases sustainably-sourced, hand-harvested Scottish lavender. The perfumer wanted to present a distant and forgotten memory from childhood, growing up in rural Scotland, more specifically, reading books and newspapers under an old oak that sat on the edge of a field and bluebell wood. This memory was awakened when he visited the National Library and Archives in Edinburgh and as soon as he entered the archives, childhood memories of lazily thumbing through texts in a field came flooding back. Athenaeum is like the drizzle of honey fresh from the hive, the smear of beeswax on aged cabinet, the first sip of cold cider savored in the orchard from which it came to be. It is the cloudburst of lavender-thick pollen ricocheting from delicate wing in flight and the history of the creator sewn together with gilded thread. With notes of Scottish lavender, beeswax (synthetic), fennel, apple, honey, neroli, hyacinth, flouve, patchouli, Moroccan leather (synthetic), gurjun balsam, oak and ink.
- The Little Book Eater Old World Library Perfume Oil - Inspired by magnificent and mysterious old world libraries. Made with the scents of bourbon vanilla, mahogany, cashmere, amber, and sandalwood. Sophisticated, smoky, and vintage. Reminiscent of towering wooden shelves, dusty manuscripts, bound volumes from another era.
- Calyx Ancient Library of Alexandria Perfume Oil - In the heart of the ancient Library of Alexandria, the air held secrets of ages past, each telling a different tale of history. Upon entering, the first olfactory embrace came from the many shelves, their warm, woody aroma a testament to centuries of care and preservation. This scent intertwined with the subtle mustiness of aged papyrus and the sweet, lingering essence of ink that had been absorbed into the fibers of countless scrolls. On particularly warm days, the aroma of sun-warmed stone from the grand pillars and walls became more pronounced, adding an earthy dimension to the aromatic tapestry. The uplifting fragrance of lotus blossoms and herbs wafted gently through the arches, carried on a fresh Mediterranean breeze. With notes of aged papyrus, carbon black ink, fragrant lotus, baked earth and warm marble, subtle hints of smoke and spice. This is a sweet, earthy, dry, woody, floral, slightly smoky and spicy fragrance.
- Belladonna’s Botanical Occult Library EDP - The scent of dusty tomes, grimoires, cobwebs and remnants of things past. With notes of old books, leather, scotch whiskey, amber, cedarwood and Palo Sato.
