The smell of new books

[Kabby]

I just love books! New books, used books but I really love a book that's been made in the 1800's/early 1900's, the smell and history of the book is wonderful. I know they're very rare to find but when I do find one, I feel like I've found buried treasure, especially if I can get it for a bargain price, some of my special books only cost me a few dollars. Alas, with so much done online these days, I fear in the future, books may not even be made anymore!

[read and teach books]

Interesting as was getting a haircut and talking to the hairdresser about my ebooks and she made the comment that her kids love reading but they don't like reading on an ereader because they "miss the smell" of real books....new or old. Coincidentally, I just found out my cousins wife makes ereader covers by taking old books and hollowing them out to fit a Kindle ereader so that the reader feels and smells a book!!! Best of both worlds!

[lpatterson]

Agreed, the smell of old books is amazing...i almost enjoy the smell of old Comic Books even more

[Jen319164]

i personally enjoy chemical smells for some odd reason

[read and teach books]

Ithink I'd sooner go for "chocolate" scented pages … I guess you might say, "different chemicals" …..!

-- 23 Mar 2014, 01:21 --

Ithink I'd sooner go for "chocolate" scented pages … I guess you might say, "different chemicals" …..!

-- 23 Mar 2014, 01:21 --

Ithink I'd sooner go for "chocolate" scented pages … I guess you might say, "different chemicals" …..!

[buttafly74]

I enjoy both. They each engender different feelings and ideas in me.

[electramia]

I think its just that new books have a particular nice smell that old books just can't achieve.

[K_Robinson]

I find old books to smell, well...old. I don't think I could honestly say I enjoy the smell of dust and mildew.

[TrishaAnn92]

I love the smell of both quite a lot. They both hold memories or sunny summer days or laying on my bed by my window, reading on a rainy spring day. Those were the majority of my childhood, I loved to read and for some reason I loved the smell of new and used books the most on those days.

[Doodahday6]

I like the smell of old and new books. I love when the smell of the books greets me when I enter the library or a bookstore. I think part of it does have something to do with my love of reading.

[katielgorton3]

I think... We are all just a bunch of sentimental fools. They say that smell triggers more emotions then almost all of the other senses, so whether it's the smell of your grandma’s kitchen, the smell of your favorite blanket, or the smell of a book, new or used, it's still just a play on our melancholy subconscious.

-- 29 Mar 2014, 19:49 --

I think... We are all just a bunch of sentimental fools. They say that smell triggers more emotions then almost all of the other senses, so whether it's the smell of your grandma’s kitchen, the smell of your favorite blanket, or the smell of a book, new or used, it's still just a play on our melancholy subconscious.

That being said, I have a first edition copy of "Brief Candles" by Aldous Huxley, and it's one of my most favorite possessions because of the history that it's pages are soaked in. And... yes, the smell has something to do with that.

[casey238]

I personally love the smell of a new book.

[Agne]

I like the smell of some new books. I agree that there are plenty of new books which smell like chemicals. I also like the smell of old books, but, again, not all.

[hopeingod]

Funny how the look, smell and feel of a book will determine sales. I've purchased books throughout my life after reading a few lines of the text and bought them simply because of the aesthetics. The content wasn't anything to rave about, I realized later, but the books looked good. This is especially true for collectible hardback books. Appearance and condition is everything.

[Winter]

I don't really like the smell of books, new or old. I do love the feel and look of a new book, though.