The surprising reason why you love the smell of old books
If you’ve been known to breathe in the well-worn pages of an old book and find it so intoxicating that you can’t stop, you’re not alone. Chances are that the scent reminds you of something familiar and comforting. Well, science tells us that familiar smell is chocolate and coffee.
According to a study published in Heritage Science, two scientists conducted an experiment performed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. According to their findings, the majority of the 79 test subjects found the old-book smell to be similar to chocolate and coffee.
So, how does it work?
Well, materials like chocolates and books can release small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air. Our noses pick these up and then our brains interpret them.
Researchers were able to take these compounds and run them through scientific equipment (think sensors and a combination of the ‘ole gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer) where they identified various smell components.
So, what does this mean?
Stemming from their study, the same researchers are hoping to find a way to preserve smell in the same way society preserves old buildings so that future generations can enjoy them. They believe that smell plays an important role in shaping a person’s memories since it is so closely tied to the memory center in the brain.