The Bibliosmia Project

Bibliosmia: The smell and aroma of a good book.

[bibliosmiaproject]

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A garage used more as a storage space than a place to park a car. Full of old, disintegrating furniture that no one has the heart to take away, and half-finished woodwork projects that haven’t been touched in years. Sawdust. A vague scent of cigarette smoke, and the faintest hint of something floral. Oddly fitting to the novel

- K

[bibliosmiaproject]

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Reminiscent of hiding in a mostly unused cupboard as a child playing hide and seek. There are plenty of forgotten textbooks and notebooks from school, art supplies that were bought for a child who once had a passion painting, and spare bed sheets inside the cupboard.

- K

[bibliosmiaproject]

The Savoy Operas text by W.S. Gilbert

Imagine the exact smell of a mediocre second-hand book sale. Probably in a church hall. This is that smell in one book. Pleasent, but slightly bland. Few if any layers. But despite it’s slightly dusty, sun-drenched, mediocre blandness, very comforting.

- D

[bibliosmiaproject]

Grimms’ Fairy Tales translated by Mrs Edgar Lucas

Like the backstage storage room of an old theatre, almost abandoned and only used for a single prop that is needed for every show. Dusty, dark, a little hint of smoke in the old heavy curtains of the theatre stage.

- K