# old books

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 24, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919 "2004-10-24T17:37:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Scarface\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Scarface\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarface_Z)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919/1 "2004-10-24T17:37:39Z")

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what causes old book smell? and why do i like it? is there a way to be rid of it?

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**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919/2 "2004-10-24T20:10:09Z")

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“Old books” is a remarkably large set of books. As a general answer, there have been thousands of different methods of making paper over the centuries, and each has a different level of quality. Paper prior to 1900 was generally produced by mashing some sort of plant fiber to a pulp. Said plant fiber does eventually decay, and like most decaying stuff it produces a smell.

Here’s some resources on historics paper production, if you’d like to have a look:  
[http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp/general/museum\_other\_sites.htm](http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp/general/museum_other_sites.htm)

And various paper mills at various places have been preserved and turned into museums, so check tour guides and you might find one.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919/3 "2004-10-24T20:15:30Z")

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> [@Scarface Z](#):
>
> what causes old book smell? and why do i like it? is there a way to be rid of it?

If you like it, why do you want to be rid of it?

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**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919/4 "2004-10-24T21:10:04Z")

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> [@Scarface Z](#):
>
> what causes old book smell? and why do i like it? is there a way to be rid of it?

Answers in order:

- Mold, mildew, crumbling paper, and glue. Old paper was often made from linen using an acid-free process; much modern paper is made from wood pulp broken down with some kind of acid and not completely neutralized.

- You like it because of your good taste. Or maybe that addiction so many SDMB folks share. 🆒

- Again, why get rid of it?

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**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-books/270919/5 "2004-10-25T14:13:53Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> If you like it, why do you want to be rid of it?

It activates my asthma. Too bad, too, because I do love the smell.

–Cliffy