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Compound Interest

It's (in the UK and Ireland, at least) 📚

Love the smell of new or old books? Here's the chemical explanation for what you're smelling!

compoundchem.com/2014/06/01/ne

Infographic on the aroma of books. The smell of old books is produced by the gradual breakdown of cellulose and lignin in paper. Type of paper and age of the book affect the compounds produced, which include furfural, vanillin and benzaldehyde. The aroma of new books is equally variable, the compounds causing it coming from adhesives, inks, and chemicals used for paper treatment. Many of these chemicals are odorless themselves, but can react and contribute to the release of aroma chemicals.
Mar 06, 2025, 04:05 PM·Public·Web
321boosts·251favorites
Public
🇵🇸 Mari :nb_crossbow:

@compoundchem and also the organics- mildew and mold :blobcat_tonguewink:

Public
Fabian Egli

@compoundchem This is so cool! It's great to have chemistry, culture and sensations in one informative poster 👏👏👏

Public
SpaceLifeForm

@compoundchem

Pretty sure this is why cats like boxes.

They are there to catch a buzz.

Public
Ian K. Rogers ikr?╭ರ_ಠ

@compoundchem There's also a very distinct diffence in the smell between European and American ink in new books but especially magazines. I first noticed it with German art magazines around 2006nbut it has since spread to other kinds of printing.

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earthling

@compoundchem

The smell of ashes.

Holland House Library after an air raid.

#books
#libraries
#WWII

Three men in coats and hats browse books in a library with collapsed roof among debris. B&W.
Public
Khleedril

@appassionato @compoundchem Not one of those three so much as batted an eyelid when the bomb went off.

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