Scientists nose out clue to preserving books: their smell
The complex perfume of ageing books has been broken down into its component chemicals by research that could assist conservators
The dusty smell of old books is one of the joys of visiting secondhand bookshops, and now scientists, who have identified it as combining "grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness", hope it can be used to help preserve valuable ageing titles.
From: Books: Books + News | guardian.co.uk
Friday, 13 November, 2009
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