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Paper Passion Revives the Smell of Books in a Digital Age

I’ve joked in the past about missing the smell of books when you use an ereader, but I never really thought someone would do something about it.

Paper Passion is a newly released perfume from Steidl , a German publisher. It was commissioned by Wallpaper* Magazine, who asked master perfumer Geza Schoen to create the scent. According to the product page, it has the "bouquet of freshly printed books". I’m going to take their word for it; this tiny bottle of perfume retails for $115 so it doesn’t seem likely that I’ll ever smell it.

But if you’d like to experience the perfume (and will be in Milan), Wallpaper* is going to have it on display next week at the Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition.

This is an interesting gimmick, but I’m not sure anyone will want to wear the smell of books; just because some like to have the smell near them doesn’t mean they want it on them. I think the newspaper scented candle was the right idea; it offered one of the sensations lost by digital newspapers in a controllable form.

Of course, that candle is no longer available so it doesn’t do me much good, but I still like that concept better than this perfume.

Paper Passion

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Comments


karen wester newton June 11, 2012 um 10:46 am

Maybe you can rub the perfume on your Kindle or Nook? -)


k1tsun3 June 11, 2012 um 1:08 pm

You know Assouline sells a line of library scented candles:

Nate Hoffelder June 11, 2012 um 1:33 pm

I didn’t. Thanks!


k1tsun3 June 11, 2012 um 4:17 pm

If you get them, you have to write a review! I’m curious to know what they smell like but not so curious that I’m willing to shell out the cash for them.


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