Book Sniffin'

Courtesy of Creative Commons

I remember sitting in the back of my Spanish literature class and stealthily smelling the book I had just check out of the library. Not stealthily enough, the cute guy next to me asked, "Did you just smell your book?" That potential relationship went out the window. Yet I stayed content with La Celestina in my hand.

There is something enchanting about walking through endless rows of books, running your fingers across the spines, and stopping every once in awhile to judge one by its cover. Name, color, print, and the wear-n-tear are all factors in the judging process. Many say it is a superficial way, but when you add smell into the mix these factors take on a new dimension. The book is an experience; smell as another sense contributes to the experience.

I dream about having a study in my house with tons of pretty books to scan through. Sounds like a luxury to come home from work, not to find eyes peering at you but spines for you to examine instead. I find a bookshelf relaxes me, rejuvenates me, and also excites me with the endless options. I am known to be an indecisive person because I see the possibility in everything. A bookshelf is a good visual of that, with every book having something unique to offer to the big picture.

Yummy, books.