{
  "id": 20134408,
  "title": "Smelling a book first? It signals a deeper emotional bond",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/smelling-a-book-first-it-signals-a-deeper-emotional-bond",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-15T06:35:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/psychology-says-people-who-smell-a-book-before-reading-it-may-have-a-stronger-emotional-connection-to-familiar-scents/articleshow/135848383.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "People often take a moment to inhale the scent of a new book before beginning to read. This habit is more common for some than others, but it provides insight into psychology. The connection between smell and memory contributes to this experience. Certain scents can trigger memories of events, people, places, or feelings from our lives. This effect is often referred to as the 'Proust phenomenon,' named after French writer Marcel Proust, who famously linked the taste of a madeleine cake to his childhood memories. Recent research suggests that smells have a small but significant advantage in triggering memories, evoking strong emotional responses, and transporting people back in time compared to other types of cues like images, sounds, and words.\n\nOld books tend to have a distinct smell due to the breakdown of paper components over time, which releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A 2009 study identified specific compounds like acetic acid and furfural responsible for the familiar scent of aged pages. A more recent study found differences in the chemical profiles between old and new books, indicating that the scent of a book evolves as its materials age.\n\nThe act of smelling a book may also be tied to the anticipation of reading. The process of opening a book, examining its pages, and inhaling its scent can become part of a personal reading ritual, signifying a shared excitement for what lies ahead. Anticipation can enhance our ability to perceive and detect odors, as shown in a 2020 study. While smelling a book does not necessarily reveal a person's personality traits, it demonstrates that opening a book can initiate a satisfying sensory experience, combining the familiar scent, the feel of the pages, and the expectation of discovering a story.",
  "summary": "Smelling books can trigger memories linked to personal experiences and past events. This phenomenon is known as the ‘Proust phenomenon’, named after Marcel Proust. Research indicates the scent of old books comes from the breakdown of paper and its components. Additionally, the act of smelling books may enhance anticipation, making reading more enjoyable. Overall, this ritual marks the beginning…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}