Scentsation

Weather & places

Perfumes that smell like old books

These perfumes capture the smell of old books through papyrus and Virginia cedar, whose dry, woody warmth recalls aged paper and wooden shelves. Olibanum, cypriol, and suede add a soft, resinous haze, while a touch of cardamom lends a gentle spice.

The notes behind itolibanumvirginia cedarpapyruscardamomcypriol oil or nagarmothasuede
  1. The Library Collection Opus VII01AmouageThe Library Collection Opus VII★ 4.16 · 993 ratingsWith cypriol oil or nagarmotha, cardamom, olibanum
  2. Whispers in the Library02Maison Martin MargielaWhispers in the Library★ 4.14 · 4,173 ratings
  3. Bibliothèque03ByredoBibliothèque★ 3.72 · 5,927 ratings
  4. The Library Collection Opus III04AmouageThe Library Collection Opus III★ 4.05 · 1,028 ratingsWith papyrus, virginia cedar
  5. Patchouli 2405Le LaboPatchouli 24★ 3.77 · 1,995 ratings
  6. The Library Collection Opus VI06AmouageThe Library Collection Opus VI★ 4.26 · 1,387 ratingsWith cypriol oil or nagarmotha
  7. The Library Collection Opus I07AmouageThe Library Collection Opus I★ 3.95 · 808 ratingsWith cardamom, papyrus, virginia cedar
  8. The Library Collection Rose Incense08AmouageThe Library Collection Rose Incense★ 4.24 · 410 ratingsWith olibanum, suede
  9. The Library Collection Opus II09AmouageThe Library Collection Opus II★ 3.86 · 614 ratingsWith cardamom, virginia cedar
  10. Silky Woods10Goldfield & Banks AustraliaSilky Woods★ 4.02 · 2,827 ratingsWith suede, olibanum
  11. Ombre Leather 201811Tom FordOmbre Leather 2018★ 4.32 · 18,989 ratingsWith cardamom
  12. The Library Collection Opus XI12AmouageThe Library Collection Opus XI★ 4.17 · 361 ratings

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Describe it in your own words: “old books, but warmer” or “old books for the office”.

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Chosen by matching each fragrance’s notes and accords to the impression, among fragrances with at least 300 ratings, one per line so flankers don’t crowd the list. “Our pick” marks a fragrance our editors add by hand.