QBD The Bookshop readers have confessed they love the smell of old books, with a fair share of readers admitting to taking wafts of the flutter of aged pages.

For so long, the special old book smell was attributed to a memory, of grandparents’ bookshelves, public libraries, second hand book stores and books that have been cherished from generation to generation.

Are you ready for this scientific wake up call? That intoxicating old book smell isn’t magical particles from days long gone. Simply put in this infographic, it’s the breakdown of the cellulose & lignin contained in paper, which creates new organic compounds.

Now that this sacred scent has been explained and shared by all, perfume manufacturers are cashing in on some of the action and selling the aroma of tattered novels. Yes you read it correctly, you can now smell like old books! If the thought is putting a smile on your literary dial, then check out the perfume here.

We don’t want to choose a favourite between the smell of old books and  new ones but we can suggest a few books that will hold a place on our book shelves from now until eternity.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This classic novel about deception, status and what it takes to maintain lies is an important today as when it was first released in 1890.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

OK so an expedition to seek a mysterious sea monster isn’t a tale that is timeless but for this reason, this must grace your shelves to revisit the fictional time and follow the grand ocean adventure.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A novel around a young girl’s feat to reclaim books that risk being lost forever during World War Two is a heroic story that will create pride, suspense, and sadness into readers for years to come. Even death won’t take those memories away from you.