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Many people love the smell of an old library or the ground after rain, but how exactly do we find the bottled scent we love? There are many different options for unique perfume that encompass a specific place, and the best part is that there are some out there that aren’t ridiculously expensive. Many of these products involve notes of vanilla, since the main chemical compound of books’ scents, called Lignin, is structurally similar to vanilla. The list below is a summary of numerous perfumes and colognes, under $100, that perfectly describe the experience of reading and the joy of books.
- Paperback by Demeter
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This perfume makes the wearer feel like they are taking a trip through their favorite library or used bookstore. Sweet and lovely with a touch of vanilla, Demeter’s Paperback truly harnesses that musty smell of aged paper, with a note of violets and a dash of tasteful potpourri. It’s super comforting and mature and is made with a darker mood in mind. This perfume retails on Amazon for $22.95 for a 1 oz bottle, and $29.40 for a 3 oz bottle on Demeter’s official website. If you’re looking for a smaller sample, visit the Demeter website for a 1/2 oz roll-on perfume ($6).
- Novel by ALT
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Inspired by Whispers in the Library and handcrafted in the USA, this perfume is probably the greatest steal on this list. It sells for only $45 on the ALT website, and you get a full 2 oz bottle! This certain scent can remind you of cozying up in a soft blanket while rain softly hits the window outside, turning the pages of your favorite book. It’s subtly sweet, dry, and possess notes of wood and dusty vanilla. The accurate smell of paper transports the person into the fantasy of an old-world library with secluded nooks and warm light. Novel by ALT also received a 4.61 out of 5 as a rating.
- Book by Commodity
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If you’re looking for one of the more popular bookish aromas, this perfume definitely fulfills that expectation. Because of its widely appreciated scent of bergamot and cedarwood, it’s expensive to get a large portion of it, but there is a 0.27 oz travel vial for $22 on Scentbird. There is another option for a 0.3 oz bottle for $28 on Commodity’s official selling website. This perfume tips its hat to the Hemingways and Fitzgeralds of the world, encompassing the comfort of a quiet moment curled up with a good book. It conjures the nostalgic and crisp sense of wood, soft and aromatic, and relaxes the wearer with its emphasis on freshness and refined warmth.
- Bookstore by smellslikebooks
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This is another perfume on this list that’s a great bargain for a low budget while still getting a large portion, and it can be found on Etsy for $42. The scent’s main notes are cinnamon, chai, and cappuccino – and this causes it to be warm and spicy, but not too overbearing. If you like the cozy and welcoming aroma of a chai latte, this perfume is definitely for you. Also, if this one isn’t exactly for you, the seller on Etsy has approximately a dozen more scents, maybe more, that you can explore – just search up SmellsLikeBooks! Some of them are general, like “Lost in the Stacks”, and others are book series specific, like “Rhysand” and “Wuthering Heights”.
- Lost in Ink by Oakcha
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Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck fragrance, this perfume is a fruity and sweet aroma, with notes of freesia and raspberry. I would say that it’s a more youthful scent directed toward the younger generation, and it is definitely more feminine rather than neutral. The base smells of sandalwood and honeysuckle contribute to the overall vanilla feeling, while also being vegan and cruelty-free. It’s a pretty good deal too, because you can get a 1.7 oz bottle for $50 on Oakcha’s website, and the reviews state that it lasts a long time. If you’re not sure you’ll like it, you can also order a sample for $5.
- Sweet on the Outside by Fine’ry
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This eau de parfum can actually be found as a Target Exclusive for $28, and you can receive a 2.02 fluid oz bottle, which goes a long way. This is a fragrance that explores every detail of the richest, most exotic vanilla. Behind its sweet, comforting façade is a dark and seductive complexity reminiscent of a femme fatale. The primary notes of this perfume is Madagascar vanilla, cacao wood, and smoked vetiver, and is also vegan and cruelty-free. This choice is perfect for a college student because it’s cheap and still good quality, while being easy to acquire.
- Whispers in the Library by Maison Martin Margiela
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This perfume, sponsored by Replica, is also an incredibly popular bookish scent, and the larger bottle costs over $100. However, you can get a smaller portion of 0.3 oz travel spray for only $15.50 on the ScentsAngel website, and this is a smarter way to go about buying it. And let me tell you, the price is worth it, because this aroma accurately embodies wood wax, old pages, endless bookshelves, and a bewitching fragrance that makes the wearer irresistible.
- Dead Writers by Immortal Perfumes
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The scent of old worlds and the ghosts that haunt the libraries of the past await you in this well-crafted blend by Immortal Perfumes. It possesses notes of heliotrope, black tea, clove, and vanilla – creating a comfortable, atmospheric feeling of academia and study nights. It’s gender neutral and evokes the vision of writing and classics. It costs $75 for an 0.5 oz bottle on the Immortal Perfumes website, but you can find cheaper ones on eBay for $30.
