Paperback

Like reading an old book at an ice cream parlor. Honestly, I bought this for the fact that this was once Gerard Way’s signature scent but I genuinely really love it. At first it smells a bit like a fizzy coconut on my skin and then dries down quickly into that old paperback smell. I want all my clothes to smell like this. I want to be read.

I do adore this, though I like it for bed more than to wear during the day. It's a sweet musty scent...just like a used book store.

Slightly musty and milky vanilla ice cream, very nice

Has a sweet, woodsy, vanilla scent to me that's not necessarily realistic to paper imo. Maybe at the start it smells a bit like a book store? I love the idea of a perfume that smells like books or a library, but this just doesn't do it for me. I do like it for what it is though. But it is only a like and not a love for me because of the longevity. Seems to fare better longevity wise when layered with other perfumes that have better longevity. I layered this with Pandan by d.grayi, which also has sweet, woodsy notes and that enhanced the sweetness of Paperback. I might try layering it with Diptyque's L'eau Papier and see if this brings out the dry papery notes a bit more. I also find Paperback to be quite similar to Oak, a newer release by Demeter that has slightly better sillage and longevity (particularly on clothing) than this one. Thankfully I only got a sample of Paperback, but I think I will be sticking with Oak if I had to choose between the two as the two are quiet similar scent-wise, with the latter having better performance overall.

If you like old(ish) book smells, it’s likely you’re responding to the breakdown of lignin, a wood pulp component, into vanillin. The vanilla notes in this perfume are no accident, but scientifically accurate. I have smelled many ages of books and can say *really* old books smell of mildew, vinegar, and urine, and you probably don’t want to smell like them. Paperback opens with powdery vanilla/lignin (reminiscent of aging mid-20th c paperbacks en masse), becomes unexpectedly spicy/musty and masculine, and then fades to barely perceptible warm sweetness. I actually found it wasn’t as sweet as I wanted for a used bookstore vibe (and slightly too powdery), and typically layer with Philosophy Cream Warm Cashmere. If you think of modern trade paperbacks at a big box store when you see “paperback,” you may be disappointed, as it lacks the sharper, crisper glue and chemical notes. Poor longevity and sillage, but this makes it great for a quiet work scent since I don’t want to hurt anyone/trigger scent sensitivities.

My partner and I blind bought a 5 ml spray mini. I'll take the word of other reviewers below (one of whom says they work in a library) that this fragrance is on point regarding smelling like old books. I was more interested to see if I like what the scent accord smells like to me. So far I do, although I'm surprised that it's vaguely gourmand in a sweet way. I think if I had not been primed with the idea of paperback books, I would have guessed Demeter was going for an herbal tea and vanilla accord. My partner says it has a root beer vibe. I can go with that too. This has a very light spiciness to it that is akin to root beer. 🦋🧡🦋

I work with lots and lots of old books (300 years+) to gently used paperbacks. This scent reminds me more of the latter and live up to the name. It smells sweet, like your grandmother's musty attic. I don't think this smell is for everyone but if you want to feel like you've been drowning in old 60's pulp novels and 70's self-help books, you will love this. It's a calming smell. I should mention I bought this scent because it is (or, at least was) Gerard Way's favorite. This was also my first Demeter fragrance :)

Sweet and musty, but not as realistic as I'd hoped. Perhaps if a book absorbed a cologne spill and dried, it would smell like this. I agree with the reviewer who calls it "an interpretation." It's definitely reminiscent of books, but a blindfolded tester would never be fooled into thinking this is anything but a bottle of perfume/cologne. I'm hoping that layering with a dab of Demeter's Russian Leather will amp up the realism. Overall a pleasant, somewhat masculine scent with a hint of sweetness.

This smells nothing like books. It does however transport me to a quaint, cozy, used bookstore, the weather has just turned cold and it is pouring rain out. The scent of musk, cobwebs, vanilla candle and cashmere sweater fills the air with just the vaguest hint of old, used books. That final note is very fleeting though. You'd be lucky to even notice it. Regardless, it's very cozy and reminds me of Fall. I wouldn't have named this paperback though. I would have named it Used Bookstore

I was expecting this fragrance to be a little more spicy and earthy, like old paper or dry wood. Instead, I was surprised to pick up vanilla, pumpkin, and amber notes from Paperback. It reminded me more of a bookstore than an actual book. The scent would be more suited for a fall-themed candle but I understand the book association. Also thought I should add that this is apparently Gerard Way’s signature scent, since no one else has mentioned that... I can see it tbh

I got this because, like many others, I heard Gerard Way wears it. Aside from loving him and everything he does, I also love the smell of old books and have really wanted a fragrance reminiscent of that for a while. Unfortunately, the scent lasts for such a short period of time, and the sillage is little to none. Also, whenever I spray it it makes me cough??? I do love the notes in it though, despite it seeming slightly clinical and sharp upon first spray.

It's an overcast afternoon and the summer is turning into autumn. I was playing in my grandma's yard and I scraped my knee, so gradma took propolis tincture from her spice cabinet and sprayed it on my wound. I'm laying in bed in her summer kitchen trying to read Fantomas, which I found in the attic. It's the first I hear of whores and I'll always associate them with the propolis smell. That's how this smells.

Kind of smells like an old paper cover book but honestly the main smell is a dusty , light vanilla that is not sweet. Very nice and perfect for layering but it’s not really realistic to paper which surprised me because usually Demeter is very realistic. However if you take it for what it is it is an excellent dusty, antique vanillic scent.

Nice enough for about 30 minutes and then it is gone. I keep a sample to sniff from when I want the smell, but it is very linear and fades quickly. I wanted something that smelled more like a library, yellowed pages, leather bindings, ink, dust, wood, and other bookish smells. This is basically just paper with some glue perhaps.

Something my mother surprised me with for Christmas, Gerard Way’s scent! Love love love it! When I first spray it, I smell a robust whiskey that dies down into a weird old book scent.... I wouldn’t recommend if you’re dead-set on an accurate paper/book smelling scent. Unique for sure

this scent has the vibe of very old books or a cozy bookstore. it's not literal, but it paints a nice outline. it's slightly spicy, vanillic, and smoky. lasts about 2 hours on the skin. i will be wearing this often in the upcoming months, it seems perfect for the fall.

Definitely doesn’t smell what I think of when I think of a paperback, but I really like it- subtly sweet. I do get the play-doh note people have mentioned but I don’t mind! I can see myself reaching for it when I want something subtle and simple.

Who knew a slightly smoky-sweet vanilla note could be a pretty good impression of an old paperback book from a used book store. Warm, dusty, yellowed pages. Very soft projection and average longevity.

musky, dry, powdery vanilla. faintly sweet and very papery. not my personal favorite but for someone seeking to smell like a paperback i do think this scent is very true to its name.

It smells like dried coconut flakes and vanilla to me, a bit of woodiness, i guess i can smell a book if i really concentrate but idk