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

Smells more like gently used few-year-old hardcovers to me. Love layering it with everything.

i was hoping for an inky, maybe even slightly musty scent, but this is much sweeter and butterier than i expected. i think it's trying to be the vanillin that comes from the breakdown of certain types of paper. i've smelled other perfumes that approximate this more accurately, though. paperback comes across as weirdly greasy smelling, maybe like baking parchment. it's not bad, but it's not evocative of a book and it's not personally for me. maybe for someone who prefers gourmands but still wants to feel bookish lol

This is my first adventure into the world of Demeter's niche smells. I don't know why it smells like vanilla but that's 75% of what I can catch here. Initial wave of vanilla and alcohol, but it does get musty and sharp, like the paper is acidic. It's not unpleasant! I have to fight to catch the paper smell but as it dries it shows itself more. I personally wish it was dustier, but its sweetness makes it nice to layer with other vanilla or alcoholic scents.

I was expecting something else. I have some old books close to 200 years old (musty smell) and I really like the smell of books from 1960's. This scent is nothing like that, neither old books nor new. It is just sweet vanilla. The only version of it that I could get was a roll-on perfume oil 8.8 ml. So I don't really know what to do with it. It is quite similar to another sweet Fuzzy Sweater.

The smell of books is kinda far away, unless you think about it. The smell is kinda indeed vanilla up front + alcohol, which turns into a smell-memory of the voyage in your dad's car with this disgusting vanilla deodorizer. Later it smells like wet concrete. In general not so strong, but interesting.

Smells so close to opening an old book and taking a big whiff, which also reminds me of the top notes of bourbon. Sadly, it’s just a bit too musty. There is something unpleasant underneath reminiscent of a hospital or dentist. Slightly plasticky vanilla. Ick.

Stright up vanilla, a musky and slightly powdery one. That's all.......oh well.

As a book lover and librarian, I always appreciate a book/paper-themed perfume like so. Paperback is one Demeter I have wanted to try in particular for this reason. It is unsurprisingly a vanilla scent - yellowed paper, as found in old books, emits a soft, dry vanilla-like scent as the lignin compound breaks down. However, despite its irresistible name, it is a bit of a let-down. This is a one-dimensional, cheap-smelling vanilla scent. It is initially syrupy but becomes increasingly dry as it develops. I like a dry vanilla scent but this one smells cheap and somewhat harsh instead of nicely powdery. For the price, I didn't expect a complex woody/inky/papyrus scent thar would perfectly emulate the scent of old books, but I think focusing solely on the vanilla aspect would have been sufficient if it was rendered better. I get a slight hint of coumarin, giving a Play-Doh-like quality to the later stages. Sillage is initially moderate but quickly becomes intimate, while longevity is weak. It is unisex and cold-weather appropriate, fairly inoffensive but not great. There are myriad affordable vanilla scents that are better than this - performance and quality-wise. Disappointing. 1.5/5.

Like many others, I bought this because Gerard Way said it was his favorite. I was hoping for a musty paper scent, but I mostly get the clean, chemical smell of ink. After about ten minutes it transitions into a cheap smelling vanilla with not much else to it. It's inoffensive, but it's definitely boring. Kind of smells like whatever they use to clean the lobbies of car dealerships or the DMV. Sorry, Gerard :(

This doesn't smell anything like a book. If anything, it reminds me of my grandmas basement (where my room was at her old house) and the pile of wood that would be kept down there for the wood-stove. Musty and woody. I don't get any vanilla from this. I've read reviews where people were upset at Demeter's fireplace perfume because to them it just smelled like soot and ash. This would be perfect for them.

I have dozens of vintage paperbacks and this does not smell like them at all. I was so disappointed. Where is the dust and the absorbed scents of wood? All I got was aa weird type of vanilla. Total fail demeter.

So this isn't exactly like a paperback... maybe it is reminiscent of an old book, but not quite there. I would think this is the smell of vanilla beans stored improperly in a musty basement.

Maybe my nose is weird/really sensitive, but I highly dislike this scent. It is sharp and pungent, I don’t even know how to describe it, but I don’t want to smell it again.

I’m not sure if I got a bad bottle, but this scent smells so sour to me. Nothing like a good dusty book — just sour. Other houses have better options.

citrus in the top with a sweet almond and vanilla; weird scent

Unfortunately, it doesn't smell like a paper or paperback not even close. At least it doesn't stink as Brownies or Peanut butter ones from this brand. But it is not nice either. Gone in the trash as well as them. I hated this brand with the first and the only ones "colognes" that I bought from them. The smell of this one reminds me of a petrol oil but at least it is weak. I am really sorry that I bought it though.

Smells like a freshly squashed bug. Once it sits a little the stench becomes a tad more bearable, but until then it's abhorrent.

Old thick dictionaries. Free second-hand books at your child's school reading corner. Can you recall the smell you get when you flip through those yellow pages that are almost a little crusty due to age, where you occasionally find a silverfish (bookworm) in between those pages, sliding its way on those brown-spotted pages? This perfume smells exactly like those books. Paperback is my first Demeter fragrance and I'm very impressed, they really captured the name of this scent. Surprisingly, I enjoy this on myself, a lot (who would have thought old books would smell good on them, right? But they kinda do, at least in this case for me) If you sniff carefully, you could smell vanilla in this. I don't know how Demeter came to conclusion that vanilla is essential in creating the "old book" scent, but they might be right cause this fragrance is 10/10 on point Honestly I wish they would share more about the thought process that leads to creating this perfume, it'd be really interesting! Note: this "paperback book" is at least 10 years old, if you're looking for the smell of new books I wouldn't say this is accurate as a newly published book

Very interesting scent. A friend of mine wears it. On paper, definitely like an old paperback. On ME, however, it dries down to a more spicy scent, almost like a very light version of Obsession. Not heavy, but has a presence. THere are very few bottles of the real juice on Ebay, AMazon , etc, so if you want this stuff ( viewing New Years day of 2018), you'll want to purchase right away. I have many scents so won't be buying, but this is not in stores, so you better grab it while you can. I don't even see Demeter products in stores anymore. At least not in Columbus Ohio. I would LOVE to smell all of the scents of Demeter listed here, but alas, nowhere to find them. I must say, however that the lasting power of this scent is AMAZING. I put it on last night on the back of my hand, took a shower this morning and it is STILL there, even though I tried to scrub it off to wear one of my other scents. Definitely a powerhouse. A little goes a long way. Pleasant scent, best to get a sample before you buy.Good luck!

Dark, warm vanilla opening. Some light woods in the back. The middle kind of smells like a seatbelt on a hot day in an old Buick. I think it's the warm material scent. Though, I can see how someone could think this smells like vanilla-y paper. Dry down smells basically the same. I think a paperback is a good description. Not a hardback. A paperback that's been hanging out on the shelves in the library for years. Last checked out almost a decade ago. A little dusty. Also kind of like a poorly lit lawyer's office that hasn't updated it's decor since 1994. A lot of that sounds negative, but it's ultimately not bad. It's mildly pleasant and very inoffensive. If you are looking for a subtle dark vanilla that transports you back in time, this could be a decent contender.

On paper this (ironically?) smells like the concept. Very reminiscent of yellowed pages of old "Forgotten Realms" stacked two-deep in used book stores. It mostly turns into a more mildewed scent to my nose after a bit though. I love the smell of old books, but I think my allergies prefer them just a *little* fresher than this. On my skin it just turns into a faded, musty sort of vanilla. Not unpleasant, but odd. Would be interesting to use in a "Librarian" themed fragrance, though. I need to poke around and see if anyone is posting their Demeter mix recipes anywhere on here... There needs to be a "neutral" button on here. I neither like nor dislike this. It's just interesting :s *bangs head on wall to purge Nickleback song*

I've been wearing Paperback to work (at the library) and I was going through the stacks smelling the aisles and comparing the fragrance. It really does have that many-books- in-one-area smell. I've smelled so many individual books at my work that smell less than appealing - you'd be surprised! But many do have that awesome book smell. Up close, when I smell the fragrance on myself it's has dry vanilla, woodsy notes, with maybe a hint of leather and citrus (very small hint). It's good stuff! I like it. Comforting and calming. I don't seem to have the problem others seem to have with Demeters, as they are noticeable and fairly long lasting on me.

How did they recreate the smell of a paper on a book using vanilla? However they did it, I love it. I have always loved the smell of a fresh new book. I actually do enjoy putting my nose inside books literally and smelling the pages. This one is pure vanilla but it does have the paper quality as well. I wish that it could have lasted longer. I have fun with the Demeter Fragrances. They are not meant to be taken seriously. I enjoy spritzing this on when going into bookstores like Barnes & Nobles. The scent goes unnoticed because of all the other books that smell in there lol

Librarian here. Yes, this smells exactly like a used bookstore, or the type of century-old, slightly dusty, underfunded library that I work in. The reason old books smell like vanilla is because the lignin in the paper breaks down into an aromatic compound that is very similar to vanillin. Add a little dusty/musty note, and it's instant eau de library/bookshop. Since I *work* in a place that smells like this, Paperback is not a fragrance I will choose to wear very often. But it's perfect for lovers of books and libraries who aren't immersed in the scent every day.

My nerdy gymbro boyfriend loves this. I showed him this as I was ordering from Demeter, and he's always loved the smell of books as he read them, so the name evoked a lot of nostalgia for him. I bought the miniature for him so he could try it out, and he says it's sweeter than he expected, but he really likes it so far. He's still able to smell it several hours later, but he also has a very good sense of smell compared to me. Not sure if it smells like books? I haven't had a chance to smell it with my own nose yet, but I will update when I do.

Gives a boozy playdough undertone. Like a cheap sunscreen slathered on your skin before playing outside. Gives a sense of childlike wonder as the scent slowly opens. Like your mom made you put your sunscreen on before playing outside. I get little to no paper notes, but does exude the nostalgic feeling I was looking for in a book fragrance. A lovely scent for those looking to layer a warm amber/ vanillin. Layered with baccarat rouge you smell joyous and welcoming.

I know Demeter scents are supposed to be linear but this really seems to have a beginning, middle and end - just like a real book.. for me anyway. The opening is v papery and I like it but then it warms up too much and becomes very musty, like a dirty old library ;( then it sweetens and smells a lot like vanilla ice cream, soft and melting, not icey. In the drydown it is very much like the pages of a quality but secondhand book, musty and slightly sweet.

this is a really interesting fragrance. i ordered a sample of this from overseas and when i tried it on, there was a soft note of vanilla and a weird hint of something musty. after the dry down you get a delicate musk scent but it’s incredibly hard to find. it smells like a book you’ve kept under your bed for months, perhaps years. it also simultaneously smells like an old woman, so do with that what you will.

this doesn't smell like books to me, but the idea is there in a fantasy way. That being said,I adore this fragrance. I have the rollerball oil, which lasts longer than the pick me ups. It's a soft, dusty, slightly (EVER so slightly) spiced vanilla scent with a suggestion but not the feel of wood notes. My sister also loves this one.It's a true comfort scent.

This is exactly how the binded books from my childhood smelled, when I opened them to read to my children. They came out of a box from the attic - unopened for 30 years. Thick yellow/cream pages than once were white. A sweet woody dusty paper scent. And a bit of vanilla with palo santo.