A team of European scientists is delving into the often-overlooked sense of smell to recreate the past through its preserved fragrances found in ancient texts and Egyptian mummies. Mattia Sterlich, an analytical chemistry expert from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, emphasizes the emotional connection that fragrances evoke, stating that without scent, we lose a sense of intimacy as smells establish a form of interaction between humans and objects. In the St. Paul’s Cathedral library in London, with some books dating back to the 12th century, Sterlich and his team focused on documenting the scents lingering in the space over centuries. Their research primarily involved the aromas emitted from old books and wooden furniture that remains unchanged since 1709, providing a unique insight into the historical context of the scents. The researchers utilized scent experts to describe the various aromas they encountered, relying on a list of 21 common scent descriptors such as woody, earthy, smoky, and acidic. Despite the diverse impressions recorded by different individuals, there was a near-unanimous agreement that the essence of the place could be summarized as a "woody scent" with a slight acidic touch, reflecting the age and history embedded in the surroundings.