Scented candles for bibliophile frequent readers with the fine aroma of old books and antique libraries

I am always on the lookout for beautiful bibliophilic accessories and, admittedly, there aren’t that many of them. A few years ago, I came across scented candles that were said to capture the delicate fragrance of old books, small antique bookshops, and libraries filled with vintage tomes. Back then, they were only available in the U.S., and with the high shipping and customs costs, it was never really worth testing them. However, I kept checking, and now I finally discovered the online shop indigofoxcandles.de here in Germany, which offers candles in the scents “Vintage Bookshop” and “Old Books.” So, I picked up both candles and would like to share my experience with you—knowing that quite a few bibliophilic book lovers read along here.

Of course, I love sitting on the couch in the evening, the well-stocked bookshelf behind me, a cup of something hot in hand, and a record of pleasant orchestral music playing as I pick up a book to read. The sensory component of scent hadn’t really been on my radar for a long time—until some time ago, when I occasionally started lighting incense sticks. But those can be quite strong, and a scented candle as a more subtle alternative perfectly rounds off an evening of reading. Naturally, it also has to be the right kind of candle. I filtered my search on Etsy to show only sellers based in Germany and found the shop indigofoxcandles.de, pleasantly surprised to finally find a domestic source for exactly these kinds of bibliophile candles.

The first time I encountered scented candles with the fragrances “Bookstore,” “Old Books,” and “Oxford Library” from Frostbeard Studio was back in 2018. However, the shipping from the U.S. was so expensive that it just wasn’t an option. The candles from INDIGOFOXCandles also promise the fine aroma of old books and an antique bookshop. The question is: what exactly creates the scent of old books? How do old books or an antiquarian bookstore filled with aged, leather-bound, and yellowed volumes actually smell? If someone asked me to describe it, I wouldn’t immediately have a specific aroma in mind.

I then browsed through my bookshelf. First, I pulled out a book from the Lone Wolf series from the 1980s and gave it a sniff. The scent immediately brought back childhood memories—because those pages carry that faint aroma I already noticed back then. A bit musty, but with a fresh note typical of paper. Next, I picked up a book from the 1960s, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. That one had a stronger smell—the kind that hits you when you open one of those book-exchange telephone booths. A bit more musty, slightly sweet, and earthy. Then I took a book from the 17th century with a thick leather cover. You can definitely detect a hint of old leather and something slightly bitter. None of the books had a particularly strong scent, perhaps because the air in our living room circulates quite well.

A few years ago, I bought an old edition of a book by Jack London, and it had an awful smell—so strong and unpleasant that it made reading difficult. I sealed the book with some coffee grounds in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer for a few days. That worked surprisingly well to neutralize the overpowering odor. Now the book hardly smells at all. Of course, such an unpleasant stench is not the kind of “book scent” one would want from a candle!

One evening, I settled down with my current read and lit the first candle, “Old Books.” It took a little while for the scent to unfold—which is quite normal for scented candles. Once lit, the fragrance starts subtly and intensifies over time. Indeed, a slightly sweet, earthy, and woody aroma fills the room, one that you could easily associate with old books. It’s easy to imagine a paneled room lined with antique books exuding just this kind of scent. While it doesn’t exactly match the smell of the old books from my shelves—its aroma being more balanced and pleasant—that’s understandable, since a candle should smell inviting, which this one certainly does. Especially noticeable is the moment you leave the room and return later: the fragrance greets you distinctly, and I could well imagine an old library smelling like this. However, I also noticed there isn’t much of a strong recognition factor. Everyone has an idea of what old books smell like, but since we rarely encounter it, the association isn’t vivid enough to identify it instantly. So if you expect your guests to be immediately struck by a “wow, old books!” reaction, you might be disappointed.

The candles are made from soy wax and contain teakwood, oak, and sandalwood. I also detect something slightly sweet—perhaps a touch of vanilla—and maybe something smoky or tobacco-like for the earthy notes. If you look online for book-scented candles, this composition appears almost everywhere. Understandably so—it comes very close to that bookish aroma and is probably the best combination to recreate it.

The second candle, “Vintage Bookshop,” I tested the following evening. I couldn’t detect any difference in scent compared to the larger “Old Books” candle—except that it was less intense, which makes sense since the “Old Books” candle has two wicks. But that’s no surprise, as the listed ingredients are identical. My sense of smell isn’t particularly sharp, so I can’t rule out that there might be subtle differences I simply didn’t notice.

I find the INDIGOFOXCandles designs quite beautiful. “Vintage Bookshop” comes in a classically shaped glass with a simple yet elegant label. “Old Books” has a larger black glass container with a wooden lid and two wicks, ensuring even burning and a noticeably stronger scent. They look stylish in their understated design and make a fine addition to a living room table or shelf. I really like them—and they’re reasonably priced. During my research, I was honestly surprised at how expensive some scented candles (of all kinds) can be. Some prices rival perfumes, which isn’t too surprising given the overlap in fragrance crafting. In that sense, the candles from INDIGOFOXCandles are very fairly priced. The larger “Old Books” candle is said to burn for 50 hours, while the smaller “Vintage Bookshop” lasts for about 30. That sounds like a lot, but in practice, an evening’s burn time adds up quickly—if you don’t let them burn long enough, the scent remains too faint. So yes, it’s a little luxury, but a delightful one.

Conclusion: I really like the scented candles from INDIGOFOXCandles. Especially “Old Books” has a very pleasant fragrance that truly evokes old books or a library filled with leather-bound antiquarian volumes. For an enjoyable reading evening, these candles add a perceptible touch of atmosphere. I also think they make excellent gifts for avid readers—it’s such a creative idea. Of course, it’s a luxury, but a stylish one, and these candles definitely strike a chord with me. I’ve also noticed there’s another scent called “A Night at the Library,” which seems to emphasize the sweeter notes, given the inclusion of “smoked vanilla.” When my two candles are used up, I’ll certainly order more. A wonderful idea that absolutely hits the mark for a bibliophile bookworm like me. These candles are definitely a clear recommendation.