We All Have Favourite Perfumes,

or aftershaves,

that may remind us of say, violets, citrus, lavender, you get the idea, but for the life of me I cannot understand anyone wanting to smell of a musty, mouldy bookshop, but apparently some people do, which I guess is why Powell’s Books, the beloved independent shop in Portland, recently announced a limited-edition perfume that smells just like its seemingly endless rows of new and used titles. “This scent contains the lives of countless heroes and heroines. Apply to the pulse points when seeking sensory succor or a brush with immortality,” Powell’s says about the forthcoming release, termed an “Eau de bookstore,” the unisex fragrance was spurred by customers saying they missed the aroma of the shop during the ongoing pandemic. The packaging of Powell’s by Powell’s even resembles a bright red hardback that can sit inconspicuously on a shelf with other titles, if you’re in the United States, you can pre-order a bottle now, as Powell’s notes on Instagram, you’ll smell “like a million books.” I can not help but think that in a similar vein, the mint will produce a aftershave for Monty Burns, smelling of bank notes, then he can smell like a million dollars!