Library Ghost

have been looking for a signature scent for myself for YEARS. This one called to me as I work in a library. It is incredible. It smells like incense, musk, and marshmallows in the best possible way. Highly recommend.

An atmospheric gourmand, can such a thing exist? If so, Library Ghost gloriously fills the niche. It incorporates a delicious marshmallow base, but avoids the overly sugary, sticky quality of some marshmallow notes. This marshmallow occupies a deeper, richer niche that evokes more cream than overt sweetness, smoothing out the parchment and dark ink. By themselves, aged paper and a dark, glossy, almost nutty ink note sitting in the heart of the perfume might be sharp and too distinct to co-exist comfortably as the perfume dries. Instead, the marshmallow connects them, toasting the smell of really good, old libraries chockful of impressive hardcover books in beautifully ventilated conditions — a kind of library smell I associate with some of the greats, from the Bodleian to the main branch of the New York Public Library, rather than a particularly musty, appealing vellichor you get with used bookstores. The wood notes here are subtler and they emerge when the marshmallowy sweetness plays down, acting very much like the shelves for treasured volumes: it’s there, but not particularly strong. I get the most impact when nose to the crook of my elbow, capturing the hints more strongly. I cannot honestly tell you what woodsy note comes to the fore, but it isn’t a severe green, more like a very soft oak or rosewood that serves to round out the more dominant ink and scholarly jots of sugar or bindings. Longevity is moderate and sillage is pretty low, which makes this more of a personal, intimate exploration of dimly-lit corridors lined with precious treasures while motes dance beneath the windows. I love wearing it at night, particularly before bedtime, as it has a wonderfully ethereal, calming presence.

To me this is like an indoors version of Secret Boyfriend (which I love). Instead of the pine you get more ink and wood. A cozy scent for winter!