I have bought a very old book from Germany as a gift for someone. It is an out of print book and I know she will love it. However it absolutely reeks of old tobacco. Any  ideas what I could do to make it smell more pleasant without damaging book. Thanks

could you not try getting some bounce sheets or something similar and placing them between a few pages? and maybe leaving it in a sealed bag so scent goes throughout or maybe try putting lavendar in the bag ? I'm sorry I don't have many suggestions

Thats a good idea. I have never used them, are they wet though (like wipes) or just dry sheets?

How about putting the book in a large plastic bag and putting a saucer with bicarbonate of soda in the other end of the bag as the bicarb is great for absorbing smells. It is often used in fridges to absorb any odours that linger there.

the sheets are dry Star but the bicarb sounds like a good idea too as it will help to take the smell away rather than just masking! maybe a bit of both will solve the problem :-) good luck

Thanks both
Will give it a go :)

be very careful of damaging the old paper. I shudderto think what sheets of bounce would do to antique paper

the bounce sheets could leave greasy type marks I would be very carefull if using them

Try putting it in a box with a saucer of dry bicarb.  Should do the trick after a few days ;)

I don't know anything about bounce sheets as I don't use them lol but just thought they might smell better than tobacco! maybe they weren't such a good suggestion after all :rolleyes:

> I don't know anything about bounce sheets as I don't use them lol but just thought they might smell better than tobacco! maybe they weren't such a good suggestion after all

Lol ah well im sure we all know you were just trying to help :D Yeah i think the bicarb sounds like a good idea as well ;)

sarah xx