Four old books were investigated using gas chromatographic-spectro-scopic (GC-FID and GC-MS) and gas chromatographic-olfactory (GG sniffing technique) systems to identify the compounds responsible for the characteristic dusty, musty, mouldy, paper-like and dry odour of these headspace samples (dynamic headspace method). More than 70 headspace constituents (especially odorous cyclohexanol derivatives) were found to have an influence on the complex odour of old books.