No Wi-Fi provided   “Let Books Travel” – a cozy lane café

▲ Arriving at “Escents Private Bookshelf,” you’re greeted by lush mango trees covered in greenery. (Photo / fromFanily)

Text by Luo Xinya

On a leisurely afternoon, step into the alleys near National Taiwan University. With a turn, the aroma of mango greets you, as fruit trees sway gently in the small courtyard. Step inside the yard, push open the door, and you’re warmly welcomed by the scent of books and coffee. This is a bookstore with fragrance.

Located on Xinsheng South Road, “Escents Private Bookshelf” is filled with publications related to the environment. From green living, arts, design, and aesthetics to food, land, flora, and fauna, these themes can all be found on the shelves. General Manager Huang Yuming says, “Books have a unique texture, smell, and warmth. I hope people rediscover the joy of reading. That’s why we don’t offer Wi-Fi—we want everyone to read, eat, and chat without distractions.”

▲ The bookshelves creatively display books related to the “environment,” aiming to draw attention to nature-related issues. (Photo / fromFanily)

Interestingly, Escents also often draws inspiration from literary works, with professional aromatherapists crafting scents that match the mood of the books. For example: jasmine for *The Help*, rose for *Little Women*, and an osmanthus fragrance inspired by Qi Jun’s *Osmanthus Rain*.

▲ The store features many “oxygen diffusers” that emit soothing scents, helping customers relax. (Photo / fromFanily)

Speaking of the small yard in front of the bookstore, Huang Yuming says, “This old house’s yard has a large mango tree. But when we first arrived, its roots were completely sealed in cement, and the trunk was tangled with wires. So our first task was to clear all of that and restore the tree to its natural state.”

      ▲ How old is the big mango tree in front of the door? It has witnessed countless seasons here. (Photo / fromFanily)

After tidying up the yard, the space began hosting diverse events such as land music concerts, documentary lectures, second-hand exchanges, and farmers’ markets. “Many things happen in the yard—recently the staff even started learning how to grow plants.” Notably, there’s also a small bookshelf in the yard for the “Book Travel Project,” where anyone can exchange books. “Good books shouldn’t have an expiration date—they should create maximum value.”

▲ The small yard in front of the bookstore often holds weekend events—come join next time you pass by. (Photo / fromFanily)

▲ You can bring your own second-hand books to the store and join the “Book Travel Project.” (Photo / fromFanily)

▲ There’s an open space in the yard where the staff try their hand at planting. Many more things will happen here in the future. (Photo / fromFanily)

The bookstore also lives by the philosophy of “loving the Earth.” In addition to participating in “Taipei Earth Day” every year, it has adopted Section 7 of Zhongshan North Road—the last remaining terraced field in Taipei—where employees learn to sow, transplant rice seedlings, and plant fruit trees. Moreover, Escents’ quarterly magazine, published every three months, contains no advertisements or product placements. Instead, it simply shares updates on what the store has been doing recently, and discusses topics like the environment, land, and social justice.

“Escents Private Bookshelf” is an independent bookstore operated by Yiri Lifestyle Group. It combines its Canadian natural fragrance skincare brand “Escents” and Austrian organic brand “Sonnentor” to create a space that blends aromatherapy, art, and environmentalism. It also aims to convey the concept of “slow food, slow reading, and slow living” to every visitor.

▲ The lamps are designed based on the concept of “drying books in ancient times.” Placed on the counter, they also resemble cheese—quite amusing. (Photo / fromFanily)

     ▲ The clock in the bookstore is integrated with the bookshelf, reflecting the image of the natural organic brand “Sonnentor.” (Photo / fromFanily)

【Escents Private Bookshelf】
Phone: (02)2362-1134
Address: No. 7-1, Lane 22, Section 3, Xinsheng South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City 106