Why do all linen closets smell the same?

Question

As a child my family and I used to spend the night at my aunt's house on a fairly regular basis. I distincly remember the smell of the sheets when she took them out of the linen closet to put on the fold out bed in the couch. About 12 years ago my parents bought a house with a linen closet. When I took the sheets out, they I noticed they smelled the same as my aunts. Now I have my own house and my linen "closet" is a large plastic container. I took the extra sheets out last weekend, and again, they smell the same. Why?

Answer 1

It probably has something to do with the way most cottons smell after they have been stored.  If you don't like the smell, try lining your linen closet (or box) with some cedar.  It gives a different smell and will help to ward off moths.