Book smell does nothing for me. It's the knowledge inside the books that matters.
Hedges basically are self taught magic. I was expelled from Brakebills and they took my memories of magic, so I did everything I could to find it and get it back. It's not the same as what they teach in the schools, but we're just as powerful as they can be. Sometimes more so. I have traveled to different countries, all over for magic, for spells, for what knowledge I need. I had a safehouse where we could learn together. Not everyone made it in, but I have a feeling about people.