Comments on: The Smells of Fall

By: sd

sd — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:22:05 +0000

autumn definitely smells like crisp chilly air & burning leaves (again, not like myself or anyone I know burn leaves, but every once in awhile you catch it)
although i’m in western PA – part of the country with the Red October heat wave. we were at the homecoming football game this weekend in shorts & tanks, sweating profusely & getting sunburn – last year at the same time we were freezing in sweaters & scarves — somewhere in the middle, please!! i like warmer weather better, but only when it’s appropriate – i know it’ll be snowy & slushy in NO time, so I like the fall to transition me there if i have to deal with ice & cold!
although i’m pleased to say that i saw a long leaf in the road the other day, & knew my tire was going to hit it – my windows were open (since it was so hot!) & i could hear it crunch when i drove over it – my fave fall sound!

By: john creech

john creech — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:40:55 +0000

The smell comes from the fruit. They pack well in a mud ball and leave quite a sting when hit by one. The pits hurts, but not as much as the smell of vomit on your clothes.

By: Lorna

Lorna — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:04:02 +0000

I live in Saskatchewan and the fall smell that means the most to me is that spicy sweet smell of leaf rot on a warm day. It is the most heavenly smell and I just can’t get enough of it!

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:38:52 +0000

The dusty smell of falling leaves makes me think of childhood falls.

Now, though, living near a college campus with a major football obsession, fall smells like brats grilling and beer.

By: Isaac B.

Isaac B. — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:57:58 +0000

I was pleased to read this little blog. I too used to live in Portland (Maine, that is), and still reminisce over the sweet smells of Fall. In particular, the smell of rotting leaves, chimney smoke, and brewing coffee emanating from the little italian-owned shops always brings a peaceful nostalgia. I’ve lived all over the country and no other place offers such wonderful seasons as New England.

By: SaiSai

SaiSai — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:23:03 +0000

I live in Seattle, which smells a lot like Portland, but the smell that means fall to me is the leaves. They make the air smell spicey and sweet and fresh all at once and it makes me want to drink a hot cup of spiced cider while watching a soccer game in the rain. I loooove fall.

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:51:24 +0000

Where I live there’s a crispness that is in the Autumn air, it’s also a cold smell. I know what you mean by the smoke, but I don’t think of Autumn as much when I smell fireplace smoke.

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:46:55 +0000

I’ve lived in a couple of houses that used wood stoves exclusively for heat (here in Oregon and Washington), so I definitely know what you mean about the wood smoke smell — but now that I’ve gone 20th century, the first time I turn the furnace on there’s this funny “hot dust” smell that lets me know falls here.

It makes me a little sad because I’m cheap and don’t want to pay for the gas, but on the other hand … so cozy.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:19:09 +0000

I do remember the smoke from burning leaves when I was growing up, but it never was particularly pleasant and we don’t do that anymore.

The distinctive aromas I now associate with fall are marsh mud, wet labrador retriever, and the tendrils of smoke emanating from the breech of my trusty fowling piece.

By: samantha

samantha — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:06:25 +0000

fall to me always smells like burning leaves. not like ive ever burnt leaves, and i dont know whos responsible for it, but the scent will just waft by from time to time during a drive or a walk and it definitely makes you say, ’smells like fall’
(kinda like the smell of chlorine reminds me of summer)