The Smell of Fall

   They say the number one sense that triggers our memories is our sense of smell. I believe this to be true, I can sit and try to remember a time and a place. I'll close my eyes, and I'll imagine the colors of my surroundings, the wind rustling the leaves, a voice off in the distance.

   Though, these are all just flutters of my mind. They aren't pulled together, they are all individual layers of a memory. I try to piece them together, but I have trouble. The thing that makes them cohesive, is that I remember the smell of everything. The colors are oranges and browns, the beautiful colors of fall. I can smell the cold wind sting my nostrils as I smell the slight odor of the vegetation shedding itself, prepping for winter. The voice, my mom yelling that dinner is ready. I rush eagerly inside, weaving through some Halloween decorations on our porch. I open the door and I'm greeted with the smell of Ham, embroidered with clove. I gobble down my meal, and afterwards I'm presented with a piece of pumpkin pie, smelling of pumpkin, clove, and cinnamon. After that, its to the streets I go, eager to get as much candy as I can.

    The smell of fall is wonderful. It's more than just candy, scares, and a time to thank each other. It is a time of festive decorations, its a celebration of the season. Growing up I used to look forward to fall, yes for the candy and food, but mainly for the smells and the scenery. I never could get over the way the leaves changed, I always thought, and still do, that it is nature's most beautiful trick. As for the smells, I always thought it was a shame that these smells were only during the fall time. Right now, if you go down any candle aisle in any store, there will be “exclusive fall scents”. Rows of pumpkin-this or that candles, “falling leaves” scented candles, “autumn morning” candles, etc. etc.

    I remember when I was little, I knew when I moved out, I would stock up on those scents so I could use them year round. The first year or two on my own, I did. I'd convince my wife to buy a few of the candles or scent cubes, so we could have them year-round. Back then, lets just say we bought quite a few scent cubes, and we were stocked up for quite some time! As you can see though, our supply is running a little low.

    Though the smell of fall is now available to me year-round. I can now light a candle anytime, or put a wax cube in our melter, I'll always remember when I was young. It would be the middle of spring, the fresh smell of the flowers all around. They smelled good, but I found them too overly sweet. I'd find myself sitting there, waiting for the warm, comforting smell of fall.