Starbucks had us wrapped around its pumpkin spice-dipped little finger as early as August. Febreze’s seductive fall slogan, “Mmm…smells like sweater weather,” is responsible for the millions of homes smelling of “Apple Delish” and “Jolly Pine.” Yankee Candle’s approach to nasal season is only slightly more subtle: “Autumn in the Park” and “Crisp Morning Air” are on offer for $5.49. That’s a lot of marketing muscle being put toward making a season defined by decomposition into an olfactory event.
— Read more at Why Fall Smells Make Us Happy at Inverse.
Ironically, most of the memories fall scents trigger in me are visual. Fall is such a truly beautiful time, between nature and home/yard decorations. Most scents associated with fall either seem contrived or synthetic to me – we were not a pie baking family. But they’re effective at triggering the fall visuals. I’ll take it!
Best fall visuals, for me = CB I Hate Perfume Burning Leaves 🙂
Like the author, I have noticed that pumpkin spice scented and flavored things do not smell or taste like pumpkin. For that I am grateful.
I am probably the only person in the US who has never had a pumpkin spice latte…and had assumed it tasted like pumpkin. Don’t really understand the point of the name otherwise but obviously that’s a personal problem 🙂
I’ve never had a pumpkin spice latte, but I’ve had pumpkin spice flavored coffees. I think that the marketers mean “flavored with spices that are suitable for a pumpkin pie.” Also, “pumpkin” is a very silly and fun word to say and it evokes nostalgia for many people.
I just can’t with Fall this year. In Texas, we are not just having an Indian Summer, we time warped back into actual summer! Record highs in the 90’s this week.
Sweaters, crisp air, leaves.. maybe I can see you in November.