I know, I know...it's been a minute since I have last posted, but I am back. I'm going to try to get back into my regular postings. So, I start back up with the question...What is it about the fall season that makes us crave certain smells, foods, etc?? The Fall/Autumn season is officially upon us. I pose these questions to all of my readers because I cannot come up with anything other than a semi scientific answer. However, before I reveal said semi scientific answer, I want to delve into some of the categories.
Let's start with the smells. Now, I don't know about you, but when I think of fall, I think of the smell of leaves, fires (from real fireplaces), apples and cinnamon, baked goods and clean laundry. I'm sure you most of you are on the same wavelength as me with the first few items. The last one may have thrown you off a bit though. Let me explain myself on that one. The reason I think of clean laundry in the fall is because when given them time, as soon as my laundry is done (especially sheets, towels and sweatshirts) I like to wrap myself up in said items as soon as it comes out of the dryer while it is still warm. Be honest...what can beat this feeling?? I don't get this same feeling or smell recognition in any other season but fall. As far as the other smells, yes, I know they are relatively common, but the beauty is that everyone probably has different memories and feelings associated with each smell. When I smell leaves, I think of when I was a kid. We would help our parents rake up the millions of leaves dropped by the 5 maple trees in our yard and then get to jump in the pile. Now, for those of you who never had the experience of a maple tree in your yard...yes, LOTS of leaves are to be had, however the little thing that most don't remember or think of....acorns. Yeah, jumping into a pile of leaves is all fun and games until you get an acorn in the knee, elbow or spleen. Let me be the first to tell you, they HURT! But still fun, nonetheless.
Next of course comes the smell of a fire from a real fireplace. What could be better than a nice wood fire with a cup of hot cider or hot chocolate on a cool fall afternoon or evening? Nowadays there are many who do not have the luxury of having such a fireplace or have chosen the gas fireplace road... If this is any of you, I beg you to get in front of at least one WOOD fireplace this fall. I promise you, it is worth it!
The smell of apples and cinnamon along with baked goods leads me into my next topic...food. For those who know me personally know that I don't generally get all that excited about food. It actually is in my nature that I should (my entire family seems to except me), however, yet again, I have to be different. :-) Although, when it comes to baked goods in the fall, we enter a whole different ball game. I made my first batch of cookies for the fall season. I decided to start out slow with the old fashioned chocolate chip. Don't want to get too carried away too early. Setting the bar high right off the bat with, we'll say a coffee or cheesecake, could prove to be difficult and in turn dangerous. Anyway, I digress...maybe it is the fact that the windows are all closed, forcing the sweet smell of sugary goodness to stay inside that makes it so satisfying to bake in the fall. In case you are like I used to be and unable to bake, there is a trick to getting the "smell of fall" in your house. All you need is an apple, an orange, cloves, and a cinnamon stick or two. You cut the orange and apple in half and put them in a pot with boiling water. Add cloves and cinnamon sticks and let it simmer. In about 20 minutes you will instantly have the best fall smelling house on the block.
We can all thank my mom for teaching me that little trick. Even though I now am able to bake a halfway decent pastry or cookie, I still like to throw this little number on the stove every once in a while. It's a nice touch for the fall ambiance of your home.
And now for the big finale....the semi scientific answer to what it is about the fall smells that just does something to each person in their own way. Now, I must preface this with the ever so clear fact that I am not a scientist, nor am I attempting to make anyone believe I have any idea what I am talking about. However, I like the fact that the smells of fall effect everyone differently because of their Amygdala (or the part of your brain that connects a smell to a certain memory). I told you, I'm no scientist! Anyway, sorry if that was anti-climactic. It's going to take me a few posts to get back into the swing of things. So bear with me and for pete sake, make a darn fire to sit in front of with some cookies and hot chocolate! :-)
