Harvest Moon

We have had clearing skies as of late, which means streaks of white on blue (instead of the opposite) during the day and an opportunity for some stargazing in the evening/morning. The waning moon has been peaking through the clouds and the nights are getting colder, another reminder that fall is in the air. Shorter days and longer nights means I am slowly exchanging my short-sleeved shirts and shorts for warmer clothing.

Each season has a signature smell. For autumn, it is more than just the scent of falling leaves, fresh air, and apples. It is difficult to distinguish exactly what makes fall smell like fall.

Breathing air into your lungs that is slightly colder than expected is part of it. The smell of burning wood in a fireplace, especially those that are being lit for the first time since spring with the slightly damp odor from the bricks unused for months.

On cool, crisp, sunny autumn days, the air has almost a spicy smell to it, reminiscent of earthy and woody notes, definitely there but still subtle and unassuming. It is the smell of pumpkins and the last of the vegetables growing in the garden.

Pinpointing what causes the air to smell like fall can be elusive, as autumn is a sensory explosion of odor and color. Quite fitting, considering winter arrives soon enough with the absence of most things beyond the white of the clouds, snow and ice.