I don’t know if it’s because I’m fixated on smells, but one of my favorite parts of fall is the smell of fall. I don’t know if I can explain it, but since the sense of smell is strongly tied to memories (or at least for me), one whiff of fall can bring back so much for me.

What does fall smell like? I like to think of it as the smoky scent of sweet decay. It’s the smell of leaves that have turned and fallen and are now returning to the earth. It’s the smell of a blazing bonfire on a night when the air is crisp and keen. It’s the smell of hot apple cider and warm flannel. It’s the smell of pumpkins and pumpkin spice and pot-pourri and hot chocolate and orange spiced hot tea.

I personally think each season has odors that are distinct to it. Spring has flowers in bloom. Summer has cholorinated water of pools, suntan lotion, and freshly cut grass. Winter has that keen bite that stings your nose when you breathe deeply.

But fall is my favorite. So many aromas that can instantly take me back to when I was five and full of wonder. So many scents that revive memories of people who are no longer with me.

I really wish there was a candle that could capture all that. I’d buy it in a heartbeat (and probably pay way too much for it). But in the mean time, I’ll live slowly and deliberately and breathe deep as much as I can.