Daily Cascade

The Aroma of December

Prompt:
"May and October are the best-smelling months, but I’ll make a case for December; evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon." — Lisa Kleypas
What are your favorite December smells? Why?

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My favorite December smells are bouquets of clean pure fragrances, such as those of warmth, festivity, appreciation, and that bittersweet aroma of nostalgia.

When we lived up in North, the crisp cold air and the smell of fresh snow carried a clean, pure, slightly metallic feeling for my nose, however sharp and invigorating it was. Do I miss it? No! It was then; this is now.

Wherever I am, whether I am under the hot Florida sun or enjoying the fragrance of pine forests, or the smell of damp earth, or fallen leaves, December always brought the warmth of spicy anything...cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cookies, gingerbread, and pies baking. Then, who can resist those gooey jelly doughnuts? I love their smells so much that I use all those spices throughout the year to add to the comforting hot drinks like cocoa, tea, and coffee. And yes, even in the scorching Florida climate.

All these things, especially the songs that carry smells like "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," inspire feelings of togetherness, reflection, celebration, and thankfulness to add to the traditions that linger in my heart always. As much as I try to be grounded in the present, all those aromas and memories have a way of pulling me toward the past, and as the result my past and present unite beautifully. For that alone, what can top the scent of December any better!