Winter is known for its delicious smells, such the smell of pine blowing in the wind, or the brisk cold air taking away the fall smell. Some even say that they can smell the snow before it comes.
There have been theories that the change in temperature is how we determine the change in seasons. Who would’ve thought that there could be a direct science related to the very thought that the seasons have smells? Different earthy scents come and go throughout the year and help us distinguish certain seasons.
Specifically, there are different molecules that come out more in certain seasons.
"You smell more aromatic molecules during the summer because hot, muggy air holds more of the molecules and enables them to move through the atmosphere more quickly," said the Weather Network. "The opposite happens when it's cooler and drier in the fall: air molecules contract together and leave less space for odour molecules to move through.” These different factors are what are truly responsible for our wonderful weather.
In sum, this means that we are able to smell more of these distinct scents in the summer because these molecules can spread out more and fill up space. Rather in the fall it is a more specific or an intricate smell that is harder to define.
Another factor that plays into this change in smell is geosmin. Geosmin is an organic compound that by definition gives off an earthy scent. Humans are found to be sensitive to geosmin and can smell it more distinctively. According to Reagent, “this is why rain and spring alike often smell muskier than other seasons.” This musky smell in fall can be caused by the breakdown of leaves as they fall off of the trees. All of these different chemical reactions give each season their own “scent”.
Despite all of the proof that there are chemicals that accentuate a unique smell, there are several ways of describing the different seasons. The concept of this certain odor is what truly captures the idea that there may really be a scent. By all accounts, and with proven evidence from various resources, winter, spring, summer, and fall all are unique in their own ways.