Much of nature is experienced through scent. Countless species of critters address their world primarily that way. Among larger mammals, man alone sets the active use of his nose aside, but that doesn’t mean it’s totally excluded — a fact happily brought home at this time of year on each morning’s first steps outside.
August in Mississippi stifles most scents for me but, when the season finally offers to break and the mildest hint of the cool to come greets us as we step from the AC into the morning air, it has a signature scent that comes with it.
Every region has its own general perfume. The cold, dry air of the Mountain West smells like sage and ice crystals, of sunbaked dirt powdered extra fine. It smells like opportunity and adventure. The hot humidity of south Florida smells like earth, leaf litter and pine. In the October hardwoods of the Southern Delta, when a minimum of wakefulness has dragged us out of bed and up a tree, the tannins of oak float their high-pitched flavors on the air. A deep breath is all it takes to curl your tongue.
As we wait for the heat to abate, the daily respite that comes in the hour between sunset and nightfall is a treat well-earned. When you’ve worked through the summer day outside and the sun finally falls below the horizon, there’s a scent like accomplishment to be had.
Mississippi’s first few mornings that bring with them a hint of fall smell like wholehearted, blessed relief. They carry with them the bittersweet tang of another summer gone by — seasons whose days we won’t get back again. If we’re lucky, great memories lie among them, preserved by the baking sun and welded to our mind.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
