Blog Entry Saturday: Smells and Tastes of Autumn

It's getting close enough to autumn that we can almost smell it, taste it. I like to transition the season in way that embrace the senses; darkening the room, using battery operated candles when watching tv, keeping the house a bit cooler, draping a lap blanket over the arm of the sofa, embracing hot tea, and being certain my nose and mouth know the season is upon me.

These mason jars are were dolled up with real leaves. Mix one part water to two parts Elmer's glue. Brush it onto the bottle, press the leaf in, and then paint over it with the mix - it dries clear. 

Candle scents to consider to get that feel of autumn going - cinnamon, apple, ginger, cardamom, pumpkin, pear, mushroom, wet earth, cedar, wood smoke. There are some great shops on Etsy that offer unique scents, like 

Saskatoon: Woodsmoke and evergreen at the Wanderlust Scents shop. 

Civil War: Gunpowder, Tobacco, Musk, Clove, and Woodsmoke at the Italic Home Shop. 

Flavors and scents to consider adding: Quince, blackberry, raspberry, persimmon, grape, apple, pomegranate, gooseberry, pear.

Pumpkin Pie Iced Coffee
1 cup water
3/4 cup dark brown sugar or pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (save the rest to make pumpkin pancakes - mix with Bisquick)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
-- heat these to make a pumpkin pie syrup (use this syrup too for the pumpkin pancakes if you like)
Add to concentrated cup of coffee with half and half.
Add ice.




As you transition into autumn scents, consider taking a relaxing bath. The bath season is beginning. Buy a large bag of epsom salts at the drugstore and add essential oil mixes to create scented bath salts that relax and revitalize. I like putting the salts in jars on the counter and making different scents. For fall, consider ready mixed autumn scents from one of the fabulous etsy shops that has autumn mixed essential oils. It only takes several drops of the oils with the salts and a sealed container to make an amazing bath experience. If you add a few drops of coconut oil, you can also get slick smooth skin. 

Cocktails 

Persimmon Bourbon Old-Fashioned
Apple and Gin Autumn Cocktail 
Pomegranate Rum Cocktail 
Ginger Pear Bourbon Cocktail


The scents and tastes of autumn can slowly be added to your home and your cooking while still maintaining that it's summer for a few more weeks. Iced flavored coffees and sweet teas, cocktails and scented candles can begin the delicious transition.