The Smell of Snow
A frosty morning captured on a neighbouring farm a few years ago
Thursday afternoon…
The air smells like snow today — not surprising, according to the latest weather forecast which predicts up to 4″ of the white stuff before it changes to rain. Do you know that smell? When the air actually feels heavier as you breathe it — not wet, as it does before and after a rain storm, but heavy with frost and crystals and sharp cold. It’s a distinctly different smell that I can never put a finger on, one that is best described as feeling like “bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens”, perhaps? One that conjures up memories of red toboggans and Christmas mornings. A smell that, if you close your eyes, can whisk you off to childhood for one fleeting moment. That smell is in the air today.
Curious about such things, I googled “the smell of snow” and came up with a few interesting, scientific tidbits. On AllExperts.com, this question and answer by meteorological expert, Donald Rosenthal:
Question
I can smell approaching snow on the wind. Why does crystallized water have a smell? I grew up in Maryland, spent two years in Colorado, and currently live in Northern California, and in each of these areas, the approaching snow has virtually the same odor . . . But what causes it?
Answer
You have a good sense of smell!
Some of the chemicals that can be in snow are:
Nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, nitric acid, dimethyl sulphide and sulphate and methanesulphonate. All of these have distinctive odors and the combination is probably what you smell.
Interesting, isn’t it? But truly, I think “the smell of snow” comes from our memories, like the smell of a new box of Crayons can transport me back to first grade with one inhalation. Or the way the first wisps of woodsmoke on a frosty evening signal the start of colder weather. Or how baking bread produces an aroma that incites contentment.
As darkness falls, the air smells like snow — copper kettley, woolen mitteny, red toboggany snow.
_______
Friday morning…
I guess my sniffer wasn’t far off. :-)
I’ve been accused of being slightly mad when I’ve said it smells like it’s going to snow. Nice to know I’m in good company. Fortunately today it just smells like a nice fall day.
Barbarapc said this on 6 November 2009 at 12:59 pm
It’s bitter cold here today, and when OFB came in from walking Shiloh this morning, I said, “You smell like cold.” “Say what?!” He just didn’t get it, but I could smell the cold on him, just like smelling snow…
ourfriendben said this on 6 November 2009 at 1:28 pm
I love the smell and I love your photo. We don’t get that much snow but I love the icy smell in the air in winter.
mothernaturesgarden said this on 6 November 2009 at 1:38 pm
We get very little in this corner of north west England but I can smell it before it arrives, much to my husband’s disbelief :)
Anna said this on 6 November 2009 at 1:46 pm
I love the smell, and the feeling of the air, and the look of the sky as snow approaches. It is the most magical of all weathers to me. That feeling when I wake up in the morning and see a different sort of light coming in the windows (I don’t have curtains). Ah, winter!
Nan said this on 6 November 2009 at 3:07 pm
Nancy, this image took me back to my childhood. It is magical. Thank you!
Tatyana said this on 6 November 2009 at 4:17 pm
I believe one can smell snow!! That being said, I am not ready to smell it!
Janet said this on 6 November 2009 at 5:49 pm
Nancy, I love that crisp cold smell! It’s delicious and always makes me feel like smiling and often takes me back in time! gail
gailae said this on 6 November 2009 at 6:37 pm
Oh I know exactly what smell you are talking about! And thankfully I haven’t smelled it yet this year.
loree/danger garden said this on 6 November 2009 at 8:49 pm
Having those chemicals in snow is kind of scary! Snow does have a distinct smell though, things smell cleaner, crisp, I’m not sure how to describe it really.
Dave@TheHomeGarden said this on 6 November 2009 at 10:33 pm
Clear and crisp in North Carolina tonight, but both my daughter and I said ‘it smells like snow’ – even if others say snow doesn’t have a smell. Thanks for sharing your thoughts (and research).
Lori Bond-Howe said this on 7 November 2009 at 12:31 am
This is one of my favorite reasons for following blogs from other climates. I get to experience things that do not occur here too often through your photos and words.
The snow is just beautiful! Now, I have been in the snow numerous times, but do not recall that it has a distinctive smell. I will have to check it out next I go up to the snow.
Noelle (azplantlady) said this on 7 November 2009 at 3:28 am
Yes Nancy, Yes!
I can smell snow too – although, as we don’t get a lot of snow here if someone says to me “do you think its going to snow?” they do look quite puzzled when I sniff the air and say, “No it doesn’t smell as if its going to snow”
K
Karen - An Artist's Garden said this on 7 November 2009 at 7:21 am
I don’t know that I can smell snow ~ or maybe I just try to “block” it! lol I certainly know the look of the sky when it’s going to snow tho and I’m never ready….
Kathleen said this on 7 November 2009 at 12:12 pm
Beautiful photos of your first snow. None in our area yet, in fact it is close to 14 Celsius today, a gorgeous fall day for being outside.
Crafty Gardener said this on 8 November 2009 at 2:52 pm
A lovely memory-provoking essay and comments – I had no idea that there were people who didn’t know that cold and snow have smells.
Pomona Belvedere said this on 9 November 2009 at 2:35 am
A perfectly delightful post, dear. Scents bring up such wonderful memories. In addition to snow in the air – which we rarely smell here – you mention some of my favorites, such as woodsmoke. Another is my mom’s homemade fudge – nobody’s fudge smells like hers. When it’s in the air I’m transported to a simpler, more innocent time, happy in my mom’s kitchen as she gives me samples. Thanks, dear, for the memories.
Debi said this on 9 November 2009 at 4:36 pm
Interesting post, Nancy, and a beautiful photo. I do believe I can smell snow in the air also or maybe only wishful thinking :) But (sigh) I find it hard to believe that it’s that time of year again, especially since we have been blessed these past 2 days with Indian Summer.
joey said this on 10 November 2009 at 3:25 am
I also believe I can smell snow (and rain, for that matter). Snow to me has a low, metallic smell… like sleigh bells? Perhaps a wine expert would have language to describe it. I’m always amazed at what they can detect in a glass of wine. Perhaps your warm mitteny scent!
Helen at Toronto Gardens said this on 10 November 2009 at 10:13 am
I know that smell! Rain has a distinctive fragrance, too. And there’s a different look to snow clouds than rain clouds, although they both simply hold moisture. Isn’t it amazing how the human brain can detect such subtleties?
Kylee from Our Little Acre said this on 10 November 2009 at 3:19 pm