Introducing Drift’s September Scent: Apple Orchard 

As the sun's glinting summer rays fade, the crisp, cool air of September begins to take the edge off sweltering August temperatures. Many turn to harvesting and preparing for the winter ahead, but there are a few months left before damp mornings give way to flecks of snow. Yet there’s no denying the presence of change in the air, heavy with anticipation. 

Drift’s September scent — Apple Orchard — combines several seasonal elements to achieve a comforting blend that’s sure to pique your memory and play upon your senses. Read on to find out more about our September scent of the month, and sign up for our Scent of the Month Club to receive luxurious and exclusive scents sent straight to your doorstep. There’s no telling what scents we’ll highlight for October! 

Wander Through Bountiful Apple Orchards in September 

In many ways, September is a transitional month. Summer days turn to autumn nights, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas seem so far away but arrive quicker than most of us anticipate. Yet, in the 30 days that separate the end of summer from the beginning of the holiday season, there’s plenty of time to embrace the many fond memories we have of this time of year. 

As we reminisce, we often recall experiences that draw upon our five senses. Apple Orchard — Drift’s September Scent of the Month — touches upon a few of these, drawing our attention to the smell of homemade apple pie, the taste of comforting mulled wine, or the sight of holiday decorations signaling the seasonal change ahead. Autumn leaves, birchwood, cinnamon, and crisp apple notes effortlessly blend in an exclusive scent you have to experience to appreciate. 

Autumn Leaves

Piles of autumn leaves make for the best hiding places, no matter how old you get. Although your arm muscles may ache as you rake countless leaves into a mound, the crinkling, crunchy mass feels almost springy as you jump in. The reds, yellows, golds, and brown color leaves will soon be ground into fine dust, giving way to new growth, come next spring. 

Could you distinguish leaves that have fallen during autumn from those high up in the trees during spring and summer — just by their smell? Many have almost a floral note during the hotter months of the year, but those that fall as temperatures dip smell something like a cross between old books, freshly sharpened pencils, and the wood of the trees themselves. The autumn leaves in our premium monthly scent provide only a tiny snapshot into the lives of trees, only eclipsed in their majesty by the roving mountains they often call home. 

Birchwood

Certain landscape elements signal a visual seasonal change, a key indicator of the passing of time for those observant enough to notice. Birchwood, like aspen — for which it’s often confused — changes as the year draws to a close, exchanging green limbs for a forest floor covered in golds, yellows, and oranges. The earthy scent of damp foliage accompanies a sense of anticipation as birchwood prepares for brisk winter conditions that lie not too far ahead. 

Within the September Scent, birchwood plays a critical grounding role, infusing the crisp apple, cinnamon, and autumn leaves with a woody scent tinged with a certain sweetness only the smell of tree bark can offer. Birchwood trees may not bear fruit, but they are harbingers of the coming season, extending and withdrawing with the rise and decline in temperatures. In many ways, humans resemble birchwood — and almost all trees, for that matter — in drawing inward to prepare for winter, conserving energy, and focusing on intentional movements. 

Cinnamon

One of the many ways we as humans transition to the next season is by adjusting our diets. September is often the month many of us go from the ice-cold sweet treats of summer to nourishing and warming foods and drinks. Cinnamon, among several other spices, mirrors the amber-brown foliage we get used to seeing as the leaves change. 

Cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon offer a full-bodied experience — not quite sickeningly sweet but not bitter or tangy. Instead, cinnamon can turn a sweet drink into something with depth that also tantalizes particular taste buds. The spicy cinnamon in our September scent represents a strong element that also accentuates and enhances the crisp sweetness of juicy apples, whether you like them baked into a pie, distilled into a refreshing cider, or glazed in decadent caramel. 

Crisp Apple

When it comes to fruits, an orange is typically just an orange, and a banana really doesn’t differ from another banana. Yet, to count all the varieties of apples would require countless walks down bountiful orchard lanes. Apples can also mirror the human experience, the outer skin displaying variegated colors while hiding a rich center and commanding core that gives freely to those willing to wait for the growth of a single seed. 

Upon the grounding aroma of autumn leaves and birchwood, crisp apple, and cinnamon effuse a bounty all their own in Drift’s signature September scent. Inhaling the fragrance can evoke your craving for some crunchy apple slices or cause you to break out the recipe books to try your hand at a good ol’ fashioned apple pie. No matter how you spend this upcoming holiday season, set the tone with Drift’s Apple Orchard scent of the month. 

The Warm and Mellow Scents of September

As you watch hot air balloons soar across the skies in the cold September air, reminisce about seasons and times past with the exclusive Drift September scent. Available for Drift’s Wood, Stone, and Metal car fresheners, September’s Apple Orchard makes for a sophisticated addition to your vehicle, regardless of how you celebrate as the year comes to a close. 

You can also join our Scent of the Month Club to receive a new custom scent—with free shipping!—in October and every month after that. As always, Drift’s Scent of the Month premium scents are free from harsh chemicals, pet- and kid-friendly, and easily installed in your vehicle to provide a lasting scent for up to 30 days. Pick up your September Scent of the Month car freshener today!