The Scent of Summer in the Bay

What I’m enjoying during these lazy days.

Aug 15, 2025

It’s been an unusually cool summer this year here in the San Francisco Bay Area with average temperatures hovering around 62F/17C. What was it that Mark Twain allegedly famously once said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Ah yes, that’s definitely true for the City - there’s a noticeable uptick in “I love SF” sweatshirts worn by tourists who mistakenly believe all of California is hot in the summer. But where I live, a little further south of the City, it’s usually at least 10 degrees warmer. Not this year.

I’m not complaining, mind you, because I recognize that most of the country, if not the entire Northern Hemisphere, is experiencing suffocating heat waves right now. Are we still denying climate change is here? I’m just wearing a few more layers than usual.

I’ve noticed the weather’s effect most on the fruits & vegetables my husband and I try to grow this time of year. The plants are struggling a bit, growing more slowly, straining to take in every bit of the sun’s warm rays. By August we usually have plenty of ripe tomatoes, peppers, berries, and cucumbers, but this year the abundance is less, and the pace of ripeness is slower. I’m sensing a theme here, no?

Strawberries, pepper, green tomatoes on the vine, and blueberries - all slowly growing in the garden. — Some of our summer fruits and vegetables slowly growing.

So, given this snail-like pace of life lately, I thought I’d share what that means aromatically: my favorite smells from foods and drinks I’ve made, scent experiences I’ve had, and virtual olfactory escapes I’ve taken. Just click the title link for details.

AROMAS & FLAVORS:

Watermelon Agua Fresca - I’m obsessed with this drink! While eating copious amounts of watermelon in summer is a given in our house, we’ve been drinking it more this year. The flavor of sweet melon, mixed with the tartness of lime, and a hint of agave nectar pack a mouthwatering punch that I can’t get enough of. Oh, and the pineapple version is delicióso too!

Summer Salad - The one thing that has been growing well is our lettuce, which delights me to no end because there’s nothing better than freshly picked spinach, arugula, romaine and crisphead - and yes, they have a gorgeous subtle scent, unlike the store bought varieties you find. I love to add whatever happens to be ripe in the garden: strawberries, blueberries, some herbs, and one tomato so far 😊. Oh, and after watching local Bay Area legend Alice Waters on the Netflix show Chef’s Table Legends, I started making the Chez Panisse Green Goddess dressing, which has been the perfect flavor-enhancing addition.

Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love to bake and, with the cooler temperatures lately, I’ve had no hesitation cranking up the oven. I recently stumbled upon a fresh twist on the classic Toll House chocolate chip cookie: it uses rye flour, which adds a deeper, richer flavor. The secret is that you toast the rye flour first - a step that releases an incredible nutty, hay-like aroma. Honestly, it’s an olfactory experience all its own. Needless to say, I’ve already made three batches, and each one disappears within a day. If you love chocolate chip cookies, this is next level!

Homemade Corn Tortillas - Grilling is always a part of the summer ritual, but this year we’re integrating Mexican cuisine more (I’m clearly inspired by my Spring trip to Oaxaca!). I’ve started to make my own corn tortillas and what a game changer that’s been! The smell when making them is pure roasted corn: warm, sweet, salty, and slightly smoky. It’s a scent that feels nostalgic, conjuring memories of Chicago summers eating farm-fresh grilled corn on the cob - in patty form. You can put anything in these tortillas and it’ll elevate your taco game. You do need a tortilla press, but I promise it’s so worth it! I’m going to try to make other flatbreads, like roti, soon.

EXPERIENCES:

“Chanel” corpse flower blooming at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

One of the smelliest experiences I had this summer was witnessing the blooming of “Chanel”, a stinky corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. The corpse flower is the largest unbranched inflorescence (many tiny flowers acting as one) in the plant kingdom and only blooms once every 3-5 years for just 2 days. I missed the last bloom in 2022 and was so happy to finally have the experience.

Honestly, I thought the smell would be stronger, and more disgusting, but really it was oddly familiar (maybe because of my German roots?). The space smelled of cooked cabbage, stinky feet, and just-unpacked ripe limburger cheese. While that might sound awful, the smell wasn’t penetrating. I did go in the evening when the flower is meant to emit more scent to lure the carrion beetles and flies, but it wasn’t full-on yet. I suspect she waits until all humans are gone and sends signals in the dark of night. Makes more sense.

I’ve seen, on social media, that there are corpse flowers all over the world blooming this time of year. Check out your local botanical garden or conservatory because maybe you can experience this interesting plant scent too.

ESCAPES:

I spend most of the year reading non-fiction, so I made a concerted effort to escape into the fictional world this summer. And what a joy it’s been. I was utterly captivated by one of my Summer Reading List books called Smell by Radhika Jha, which weaves so many elements of smell into one gripping read. The author drenches the story with rich sensory descriptors that completely immerse you in the characters’ world. I was left pinned to my hammock for hours at a time.

I also read the newly-released novel Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella, which centers around a bespoke perfume that changes everything for a young woman living in New York City. It was just the spicy, fun, engaging olfactory read I needed to escape from our troubled world. Easter egg: I’ve interviewed the author, so stay tuned for the podcast episode coming in September.

Otherwise, I’m watching a lot of K-Drama on Netflix these days, which, to my delight, have a surprising number of smell references in them: Crash Landing on You, The Glory, and Vincenzo are ones to check out. For the ultimate olfactory film, watch Oscar-winning Parasite, if you haven’t already. It was rated #1 in the New York Times Readers’ 100 Top Movies of the 21st Century I think the Koreans are much more connected to their sense of smell than we are. These shows have been a great escape.

What olfactory experiences are you having this summer/winter?

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