That Smell I Love
Anyone who knows me knows Christmas doesn’t start for me until Santa shows up at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. When today’s prompt was to write a love poem or an anti-love poem, I went with a smell I love, which is fresh pine. Like the majority of people today, I’ve gone the artificial tree route, but I do really miss the scent of a real tree. After stopping by Bath & Bodyworks this afternoon, this is the poem that came to me. All that being said, my Christmas tree is NOT up yet, but since we’re only a couple of days away from Thanksgiving, I don’t mind thinking about Christmas a little.
I can remember
walking along city streets
till we found an evergreen forest,
surrounded by colored lights
inviting us in.
The glorious fragrance of pine
mingled with roasting chestnuts,
as we walked up and down,
up and down,
until we found the perfect tree.
Then we carried it home,
the verdant scent of Christmas
in our noses.
The was nothing quite like it.
Today I walked up and down aisles
of candles, lotions, soaps, and air fresheners,
all trying to reproduce those wonderful smells
that bring the holidays to life,
to remind me of what it was like
to walk through that forest of cut pine.
But we live in an imitation world,
and while imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery,
it can never match the original
that created the memories.
So I will sit with my artificial tree,
light my balsam candle,
close my eyes,
and remember.
~Elise Skidmore ©2025
Oh, I love this one! Yes, we have had an artificial tree for decades now, but I remember fondly the family trips to get a real tree when I was a kid. It was magical.
Thanks, Linda. It truly was a magical time, and I think those family moments are what made it so. Plus, I think the way the world has pushed forward the holidays as a way to make money, convincing people that it’s okay to rush through all of them to get to the big spending payoff, i.e., Christmas, has taken away a lot of that magic. But hey, I’ve never said I wasn’t old-fashioned. To this day, there’s nothing quite the same as breathing in the pine as you walk through the live displays. It’s why I still buy a live wreath for my door, so at least I get it when I come into the house. 🙂
I love that smell also – but I have never had a real Christmas Tree. It truly is an inviting smell when you walk into a home with a real tree. My Mom said her and my dad had one when they were first married and went to a fake tree after that. Growing up in the mountains, my Mom always had a real tree, but she loved putting the tree up early, so I guess that is why she never had a real one again. I enjoy getting the tree up early as well. Yes my tree is up – but not decorated yet. That will be this upcoming weekend. Thanks for a lovely image of an old-time Christmas.
Thank you so much, Regina!
We had real trees til I was about 10, and then after I got married, we had real trees again for many, many years. Finally, we gave in and go the artificial one, but I miss the fresh one. As you may recall, I’m not someone who puts Christmas up early. Probably this weekend, the decorations will come out, but the tree usually waits till a couple of weeks before Christmas. (I have moved it up since we started using the artificial one.)
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this poem and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
You write beautifully Elise. You create the images we all love and remember. Happy Holidays 🎄
Thank you so much, Regina. It mean a lot to hear that. I wish you a very happy holiday season too!