| From condensation, garden watering and construction. And it smells of creamy flowers and funny fumes. You know, the scent of rain falling on a hot, summer day... that fresh dirt smell... In San Jose, you sometimes imbibe in this mild desert-dust condensation aroma when it hasn't rained for weeks or months. Any exposed earth seems to exude this fragrance, particularly during the warmer months.
On selected days, sweet-sour-salty Pacific air wafts over the Santa Cruz Mountains or off the Bay, then mingles with the desert dust to create an as-yet unmarketed scent. When sweet, the aroma can perk you up. When sour, it can furrow the brows like the first insecticide spraying of the week. And you've gotten to like that... On unselected days, especially the hot ones, sit back, enjoy the comfort of dry air, savour the smog, and wish you were earning a great living as an allergy doctor. |