The Smells Of A Southeast Minnesota Summer

It's been said that our sense of smell is the most evocative of all our senses. And now that it's summer in Minnesota (well, unofficially, anyway), there are a few smells occurring now that only come our way this time of year.

There's a new survey out (check it out HERE) that runs down just what our favorite smells are-- and ones that are decidedly NOT our favorites. (Spoiler alert: Freshly baked bread topped the list, while the distinct and not-at-all pleasant odor of an overfilled garbage can came out on the bottom.)

But that survey only deals with generic-type smells, not necessarily smells we associate with summer. When it comes to a Minnesota summer, I think the best smell might be the smell of a charcoal grill, right after it's been lit. It screams summer, and immediately makes me think of a spending some time up at the lake with a cold beer and a burger, brat or big 'ol rib-eye steak that will soon be cooking away, waiting for me to enjoy it.

Another great smell of a Minnesota summer is the smell of freshly-cut grass. That one takes me right back to when I was 14 and mowed lawns all summer as a way to make some extra money. The smell of a gasoline-powered lawn mower when you first start it is also a pretty good summer smell.

Of course, there's also the distinct smell of sunscreen that also really seems to say 'summer,' as well as the distinct smell of chlorine from a pool. And, let's not forget about the smell of a bonfire later in the evening, although that smell might be a little more associated with autumn instead of summer.

What's your favorite smell that let's you know it's summer?