Like it or not, Pumpkin Spice Season is upon us Fayetteville!
As declared by Starbucks, who have released their iconic fall flavors to grocery stores already, and Dunkin Donuts dropping their pumpkin laden menu on August 17th .
What makes pumpkin spice so popular? According to a study from inverse.com “… the reason this drink has a cult following may have just as much to do with its actual taste as with the nostalgia we’ve cultivated around it,” Sarah Cormiea told Inverse. “When it comes to memory, scent is one of the most powerful triggers. It’s especially powerful when it’s confined to a period of time.
“We know that when you go back to your grandma’s house or something and you’re like ‘ah smells like grandma’s house’ that can remind you of all my childhood summers there,” Cormiea explains. “But if you visit grandma every day you don’t get that intense memory experience.”
As a result, smelling a familiar scent can be a strong trigger for a memory — especially if it’s a scent from childhood. This connection can weaken if we’re over-exposed to a smell but works particularly well for scents — like a pumpkin spice latte — that are familiar but seasonal or limited.
That being said, the pumpkin spice craze can go to far. We’ve put together a list for all you Fayetteville folks looking for the most extra pumpkin spice items of this season.
