I live in the Arboretum/Northwest Hills area and do a long walk every morning. There are a few spots that I walk past every day where something, which I believe is some wild plant, gives an aroma that reminds me of the incense from a catholic mass, I think maybe frankincense? I've stopped probably a dozen times and gone sniffing around, crushing leaves and twigs, and have been unable to identify which plant it is. I'm certain that its some plant because there are at least two other places in the neighborhood probably a half mile apart where the same scent is present although more faintly.
I'm worried if I go sniffing around in peoples' yards that I'll wind up in an institution or on youtube, but its driving me nuts that I've been smelling whatever this is for several years and I still can't determine what it is. For what its worth, the spot where I can smell it every day most strongly is here:
We're near Spicewood Springs Road and I thought maybe Spicewood referred to a plant with a kind of spice aroma, but I couldn't find anything obvious with a bunch of googling.
Anyway apologies for the weird question, its just driving me crazy and the scent is kind of lovely and I'd love to know what it is.
by fbe0aa536fc349cbdc45
3 Comments
My guess would be that several of your neighbors have rosemary and Russian sage featured in their landscaping. They both grow well here and produce aromas similar to what you describe. Russian sage especially can smell very nice, like lavender almost.
Chinese Privet is blooming now and it has a VERY strong smell. It’s invasive and everywhere
I don’t know what catholic mass incense smells like though,
How about Osmanthus ?