The favorite fruit of fall traditions

How’d you like them apples!? Hopefully as much as we do!

These fruity fall treats are already part of many classic autumnal traditions. From caramel/candy apples to apple pie and other baked goods to fun fall activities like bobbing for apples or apple picking, we all know just how a-peel-ing these fruits are. And of course, we couldn’t forget their influence on fragrance. Scentsy’s Fall/Winter 2024 Catalog and 2024 Harvest Collection are filled with fragrances that feature crisp and sweet notes of apple like Johnny Appleseed or the new Apple Spice Season. But there’s much more to apples than meets the nose (and tastebuds). While the ever-popular pumpkin seems to get much more attention during fall, apples have just as much tradition that might change your perspective on this fruity fave.

Bobbing for apples

Fall is apple harvest season so of course there are tons of activities and traditions to choose from that include apples. Bobbing for apples is one of those traditions that many have heard of but might not have ever tried.

While this activity is often portrayed as a fun game for harvest festivals or backyard celebrations, the tradition actually has its roots in romance. Bobbing for apples actually originated as a courting activity among women in Great Britain. The floating apples each represented a potential suitor and the fate of the woman’s relationship depended on whether she was able to successfully bite an apple in her first attempt. If you’ve never tried bobbing for apples yourself, it’s easy to recreate at home with a handful of apples from the grocery store and a large tub or bowl full of water with enough depth to dunk your face into.

Apple carving

Pumpkin fans might just love fall more than most. There are lots of pumpkin-flavored treats and activities to enjoy this time of year like pumpkin pie, carving a jack-o’-lantern or visiting a pumpkin patch. When you think about it, pumpkins and apples have quite a bit in common, especially after the popularization of a recent trend — carving apples in the shape of wrinkled faces or skulls, similar to a jack-o’-lantern. This craft might not take as much physical effort as carving a pumpkin (who doesn’t get their heart rate up from scooping out the pumpkin guts?) but it is much more time consuming. After peeling and carving the apples, soak them in a mixture of lemon juice, salt and water for an hour before drying them in the oven at 200° F or less for a full day. Once you’ve gone through all that trouble, you’ve got a fun, new and spooky decoration, perfect for Halloween.

Tasty treats

With the harvest season comes excess, and that means a lot of unique ways to prepare apple flavored treats. Apple pie is a classic and should be an expectation at any fall gathering worth it’s salt. Many argue for pumpkin pie superiority (or maybe the dark horse, pecan pie) but there is no clear winner in this category. When all else fails, grab a slice of both — with a heavy dollop of whipped cream. While pumpkin spice latte fans are some of the most vocal this season, there’s no denying the cultural impact of hot apple cider on a cold fall night. And if you haven’t tried making your own homemade apple sauce, you’re missing out on something wonderful!

Apples in fragrance

Apples first appeared as a common fragrance note during the medieval era of Arab perfumery. Apples and a few other fruits are actually distant genetic relatives of roses, which could explain the trend of using apple blossoms to achieve a sweet and floral blend in fruity fragrances. Notes of apple often provide a fresh and crisp sweetness to fragrances that make smelling them just as refreshing as eating one. These refreshing undertones often lead to a feeling of cleanliness which is why notes of apple are common as a supporting fragrance among cleaning products.