The Scented Kitchen: Bringing Fall Home with Pumpkin Spice & Pumpkin Scones

So as not to start another edition of The Scented Kitchen by complaining about the weather, I decided I was going to focus on cooler temperatures.

That would be much easier if the heat index weren’t still over 100° here in southwest Missouri at the end of August!

Then I kept hearing a phrase on the local news that caught my attention: “Meteorological Fall.” Apparently, it begins September 1.

Bring it on, I thought.

Unfortunately, I quickly learned that Meteorological Fall is simply the way meteorologists divide the year into seasons for tracking temperature cycles. What I was really looking forward to was Astronomical Fall, which begins around September 22.

Either way, those crisp Autumn temperatures aren't arriving nearly fast enough for me.

So, I came up with a workaround.

If It Doesn't Feel Like Fall Outside, Make It Fall Inside

I may not be able to change the temperature outside, but I can certainly change the feeling inside my house with fragrance.

For my little escape from summer, I chose the Belle Aroma® Arrows Sandstone Plugables® Medallion Plug-in Diffuser and paired it with Belle Aroma® Pumpkin Spice Plugables® Fragrance Oil Refills.

And just like that, Fall arrived.

Pumpkin Spice fills the room with the warm aroma of creamy pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and sweet vanilla—the kind of fragrance that makes you think of changing leaves, pumpkin patches, cozy kitchens, and something wonderful baking in the oven.

The Arrows Sandstone Medallion is especially pretty for Fall. Its warm sandstone tones and crossed-arrow design add a rustic touch that works beautifully with farmhouse, cabin, western, lodge, and modern rustic décor.

Simply insert your favorite Belle Aroma® fragrance refill, plug it in, and enjoy continuous, heat-activated fragrance without candles, flames, smoke, or melted wax.

If I can't have actual Fall temperatures outside, I'm perfectly happy pretending inside!

And once my house smelled like pumpkin spice, there was really only one thing left to do.

Bake something pumpkin.

Pumpkin Season Begins in the Kitchen

One of my favorite things about Fall—besides cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and pumpkin patches—is the urge to bake once the air turns crisp.

While perusing Pinterest, I came across a pumpkin scone recipe I was dying to try. Perfect timing, because the sweet pie pumpkins David planted for me are ready for harvesting. I'm excited to roast them for baking and even try my hand at canning some for winter.

But first: scones!

If you're a fan of Starbucks Pumpkin Scones, this copycat recipe from Damn Delicious is a delicious way to get into the Fall spirit—even when the thermometer refuses to cooperate.

Starbucks Pumpkin Scones Copycat Recipe

Serves 8

Scones

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Glaze

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk

Spiced Glaze

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Combine flour, brown sugar, spices, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. In another bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, milk, egg, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough forms.
4. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3–4 times. Roll into an 8-inch circle about 1 inch thick and cut into 8 wedges.
5. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool for about 10 minutes. Whisk together the ingredients for each glaze separately, then spoon the plain glaze over the scones and drizzle with the spiced glaze. Allow to set before serving.

Bring a Little Fall Home

There's something especially comforting about a kitchen filled with pumpkin and warm spices while fresh pumpkin scones cool on the counter.

That's what The Scented Kitchen is all about—using fragrance, food, and those simple moments at home to make an ordinary day feel a little more special.

The Belle Aroma® Arrows Sandstone Plugables® Medallion Diffuser paired with Pumpkin Spice Plugables® Fragrance Oil Refills makes it easy to create that cozy Fall feeling without waiting for Mother Nature to cooperate.

Because sometimes you don't have to wait for the season to change.

You can simply change the scent.

-Lori Herr for The Gift of Scent