What’s the secret behind the early winter scent enveloping Lucknow?

October brings a delightful change to Lucknow, with a host of festivals, a refreshing shift in weather. The evening skies become even more stunning, filling our feeds with breathtaking Instagram stories, (you might've witnessed a surge in Instagram stories featuring panoramic vistas).

As you stroll through the streets of Lucknow in this transition period, you might notice a sweet and pleasant aroma wafting through the air. And if you can relate, and are curious to find out the reason behind it, this article is for you!

The distinctive aroma emanates from a type of tree known as Astonia Scholaris. It blooms clusters of greenish-white flowers from October to December. In Hindi, it goes by the name Chitvan or Saptparni, which translates to 'seven-leaved' since each twig typically has only seven to eight leaves. This tree can be found in many parts of India and can also be found in several tropical regions of Asia.

There's a unique quality to its fragrance, a hint of sweetness which is very very long-lasting, which is why you can feel it lingering in the air. As evening descends, the entire city is enveloped in the enigmatic aroma of this tree. Perhaps it's the peculiar and potent nature of this scent that has earned the variety its nickname - 'Devil Tree.'

Btw, there are many beliefs around this tree. While the mature tree looks eerie, especially because of the not so pretty looking leaves, many believe that this tree has some magical powers! It is also believed that standing under a fully-bloomed tree for more than 15 minutes can cause a trance-like state. Well, with that powerful scent, they might not be wrong actually?

You might relate to the fact that certain frangrances and odours, pleasant or not, strike certain memories which become associated with them. For us, the smell when combined with the 'Siharan' of winter onset, not just reminds us of the arrival of the season itself, but comes as a bell of the festivals lying during the month, especially Diwali!