When noticing the perfume of osmanthus outside, we recognize autumn has come. Because there are numerous trees of this flower everywhere in Japan. Everywhere. Few people notice the tree planted as it is unobtrusive and inconspicuous in the season without flowers. Therefore this increases the impact of flowering more. “Oh, I didn’t know this was osmanthus!” When the end of summer, it is still hot on the daytime of sunny days, but it gets cooler in the morning and evening, the time in which people begin to feel the end of summer and this flower blooms. And people notice it by its scent, not by its appearance. When being outside or opening the window, the strong sweet aroma suddenly washes over you. After that, they try to look for this flower. “Where has this scent come from? …Oh, I found it! That’s the one which gives aroma!” It looks like a kind of treasure hunt. At this very moment, they know autumn has come. This year 2022, Oct.2nd is the first day of bloom. The second bloom is around Oct.15th in Tokyo. Sometimes there are 2 chances of blooming. The aroma lasts around a week.
The flower is very very small and humble. It blooms inside leaves as if trying to hide, not pop out. I don’t know such a reserved flower. If you are lucky, you can experience it.
You can see this flower on every street in Japan.