There’s nothing like a fresh, biting cold day in the UK – with sunny skies and icy frost, they make the dreary, rainy months worth it.
Cold air can feel refreshing and clean, especially when coupled with snowy scenes.
Three quarters of people love the feeling of breathing in crisp winter air, a study has revealed.
Plus, 74 per cent said time spent outdoors in winter boosts their mental wellbeing – and nearly two thirds of Brits say winter air smells fresher and cleaner than any other season.
It turns out, there’s a scientific reason behind why cold air smells so good.
Jim N. R. Dale, ex-Royal Navy meteorologist and founder of British Weather Services, explained the science behind winter’s signature freshness.
He said: ‘Warmer air allows the molecules within the space to move more rapidly, expand, and in effect, become more intense, indeed far more noticeable – like the aroma of milk heating on the stove.’
But cold air dampens manmade odours by slowing the movement of scent molecules and trapping more unpleasant smells – similar to the way that you can smell your garden bins less in the colder months than in the summer.
Three quarters of people love the feeling of breathing in crisp winter air, a study has revealed
He says the reduced moisture in cold air tends to dilute manmade smells, but enhances natural and semi-natural ones, such as the scent of pine trees and wood fires.
Winter weather events including snow and frost can also affect how we experience scents.
Jim says that cold air naturally reduces our olfactory receptors (molecules that enable us to have a sense of smell), so we tend to detect fewer smells in the cold air.
Jim also says snow and frost on the ground can create a ‘blanket’ on ground surfaces and their odours, which essentially ‘suffocates’ them.
Jim adds: ‘For example, a farmyard full of manure might well be less discernible given a reasonable snow cover, with the snow acting as a natural purifier.
‘The same could be said of frost as it freezes and essentially slows down and traps the more obnoxious odour molecules.’
Jim says that the colder months tend to bring crisper and drier air from a continental or Arctic airflow, which makes it feel fresher to breathe.
He adds: ‘There is a degree of “give and take” but in general, think of those clearer & colder airstreams as being fresher and purer, because they originate from where the air is purest.’
Plus, 74 per cent said time spent outdoors in winter boosts their mental wellbeing – and nearly two thirds of Brits say winter air smells fresher and cleaner than any other season
It turns out, there’s a scientific reason behind why cold air smells so good
The study, by Santa’s Lapland, revealed the popularity of cold, crisp winter weather.
Gillian Ray, Santa’s Lapland area manager, said: ‘At a time of year when our moods and energy can naturally be lower due to shorter daylight hours in the UK, taking time to let the feeling of cold air fill your lungs, and focusing on what you feel when outdoors can create moments that stay with you long after the season ends.
‘For travellers, this could mean skipping the typical “winter sun” escapes and embracing colder destinations, such as Lapland.
‘Exploring colder climates like Lapland isn’t just about looking at beautiful snowscapes. It’s just as much about making the most of what the scents, sensations, and magic of the Christmas season have to offer.’
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Expert explains why cold air smells so good as Brits look to book winter breaks
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