Consider the word “hickory.” Unless you’re an arborist or another kind of tree expert, the place where you’re most likely to see the word “hickory” in your daily life is in the meat aisle at the grocery store. Hickory-smoked turkey, hickory-smoked bacon, hickory-smoked ham--all are familiar grocery products for everyday Atlanta shoppers. And there’s a reason why the major food retailers choose to use hickory smoke to flavor their meats: the smoke that comes from hickory wood is widely recognized as the best-smelling smoke produced by any type of firewood. Even if you’re not cooking food, the aroma of hickory is unforgettable.
When you are thinking about your firewood options, aroma might not be the first selection factor that comes to mind, but it actually makes sense to prioritize it in your firewood selection process. Read on for a list of reasons why you should think about aroma when choosing a firewood, as well as a guide for comparing the different types of wood on today’s market--in which kiln dried hickory rises to the top.
Reasons Why Aroma Is Important in the Firewood Selection Process
If you’re not yet convinced that aroma should be a major consideration in your firewood selection process, consider the following:
- Good-smelling smoke ensures that you’ll enjoy your time around the firepit. Everyone knows that bad smells can be distracting. Whether you’re in a crowded room or in the great outdoors, a bad smell can keep you from focusing and make you wish you were anywhere else. When it comes down to it, there are certain parts of your life where you won’t be able to control the smells you’re exposed to--but your night around the firepit isn’t one of them. You can choose kiln dried hickory firewood, which has a pleasant aroma that allows you to keep your mind on good food, good conversation, or just another good chance to spend a night outside.
- There is a close association between aroma and memory. Decades of scientific research show that there is a clear neurological basis for an association between aroma and memory. As Dr. Regina M. Sullivan at the New York University School of Medicine wrote it in a 2015 scientific review paper, “odors are powerful stimuli that can evoke emotional states.” In fact, a 2016 research study published by a scientist at Brown University Medical School even indicates that odor-evoked memory experiences can improve both psychological and physiological health. Therefore, when you’re making positive memories with your friends and family around the firepit, it’s worth making the effort to ensure that those memories are associated with a good smell--like the smell of kiln dried hickory firewood.
- It will make you a better neighbor. On a particularly breezy night, there is a good chance that the smoke from your firepit will blow over into your neighbor’s yard. Of course, there’s nothing you can do about that, but your neighbor might not be happy to wake up to bad-smelling smoke. If you’re interested in maintaining good neighborly relations and avoiding passive-aggressive comments from across the other side of the fence, it just makes sense to choose the best-smelling firewood on the market. In fact, kiln dried hickory firewood smells so good that your neighbors will probably thank you!
- You won’t have to worry about the smell of smoke on your clothes. In general, the smoke from kiln dried firewood (including hickory) doesn’t stick to your clothes, so it’s not as much of a concern as it is with bad-smelling firewood, like seasoned firewood or store-bought firewood. However, if you spend hours next to a fire, your shirt might bear a mild smell after you go inside--but you don’t have to worry about leaving it in the laundry room overnight, since whatever aroma remains won’t be bothersome when you go to wash it in the morning, and it will dissipate before you know it.
Hickory: The Best-Smelling Firewood on the Market
When comparing hickory to seasoned firewood and store-bought wood, there’s no contest--hickory clearly outstrips the field. Most people also prefer the smell of hickory to oak. However, it is important to note that not all forms of hickory firewood are created equal. One option on the market today is oversized hickory firewood, and although it smells slightly better than seasoned or store-bought firewood, it doesn’t hold a candle to kiln dried firewood. Therefore, if you’ve been swayed by the argument in favor of choosing the firewood with the best aroma, kiln dried hickory firewood is the top recommendation.
Unfortunately, the tech geniuses of the internet haven’t found a way to convey the aroma of kiln dried hickory firewood through photos (yet), but we still want to see how much fun you’re having with your friends and family around the firepit this summer--so remember to tag us on Instagram! And if you have any questions about kiln-dried hickory firewood (or any of our other products), contact us today!
