As the days get shorter, the wind gets cooler, and leaves start falling from the trees, we all know what that means…that pumpkin spice season is here! 

This time of year, it is impossible to escape the pumpkin spice frenzy. You can find pumpkin spice everything: pumpkin drinks, baked goods, cereal, flavored syrups, protein bars, popcorn, mochi, and many other foods. Pumpkin spice has even spread to foods where you wouldn’t even expect it, such as cheese and hummus. 

But the Pumpkin spice craze didn’t stop at foods; you can also find pumpkin deodorant, air fresheners, candles, shampoo, and even cat litter. But do we really need pumpkin spice everything? 

The over-saturation of pumpkin everything in the market takes away the coziness that pumpkin spice once provided. Instead of thinking of fall and its comfort, one thinks of all that is available to buy. The scent alone can trigger a sense of over-stimulation in some people; with so many things being the same flavor/scent, it becomes bland, basic, and boring. And let’s not forget all the capitalism. Companies jump at any opportunity to sell consumers anything with the words “pumpkin spice” on it. This leads to cheaply made decor that can only be used for around two months. Then it ultimately ends up in landfills. Overconsumption is slowly being integrated into our everyday lives and considered normal when it really isn’t. 

That’s not to say that pumpkin spice is completely ruined and you shouldn’t buy it at all, but to contemplate: do I really need this item in pumpkin spice?

Maybe not.