The Smell of Winter

January. The time of the year when an intoxicating mesmerising sweet smell waft into the house.

Alstonia scholaris. Locally called the Pulai tree, it makes the air becomes thick with the flowers’ pungent odour.

Some residents may feel nauseous. The odour can trigger headaches.

Pingtung City, Taiwan, the Works Dept said they receive a large number of complaints during the tree’s flowering. They say that if the city government cannot find a solution, they will demand compensation from the central government.

Some of the trees are close to classrooms. The odor can severely affect students in class. The Pingtung county government have to cut down the trees and replant with other less offending species.

This tiny petal does pack a punch.