Arizona's unofficial state aroma is creosote

• The responses were nearly unanimous. Almost every reader said it should be the smell of creosote in the desert rain.
• A few people suggested mesquite trees in bloom or the general smell of the desert.
• A couple others agreed with Jessica's take that Arizona's official smell should be orange blossoms, but no one shared Jeremy's opinion it should be carne asada.

Zoom in: Creosote bushes, or Larrea tridentata, grow in the arid climate of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, making them a unique desert phenomenon.

• Its leaves contain chemicals that deter animals. But those oils also become active when it rains, releasing the distinct fragrance we all know and love.
• If you don't want to wait for the rare desert rains to get a whiff, there's plenty of creosote oil products, from lotions to beard oils, you can buy.