Describe a smell or sound that instantly tells you a particular season has arrived.

A natural way to answer

It's the sound of leaves crunching underfoot in autumn. The moment that crisp, dry rustle hits me, I know the season has turned. It's a small thing, but it never fails to catch me off guard.

Key phrases to use

• hits me — suddenly reaches and strongly affects your senses or emotions“The smell of cut grass hits me the moment I open the door.”
• takes me back — makes you strongly remember and almost relive an earlier time“That sound takes me back to childhood summers.”
• catch me off guard — surprise you when you are not expecting or prepared for it“The sudden chill caught me off guard this morning.”
• stops me in my tracks — makes you suddenly stop completely because something is so striking“The view stopped me in my tracks.”