‘Unique’ aroma of roasted chiles could become New Mexico’s official state smell

Every state has an official animal, bird and flower, but New Mexico may soon be the first to name an official state aroma.

And state Sen. William Soules says nothing else will do but the smell of roasted green chiles, the Associated Press reported.

“It’s very unique to our state,” the Las Cruces Democrat said. “I have tried to think of any other state that has a smell or aroma that is that distinctive statewide, and I can’t think of any.”

His bill to designate the odor as the official state scent has the backing of a fifth-grade class in Las Cruces, which first suggested the idea during a classroom visit, Source NM reported.

“I think this will be a fun one,” Soules told The Las Cruces Bulletin. Some of the students spoke at a committee hearing about the bill via Zoom.

But it’s not entirely fun and games. New Mexico produced more than 60% of the U.S. chile pepper crop in 2021, the Associated Press reported.

A legislative analysis of the bill notes that highlighting New Mexico’s chile supremacy may boost tourism, particularly against rival chile producer Colorado.

“Chile is in the hearts and on the plates of all New Mexicans, and the smell of fresh roasting green chile allows us to reminisce on a memory eating or enjoying our beloved signature crop,” Travis Day, executive director of the New Mexico Chile Association, told the Associated Press.

The Senate Indian, Rural, and Cultural Affairs Committee signed off on the proposal Tuesday, Jan. 31, Source NM reported.