OPINION: The pumpkin spice craze has gone too far

Fall is a fan favorite. The leaves shift into vibrant oranges, reds and purples. A breeze picks up and it gives you a chance to wear your favorite sweaters. It’s a gorgeous time of year – think apple cider, pumpkin patches and sprinkling rain. Even Pinterest could never capture the beauty of a Moscow fall.   

As the weather cools off, some people opt for herbal teas. Others go for the staple of autumn: pumpkin spice lattes. It’s tradition to get that first sip of the season in your favorite Gilmore Girl-inspired sweater.  

Recently though, pumpkin spice seems to be a looming force more than an additional quirk to the annual aesthetic. Starbucks releases its famous pumpkin spice lattes earlier each year, before the weather or coffee even gets a chance to cool off.   

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, the renowned drink was announced for return. The earliest arrival of the PSL yet; and in 2023, it launched only 2 days later on Aug. 24. Noticing the trends in increasing timelines for the PSL announcement, it’s safe to say its charm may be lost, becoming a year-round drink instead of its limited availability.   

The pumpkin spice latte paved the way for other fall-themed products. Candles, soaps and home decor are the most common of these. However, some companies took the flavor and ran wild with it. Native, the personal hygiene company, has created a pumpkin spice-scented deodorant. If you’d like your pits to smell like sticky cinnamon, go for it.  

Even snack brands are in the market for twisting this spice into a gut-wrencher. Red Vines has a pumpkin spice licorice for you to try. You can even get your fall fix in chip form – Pringles, the well-known potato chip corporation, has a pumpkin spice-flavored edition to their usual lineup.  

Worried about your fall fashion not living up to the Instagram girlies? Cosmetics and skincare brand BKIND has pumpkin spice colored nail polish that can be the final touch needed for your look.   

If you’re big on working out, there’s something for you also. Bulletproof, a protein and supplement producer, developed a pumpkin spice-flavored protein powder for you and all the gym bros.   

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying that pumpkin muffin or PSL once the leaves start to turn. Being basic doesn’t exist, only the concept of an oversaturated pumpkin crazed, scarf donning, cashmere knitting person does. It’s all fed by marketing tactics stemming from the simple love of a nice hot latte on a rainy morning.  

The magic of pumpkin spice will never lose its traditional charm. Yet, it’s the corporate businesses concocting pointless products for the mass ‘White Girl Fall’ market that are ruining the simple joys of a nice coffee.