Welcome back, Strands fans! Today’s NYT Strands puzzle, Game #173, offers a fragrant challenge that’ll have you sniffing out the answers. The theme for today’s puzzle is inspired by scents and aromas, focusing on those smells that our noses are naturally drawn to.
Theme Overview: The Nose Knows
Today’s theme, “The Nose Knows,” is all about fragrances and the aromatic elements that we encounter in our daily lives. Whether it’s the calming scent of lavender or the refreshing smell of lemon, this puzzle invites you to think about the different fragrances that make up our sensory world.
Hints for Today’s Puzzle:
If you’re having trouble with today’s puzzle, here are a couple of hints to guide you:
- Hint #1: Think of tall coniferous trees known for their distinct, fragrant wood.
- Hint #2: Consider an aromatic plant with needle-like leaves and bluish-purple flowers.
These hints should help you pinpoint the words related to today’s fragrant theme.
Today’s Spangram: COMMONSCENTS
The Spangram for today’s puzzle, which ties the theme together, is “COMMONSCENTS.” This word is a playful combination of “common sense” and “scents,” reflecting both the idea of practical knowledge and the theme of fragrances.
Today’s Themed Words:
Here are the other words you need to find to complete today’s puzzle:
- MUSK
- ROSE
- CEDAR
- LEMON
- LAVENDER
- SANDALWOOD
These words represent various scents, from the musky notes often found in perfumes to the fresh, citrusy aroma of lemon.
Reflecting on the Puzzle:
Today’s puzzle might have been a bit tricky, especially with words like SANDALWOOD and CEDAR that might not immediately come to mind. The Spangram COMMONSCENTS was particularly challenging, especially with its pun on practical knowledge and fragrance. Once you uncovered this key word, the rest of the puzzle likely fell into place.
Conclusion:
As you finish today’s NYT Strands puzzle, take a moment to appreciate the clever use of scents and fragrances in today’s theme. Whether today’s challenge was easy or required some extra thought, the satisfaction of solving it is what counts. Be sure to check back tomorrow for another engaging puzzle with a fresh theme and set of words to discover.