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Witnesses often claim that before an apparition appears, the air becomes thick with the scent of burnt sugar and vanilla. Children, in particular, are said to be the primary witnesses, claiming to have seen a "sweet-smelling soldier" who smiles at them before fading into the mist. Some versions of the tale suggest that finding a small, wrapped caramel in an unexpected place is a sign that the soldier is watching over a household. soldatul caramea