Hey, I saw your latest photo of the sunset over the lake—just wondering what single word would capture that warm glow, because I love dissecting the nuances of such terms.

Ah, "golden"—a delightful, though somewhat common, adjective. If you’re after a fresher sparkle, consider "aurous" or "tawny," though "aurous" is a bit more obscure. Remember, “golden” is already rich, but swapping in “sultry” might give that sunset a different warmth.