December 9, 2005
Smell Ya Later: The Maple Syrup Scent Returns
The sweet, cloying smell of a maple syrup-like substance hits the newspapers today. Most of the reported smell-incidents occured above 96th Street (does uptown have clearer air, therefore more opportunity to smell smells?): Newsday found out that most calls to 311 just described something sweet in the air. One of our readers was directed by 311 to call 911, and later saw firetrucks around a smell-point! The Department of Environmental Protection even used hazmat equipment to check the air, according to the Daily News. And the NY Times offered dynamics of the smell - maybe Eggos or pancakes with maple syrup, caramel, or a freshly baked pie, or Bit-O-Honey candy bars, were suggestions from smellwitnesses. Sadly, we were not a smellwitness, due to the cold weather and dry heat in buildings. Maybe next time!
As for Gothamist and our Wayfaring map of where the smell was noticed? It tracks most locations in Manhattan, with a few in Brooklyn and Queens, and you can still add your own points. Please note that we added the huge maple sugar candy to the map just for effect - we have not actually seen maple sugar candy that big floating in the East River. But this reminds us that in the olden days, when maple sugar was tapped, people would pour hot maple syrup into the snow to make candy. Really - we read it in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods.
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Uptown has dirtier air (bus depots, etc.), hence the higher asthma rate.
I smelled it at NYU (Mercer and 4th St.) yesterday afternoon, too.
Faint smell of it in Maspeth, Queens, in the late afternoon.. around 4pm.
It gave me the notion to make pankcakes for dinner.
Has anyone suggested that the smell is rotting garbage? I've smelled that on hot summer garbage nights.
I was crossing Park Avenue at 46th Street at lunch yesterday and my friend and I smelled it bigtime right there.
The strong odor here on the upper west side continues. But that's only because the vile shitstink emanating from my upstairs neighbor's crapper has leaked out through the bathroom ventillation duct and caused massive asphyxiation in the nabe. No one is safe. Not even you Aunt Jemima.
I smelled pretty strong in Hell's Kitchen this morning.
er, I should say I smelled IT very strong. I smell ok, for the record.
Jen Chung, quoted in the Times!!! You go, girl!!
Not many are aware of this, but there's an IHOP on 137th St. and ACP Blvd in Central Harlem. It's the only one in Manhattan. I bet you the smell is somehow connected to their current, limited-time-only "Sweet Caramel Combos" special: http://data.gointranet.com/cgi-bin/unitloc/ihop/locator.cgi?cpage=main.html&cu=rmanning&cl=4783.
Just kidding... sort of.
Sorry, this link works: http://www.ihop.com/pics/caramelcombos.jpg
God, you people complain when it smells bad, you complain when it smells good. I can't figure it out!
This may sound strange-- or it might give some insight-- but I've encountered this strong maple syrup smell in my gym's locker room (on West 73rd). Honest.
Smelled like bacon and syrup at Main Street and 6th, across from the Red Fox Grill. 45202
I am living in Denmark, and I have read about this syrup scent. Does anyone know where it comes from, is it a media stunt or is it a marketing stunt? What do you think?
I am living in Denmark, and I have read about this syrup scent. Does anyone know where it comes from, is it a media stunt or is it a marketing stunt? What do you think?
With the arrival of spring and the concurrent decrease in air pressure, Field Office Research will begin our maple syrup odor experiments once again in sections of New York City. We intend to go public with a series of press releases this year, as unfortunately, our intentions have been questioned to the point of absurdity.
www.fieldofficeresearch.com