The Maple Syrup Smell... is Back for 2009!

View Larger Map

In the past hour, we've received five emails alerting us to the alarming news: The sticky sweet scent of maple syrup has made its 2009 debut! So far, the smell appears to concentrated on the Upper West Side, but please let us know if you've suddenly gotten hungry for pancakes because the scent of breakfast has been so overpowering. Email us at tips(at)gothamist(dot)com.

Previous maple syrup incidents: October 2005, March 2006, November 2006, November 2007, and May 2008. Plus a November 2007 cameo on 30 Rock.

Update: We added two more smellings (one at West 80th & Amsterdam, the other on East 82nd between Park and Lexington). In the past, a reader said it smelled like anti-freeze "which, if you ever spilled while adding to your radiator, has a nasty maple syrup smell."

Update (11:15 p.m.): More smellings added to the map (including ones in Queens); one reader was at her friend's apartment when the smell struck, "We thought at first it was her neighbors doing something kinky, or that it was a new form of bioterrorism!"

Another reader wondered, "Is this the first time it's not on a Thursday night? And why does it always hit at about this time of night?" We're not sure why it seems to strike at night, but as for the days of the week, the incidents on 10/28/05, 11/9/06, 11/8/07 and 5/29/08 were Thursdays, but the 3/13/06 incident was a Monday.

Update (11:34 p.m.): More smellings, map revised to include some readers' comments, including this gem: "In Tudor City, 43rd and 1st. I thought it was my own sweet bo at first!"

Update (midnight): Thanks for all the tips—keep them coming. We've added some in Soho, Midtown, and Brooklyn. In fact, one reader writes, "Yesterday I mentioned to my wife that I smelled the Maple Syrup Smell. We were at the Red Hook Ikea." We're not sure if that's the maple syrup canary in the pancake coal mine, but it does not correspond with the wind pattern hypothesis, which makes most sense to us.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 5, 2009 10:24 PM

Comments [rss]

thefacts

Jen, Get real. The "Magic Salt" theory is bunk. These smells occurred in warmer weather in years past (May/October). It is clear from the wind direction and industrial facilities that it is coming from NJ, not from a NYDS salt shed.

Two decades ago a report noted the higher cancer rates of people living in the Battery Park City/TriBeca area, likely from the toxic chemicals wafting over from Elizabeth, NJ.

lebirdee

It's a city filled with people doing the Master Cleanse!

sj

YOU MORONS. the smell is coming from a Cliffside Park factory, not the "watershed." I know because my childhood best friend's father worked there.

One51n420

LOL...this brought back some funny memories...

I can guarantee you the odor originates somewhere in Northern NJ...my best guess is from the Meadowlands/Hackensack River watershed. That area is all industrial and has a long history of pollution. Who knows what new factory has been spewing this funk into the air sporadically over the past few years. With winds normally blowing from the W/NW, we're all in the direct path.

Anyway, I smelled it all last night driving back from the city..and even in my condo when I got home. It's a sweet smell that has you craving for a warm fluffy stack..but it was almost nauseating last night. Whoever wants to come crack this case, come to Jersey...I'll show ya where to look!

Now where did I hide that pancake mix?? ;-P

alysonwonderland

arf arf did you mean to post this NYT article from today?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/nyregion/06sweet.html

"Officials ruled the odor harmless but never solved the mystery of its origin." Hmmmm

thefacts

If it is originating in Jersey, why are there no reports of the smell from Jersey?

keith

don't sniff a gift smell in the face. where i grew up, it smelled like sulfur before raining. i love the mysterious maple syrup smell!

WorksInDUMBO

That map is just hilarious

longacre

I smelled it in the Times Sq/Hells Kitchen area last night.

pudeljung

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/us/03maple.html?scp=3&sq=maple&st=cse

hellogreg

+1 for Greenpoint last night. @ Green & Franklin.

I actually thought it might be leftover from the weekend.

pudeljung

Maybe the cold front sweeping down across the Northeast is wafting some actual canadian Maple sap down upon us?

C'mon, THINK people! We're smart we can do this!

pickycapellit

smelled it last night on 71st street and 1st Ave around 10pm.

TKaisen

I, too, came in to confirm the awesomeness of the icons.

nycbrent

I noticed it last night at 9:30 PM when I got off the C train at 96th and Columbus - it actually seemed a little stronger downstairs, but I could certainly still smell it at street level (it didn't "click" in my head that THE SMELL was back until I was above-ground, although I did notice it getting off the train).

I experienced most of the other "smellings" over the past couple years, as well, in Central Park and on the UES in the 90s.

r1b2

What the hell are you talking about?

captainblackout

I smelled it last night at around 10PM on the J train from Jamaica Center.

valeriob

This morning I ate two Eggo waffles with Grade B Maple syrup. Thank you New York City for this wonderful yearly waft of Butterworthiness.

blackcotton

That smell is coming from the New Salt Substitute about to be used on the streets by the Sanitation Dept. Salt has become to expensive, so they are trying this stuff which is Salt mixed with a chemical that smells like Maple Syrup.

It was on the news in November.

Bogii99

I smelled it last night starting around 11pm, when i opened my window, on 65th and west end avenue.. I wish i smelled it now-because that would mean breakfast is here..