Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Maple Syrup Smell Moves Around


By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 30, 2009

Modified Jan 30, 2009


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Chung

Published Jan 30, 2009

Modified Jan 30, 2009


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

The mysterious maple syrup smell made its first 2009 appearance early in the month, with dozens of smellings spanning Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. And now, as if to say good bye to January, we've had two smelling clusters: One on Tuesday night, concentrated around Hell's Kitchen and the eastern part of NJ, and the other last night, mostly in upper Manhattan and even in the Bronx. So... Yonkers, watch your back, the Maple Syrup Smell is coming for you?! Click on the map below for what our readers told us:

View Larger Map

We've also had some individual maple syrup scenting in the past few weeks—one day, it's from someone in a Midtown skyscraper, another day it's in Brooklyn or it's at a downtown office building. Which leads us to suspect that it's a combination of chemical cleaning agents and/or a salt substitute used by the Department of Sanitation to melt snow, as a commenter mentioned. We're open to additional conspiracy theories (UFOs?), so let us know. And we'll also call the DEP again tomorrow.

Past smellings: October 2005, March 2006, November 2006, November 2007, May 2008 and January 5, 2009. Plus a November 2007 cameo on 30 Rock.

Tagged

maple syrup

maple syrup smell

nyc


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate

The Democratic incumbent repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump. The Republican challenger largely avoided bringing up New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

By

Jon Campbell

Published Oct 13, 2026 at 9:05 p.m. ET


Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says

Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.

By

Giulia Heyward

News

Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says

Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.

By

Giulia Heyward


Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work

By

Ramsey Khalifeh

and

Carol Chen

ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants

By

Mike Hayes

Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets

By

Walter Wuthmann


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .