Mysterious sweet smell in NYC?

[gerbick]

The mysterious sweet smell that swept over parts of the city more than three years ago returned on Monday night.

The city’s 311 information line was flooded with callers reporting the smell of maple syrup, or something like it, wafting across several neighborhoods, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Management said.

Nearly all of the calls — 35 in just a few hours — came from areas in Manhattan, the spokesman said, although one caller reported smelling the sweet scent across the East River in Queens.

Read more here...

[hanratty21]

Far be it from me to promote the conspiracy theories, but...

The rumors about this always revolved around terrorism prevention/experimentation. The story says that Homeland Security or CIA or whoever, leaks the smell from strategic areas and then track where the reports come in from. While this wouldn't surprise me, it also wouldn't surprise me to find out that Bobby Flay's BBQ'd maple glazed ribs party got a little out of hand...

On a side note, I remember the one in 2005 and there was a guy who posted on the Gothamist: "A Canadian terrorist attack?"

[PAlexC]

Yeah, I've smelled it the past couple of days. Funny, it never happened until AFTER 9/11, so I'm tempted to believe the homeland security theory.

There's also a former AGFA/BASF facility just off of I-80 about 7 miles from the GWB that often had a similar smell coming from it during rush our really strongly, maybe they're releasing it from there, or it's just good old fashioned pollution.

I think last year they blamed it on swamp gas from NJ. To which our fine state responded: "They who smelt it, dealt it."

[pea3698]

It is a sign from the spirit world. The same as the rose smell after an exorcist. Don't try to convince me otherwise. lol

[hurricaneone]

Don't decomposing corpses give off a sweet smell?

Perhaps it's just low tide.

[jAQUAN]

Why on earth would the gov want to know who's likely to report?

[hanratty21]

Why would they not?

[jAQUAN]

Because its of little consequence?

[hanratty21]

I 100% disagree. They frequently run tests like this to simulate what terror attack damages would be. Not only would it give you some insight into any collateral damage, but give you an idea what your best plan of response would be. If you know that by dropping a maple syrup bomb in Times Square no one smells it in Queens for 45 minutes, you can plan responses accordingly.

They've done stuff like this in Tokyo for years.

[jAQUAN]

Meh, maybe that (if true) would be a good thing. I'm just disenchanted with all things public service and sounds ultimately like more Brewters Millions type spending.

[silverx2]

Also if you see that everyone from a certain area is responding, you can pin point where the terrorists are. they are likely not going to communicate with officials in any way

[hanratty21]

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dai...its-new-j.html

The culprit? A fragrance and flavor factory called Frutarom, located in Hudson County, NJ.

The smell, which isn't a health threat, appears to be generated when the company is processing Fenugreek seeds, which is also known as "Greek hay" and is often used in the preparation of pickles, curry powder and paste

[Red Kittie Kat]

of all the smells in NYC .. I'm surprised this got anyones attention

[PAlexC]

In Jersey City, Chilltown Represent!