15 Smells Every New Yorker Will Be (More Than) Familiar With

15 Smells Every New Yorker Will Be (More Than) Familiar With
(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Ingrid Longauerová
2/29/2016
Updated:
2/29/2016

1. Trash Bags 

Aka, the most famous of all the smells in the Big Apple. In an unofficial, (very) improvised poll, all of the New Yorkers asked indicated the smell of trash as a most significant one. Those are facts. And then there are tons of real life experiences, especially on a hot summer day. The trick: take a breath three steps after passing the trash bags.

(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

2. Fresh Laundry

Every now and then after passing trash bags, your nose will be pleased by the smell of fresh laundry detergent. Too bad it mostly happens in residential areas only.

3. Coffee

All the time. Everywhere. Aren’t New Yorkers running on a coffee? The beautiful smell of coffee seems to accompany you anywhere you go. Whether it’s a chain coffee shop, a small independent cafe, or a coffee truck, you literally can not walk a block without getting an olfactory-caffeine fix.

(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)
(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

4. Subway Air

I know what you might be thinking, but let’s just call it “a warm breeze” and ignore all the other smells you can find on the subway. 

(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)

5. Honey Roasted Peanuts

Sometimes when strolling the Central Park area, a mysterious sweet aroma grabs your attention. In tracking the smell, you'll be surprised its source is a tiny truck lit by a single light bulb and full of roasted peanuts. 

(Petr Svab/Epoch Times)
(Petr Svab/Epoch Times)

6. ‘Chicken Over Rice’ From a Food Truck

This one’s more frequent but less pleasant---depending on your taste buds and the time of day. Halal trucks are an easy and cheap way of keeping your belly full anytime. 

(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)
(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

7.  Perfume on Fifth Ave.

Posh stores and luxurious fashion all live together on Fifth Ave---together with the heavy perfumes and colognes of their shoppers and owners.

8. Rain

(Epoch Times)
(Epoch Times)

One of the best smells.

9.  Wintery Air

Ever noticed that cold air has a smell? The concrete jungle of New York City makes it even more specific. It is sharp and tickles you right in the nose. 

(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)
(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

10. Melting Concrete in the Summer

It is another story during the summer when the burning sun is melting everything within reach, including you. 

(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)
(Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

11. Nail Polish Salons

There’s a lot of them in the city. The smell makes you think twice about stepping in, though.

12. Unknown Sea Creatures in Chinatown Markets

Chinatown is a chapter all of its own. Reconsider shopping there with a full stomach. 

(Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)
(Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

13. Old buildings in Greenwich Village

This is the smell of history, so much needed in this modern city. 

(Ingrid Longauer/Epoch Times)
(Ingrid Longauer/Epoch Times)

14. Oxygen in Central Park 

Available in very limited amounts. Enough said. 

(Edward Dai/Epoch Times)
(Edward Dai/Epoch Times)

15. Rotting Fish in Brooklyn

Tossed out by sushi restaurants and baking in the sun---and it’s a lunch time in New York City.

Ingrid Longauerová is a long time employee at the Epoch Media Group. She started working with The Epoch Times as a freelance journalist in 2007 before coming to New York and work in the Web Production department. She is currently a senior graphic designer for the Elite Magazine, a premier luxury lifestyle magazine for affluent Chinese in America produced by the EMG.
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