What Is That Smell?

Summer in Brooklyn brings a whole range of smells—from blooming flowers and ripe fruit to hot sidewalks and smelly trash. Let's explore how our noses work and how smell connects to science.

Where to Smell:
- Flower beds or sidewalk gardens
- Food carts and local markets
- Near garbage bins (quickly!)
- Mulch piles or compost spots
- Ocean breeze and seaweed at the beach

What to Notice:
- Where do you smell it from—near or far?
- Is it sweet, sour, spicy, stinky, fresh?
- Does it remind you of something else?
- Is the smell stronger in the heat or when it rains?

Do you have a favorite smell? What is it?