An apartment is this magical place where people of all cultures and walks of life come together and live under one roof. Walking through the hallway is a journey for the senses. Someone is always cooking something delicious! That’s how I remember my Grandma’s apartment building. It always smelled so awesome. Like spicy food, or homemade cookies. It made me wonder what people were cooking, what their stories were, and who they were having over for dinner. Before moving in to my building, I had this idealogical view of the smells that would waft by my nose each day. But then. The harsh reality hit.
My apartment building smells like butts.
Cigarette butts? Yes. People butts? Double yes! My bathroom smells like whatever is going on in the apartment below me. Sometimes my neighbour enjoys a late night smoke. Sometimes when I take a shower, it smells like bratwurst. And when it rains? Oh the magic of fresh rain! The elevators smell like wet animals. The first floor smells like a skunk. The stairwell smells like bleach and beer. The fourth floor smells like laundry detergent (I went up a floor too far once and smelled it. It was incredible). My floor only smells nice if I’m the one providing the nice smells.
So that’s exactly what I do. I overload my little apartment with delicious smells. I bought essential oils. I take out my garbage regularly. I buy stock in baking soda. I cook elaborate meals. I burn scented candles. I open my windows on nice days. I think really hard about cinnamon buns all in hopes that my neighbours walk by my apartment and wonder what I’m cooking, what my story is and who I’m having over for dinner.
Apartment Living: Making people wonder, one smell at a time.
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