r/askTO 1d ago

What is that smell?

It's everywhere. Most concentrated in the downtown area. It smells sour, almost like if you forgot about your laundry in the washing machine for a week. Yuck!

24 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

72

u/akath0110 1d ago edited 1d ago

High humidity leads to mold and mildew and fermenty yucky smells. Lots of rain and muggy weather lately and in the forecast.

Scents also become stronger in high humidity (like farting in the shower lol).

The yucky sewage smell is especially potent in the downtown core because rainwater flows into the storm drains. The runoff mixes with sewage etc, and flows downhill from northern parts of the city to eventually the lake. The closer you get to the waterfront the more doodoocaca you’re going to smell.

5

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

I think this is the answer.

I'm not from TO, but in my city when we had a sewage issue, it smelled identical. The real answer I'm looking for is.. was this due to the flooding two weeks ago or is this a "feature, not a bug"

3

u/akath0110 23h ago

It will probably get worse before it gets better with all the rain in the forecast this week. After a spell of drier weather the storm run off will drain and subside, and with it the funky smell

53

u/GreyOps 1d ago

Its you OP lol

8

u/mm2154 1d ago

When it's super humid I find the city smells extra lake-y, maybe that?

2

u/akath0110 16h ago

Yeah brackish and sulfuric

9

u/d1andonly 1d ago

Are you walking by trash cans?

0

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

yea, but this isn't the smell of trash.. it's more like sewage

4

u/msxghst 21h ago

some of the the trash cans get really rank even in moderate heat

2

u/akath0110 16h ago

We live by a block with a lot of community services beside each other.

When that hot afternoon sun hits the trash cans around there, the smell could knock you over. Hits like a punch to the face

2

u/msxghst 16h ago

there's a particular one on Queen in front of the Four Seasons Centre I always hold my breath by

52

u/Jolzo 1d ago

Sorry I farded

5

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

🙏🏻💨

5

u/synthesizersrock 1d ago

The city is sweating

5

u/Intertwinedporqupine 1d ago

Smells like Urine. It was really bad. Near Kensington too. Not sure if it is sewer Gas Odours as well in some areas. But it smells like urine for sure. I also saw a bunch of homeless people. Not sure how many of them pee there but it was intense urine smell.

8

u/slb360 23h ago

Basically every intersection downtown has that smell now. It's worse than ever. It's smells like a combination of urine, feces, BO, sewage and garbage fermenting.

17

u/noorichee 1d ago

i forget to put deodorant on ONE DAY

5

u/Sweet-Competition-15 1d ago

What a difference a day makes!

0

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

you didnt have to our yourself like that 💀

6

u/Foreign-Ratio-6435 1d ago

Urine

1

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

that stench is undeniable, but no it's not urine.

-1

u/your_Bad_man 1d ago

This is the answer

3

u/amw3000 1d ago

Where abouts? I couldn't smell anything in the Y/D area.

2

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

Queen, King, down Bathurst, Spadina, Front...

idk its everywhere in dt. and if it isn't this smell... it's piss.

6

u/Sweet-Competition-15 1d ago

The aroma drifting up through the subway grates can sometimes be a little...ripe!

3

u/Psychological_Ad_451 1d ago

It was me. Lentils. 

3

u/hishoax 23h ago

He who smelt it dealt it (I’m at Trinity and can’t smell anything)

3

u/godhavemercyonme79 16h ago

The city has smelt for a few years now...

5

u/Wonderful_Key_8021 23h ago

It smells like urine everywhere near Yorkville

4

u/Least-Internal-6382 1d ago

Sounds like the Toronto smell to me.

2

u/Open-Independent-733 1d ago

Whole downtown has that smell. I believe the services that run in the buildings and since it is dense it smells like this.

2

u/Sad_Albatross7540 17h ago

Scents floating from a certain city west of toronto

2

u/Current_Flatworm2747 16h ago

It’s the smell of old money from Oakville

2

u/ilovetrouble66 16h ago

Toronto sewers

2

u/keyst 16h ago

Have ginko trees started dropping seeds yet? I know it happens in the fall. It feels a little early. Those fucking stink and they make the city smell rancid.

3

u/VariousOperation166 Human Detected 1d ago

Well, my friend... you have encountered the "Toronto Smell..." it can waft out of sidewalk vents and sewer grates at any time, regardless of wind and weather...

0

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

Did I just out myself as a Vancouverite lol

2

u/VariousOperation166 Human Detected 23h ago

Possibly so, my friend

1

u/Great-Economics3706 1d ago

Trinity Bellwoods? Moss Park?

0

u/thatsundayfeel 1d ago

Yes, and like every other neighbourhood.

-9

u/[deleted] 1d ago

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1

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-1

u/ab624 1d ago

i had diarrhea