Aroma of Tacoma - Wikipedia
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I saw this article at BoingBoing, and had to look it up.

From Wikipedia:

The Aroma of Tacoma, also known as the Tacoma Aroma, is a putrid and unpleasant odor associated with Tacoma, Washington, United States.[1] The smell has been described as similar to the odor of rotten eggs.[2] The odor is not noticeable throughout the city, but is rather concentrated in the Tacoma tideflats and is frequently smelled by motorists traveling that section of Interstate 5.[2]

Crossposted from til@lemmy.world: https://lemmus.org/post/23788650

  • Doug Holland@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    2 days ago

    Didn’t know there was still a scent of it anywhere, but when I was a kid (50+ years ago) Tacoma indeed flat-out stank. Even driving through, you’d roll up your windows and close the vents, and it was all over Tacoma, not just in some tiny enclaves of stink.

  • phutatorius@lemmy.zipEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    I remember it well in the 70s, even in town. I recall the theory at the time was that the sulfur smell was from the pulp mills that were in operation at the time. But those are now gone, and the aroma remains, though it’s less intense and more localized now.

  • velma@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    7·
    3 days ago

    It’s been quite humorous seeing the internet react to the Aroma of Tacoma.

    Hasn’t actually been stinky for quite a number of years now! But if it keeps Tacoma feared, spread the word it still does lol

    There was once a weed dispensary here that adopted the name “Aroma of Tacoma”. Very fitting!

  • lessthanluigiEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    I have driven through Tacoma many times, and I have never smelt this