What’s That Smell?
Midwood students crowd into the third floor hallways, one of the biggest smell complaint areas, according to students. Photo: Lorenzo Spence
By BECCA GREENBERG and ELISE BADMAEV
After squeezing into the cattle pen that is the third floor during passing, you are presented with a first class ticket to a wave of heat and an aroma reminiscent of the MTA on a rainy day. You and your friends search the halls to locate the source of this scent and are shocked when you realize that the smell that bombarded you? It’s your fellow classmates.
Midwood’s tight quarters, strong heating system, and limited ventilation can be a fearsome combination.
“When I walk into the locker room, I get a headache because the heat is so strong and the stench gets worse and it makes my nostrils wanna burn off,” said Chloë Petit ‘24.
What are the main culprits behind this noxious nuisance? Twenty-seven of the 50 students we asked mentioned the basement bathrooms, the 3rd floor intersection coming from the annex, and the locker rooms.
“The locker room is so smelly, and sometimes people choose not to wear deodorant, which makes it worse,” said Daria Temir Bulat ‘24. “This stinky situation needs to be fixed ASAP because the onion body odor is not the vibe.”
We can all agree that Midwood’s locker rooms are not a blossoming flower. Sabastian Senior ‘23 said, “The bathroom smells travel the hallways. The locker rooms smell like moist fart and the boys locker room is hot, heavy, and armpit.”
“I haven't stepped foot into that establishment [the boy’s locker room] since last semester,” said Meir Kalderon ‘24, “but from what I remember it smelled like something was definitely growing in there, probably some mushrooms or fungi.”
How do we fix it? What do we have to change? Will this smell ever go away? Are we just dramatic teenagers? Or are we just under-deodorized?
Many Hornets were willing to chime in with suggestions.
“I love using Old Spice,” said Kalderon. “I know it is a controversial deodorant but it literally keeps you from smelling like garbage. My personal favorites are Fiji and Alpine. I also use Sol de Janiero’s new scent as a body mist. It is a must have. It keeps you smelling fresh and clean and like a coconut girlie in the summer.”
By far the most popular deodorant among the girls was Dove Women’s. “I use the Dove cucumber deodorant in the aerosol version, and I’d like to think I smell good,” said Ruby O’Callaghan ‘25.
Anita Nam ‘24 said, “I use Dove Women’s lavender scented and I really wish other people would too.”
Petit said that Dove “has a really strong smell and I think it stops me from sweating.”
As for the guys, Mr. Lawrence Kolotkin, the school’s COSA, and Ethan Lager ‘24 recommended Old Spice Fresh or Dove Men deodorant.
For those concerned about harmful chemicals, the brand Native makes a variety of scents with natural ingredients. “I use vanilla coconut,” said Darany Sin ‘25. “It’s aluminum-free and it smells really good.”
If you are a nervous test taker and often come out of exams feeling like a damp cloth, Suave might be the deodorant for you. “I use the coconut kiss invisible solid anti-staining, and I think it helps with stress sweat,” said Kayleigh Mack ‘25.
Seeing as how deodorant isn’t free, maybe the school could step in to resolve this crisis? “Nobody uses the school planner, and maybe if we gave out deodorant instead then people would have better access to hygiene products,” said Sophie Gurevich ‘24. “Some people might not have the luxury to buy those products.”
We can all agree that we want to smell good, and with the help of everyone maintaining their hygiene, together we can fill our crowded hallways with the essence of fresh daisies rather than musty armpits.