The foul smells of Guilford High School

Aryam Hussien

Students gag in distress outside of a foul smelling bathroom. (photo illustration)

   There are many different smells lurking in the halls of Guilford High School. Any Guilford student can expect an odd smell wafting through their nose several times throughout the school day. There are tales of fart spray, overused cleaning products, and repulsive B.O. being smelt in the halls, along with many other stinks. Each school year there is a most notable scent.

    There have even been occurrences of the fabled “fart spray” near the fieldhouse hallway and by the locker rooms. It made an occurrence in 2019 in the freshman hallway and had people plugging their noses and complaining. This year, however, it was so strong it had people yelling and running. It is a mystery how janitorial staff eliminate this potent smell, but whatever the method we are all grateful because it is arguably one of the worst scents of the school. 

   B.O. in the hallways and near the locker rooms is like hitting a brick wall. The snack bar even went as far as to sell deodorant but unfortunately, odors of body musk are still as strong as ever. 

    The girl’s locker room also has the occasional smell of sewage. The “rich” fragrance of the devil’s lettuce is also quite common in the locker rooms but can also be found wafting through the halls and certain bathrooms. A particularly popular location is the bathrooms by the cafeteria. 

   The lovely cafeteria is also a host of many unique odors. When food is soft, wet, and sloppy there is more room for the pungent stink particles to escape! Fortunately spicy chicken sandwiches and pizza days smell a lot better. They are quite inviting. Foods like mac n cheese which don’t produce a strong smell are also pretty tolerable.

   Students have reported smelling immense amounts of rubbing alcohol in the hallways throughout the year. Perhaps this is a new cleaning technique or a science experiment, but who is to say?

   To conclude this article we’ll end on a positive note after all of the many unpleasant smells. Students use a variety of different perfumes, lotions, and colognes. Some are certainly better than others and sometimes they are used in excess, but once and awhile someone’s perfume is so incredible you just have to stop and ask where they bought it. 

   These were the most prominent scents of the school this year and also historically. We can only imagine or perhaps dread the aromas that will come in future years.