New York City is no stranger to strange smells, but this week, something truly unique—and stinky—has captured everyone’s attention. At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a rare Amorphophallus gigas, better known as a corpse flower, bloomed for the first time on Friday. And yes, it lives up to its name: the plant emits a scent eerily similar to rotting flesh.

This isn’t your average flower. The corpse flower uses its foul odor to attract pollinators like beetles and flies, which are usually drawn to decaying animals. What makes it even more special is how rarely it blooms—only once every three to five years after its first flowering, which can take nearly a decade to happen.

When the garden announced the bloom on social media, New Yorkers dropped everything to catch a whiff. Visitors described the smell as everything from a dead rat to overripe cheese. The experience was more than just olfactory, though—the plant also emits heat, adding another layer to its bizarre charm.

The flower, nicknamed “Smelliot” by the garden’s staff, stands nearly six feet tall and has become an unlikely celebrity. Despite the cold January weather, crowds gathered to snap photos and take in the unique (and pungent) spectacle.

For those who missed it, don’t worry—you’ll have a few years to prepare for the next bloom. In the meantime, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has given New Yorkers something truly unforgettable to talk about.