Living in close quarters has consequences that you have to accept before moving in. Certainly there are abuses that are cause for eviction, but what you suggest -- keeping ALL smells and sounds from reaching other tenants -- is simply impossible.
>>I have never lived in an apartment building in which it was possible to keep all smells, especially cooking odors, within my apartment walls.
Try opening a window. Use a fan to direct the air out of the window. Too cold? Cook something else.
Also, understand smoke odor stays around years after the smoke is gone. Kimshe, chitlins, menudo, fish -- these odors dissipate.
>>There is always a fellow tenant with a sensitive nose who can smell things.
I would say a consensus could be reached over food. Smoke is another category..
>>but what you suggest -- keeping ALL smells and sounds from reaching other tenants -- is simply impossible.
No it's not. Be considerate and don't cook smelly foods, or open windows, etc.. It's impossible if you simply insist on forcing your smells on others..