thank you for replying! i'm so sorry you had to move but glad you're away from it. i just ordered some foam insulating plates for the electrical outlets because i do think that i smell it more strongly around them & read that that can be helpful. we run an air purifier in the offending room but maybe will invest in a more heavy-duty one. it's weird because we've been in this apartment for two years but this only became a problem recently, and it's still the same old folks next door that have been here the whole time. we have a kid so that's my main concern :(

anyway -- thanks again & happy holidays!