Researcher Maps Global ‘Smellscapes’ to Capture Urban Aromas

Dr. Kate McLean-MacKenzie, a designer and researcher at the University of Kent, is on a mission to document the unique scents of cities around the world. Her project, which began over 15 years ago, focuses on creating an atlas that captures the diverse array of urban aromas, referred to as “smellscapes.” This initiative aims to fill a significant gap in how people perceive and record sensory experiences, particularly scent.

The Journey of Mapping Smellscapes

McLean-MacKenzie first became fascinated with the sense of smell when she recognized the lack of ways to communicate this experience. Unlike visual or auditory stimuli, which can easily be shared through photography and sound recordings, smell remains largely unrecorded. This observation spurred her to start mapping smells in various locations, including major cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Amsterdam, Verona, Kyiv, Kolkata, and Paris. Since 2011, her work has expanded to cover a total of 40 locations.

The process involves engaging participants in “smell walks.” During these walks, individuals are asked to document their sensory experiences, noting the types of scents they encounter, their intensity, duration, and the emotional or cultural associations they may evoke. McLean-MacKenzie analyzes this data to create visual maps that reflect the subjective experiences of smell in urban environments.

Understanding Smell in Urban Contexts

McLean-MacKenzie emphasizes that her work goes beyond simply identifying smells. She aims to give meaning to these scents and explore the stories they tell about cities. For example, one participant described the smell of stale beer on a New York sidewalk as “the smell of shattered dreams.” This poetic description illustrates how personal and cultural contexts shape perceptions of scent.

Her maps serve as a historical record of how cities smell at a given moment, providing insight into how these experiences may change over time. For instance, as electric vehicles become more prevalent, the olfactory landscape of urban areas is expected to evolve, potentially altering the way future generations perceive their environments.

McLean-MacKenzie’s work encourages individuals to engage with their surroundings through all their senses. She believes that understanding how others experience scents can foster a greater appreciation for the diversity of human perception. “By engaging with how other people smell spaces in ways that you might not, there’s a level of acceptance, tolerance, and understanding,” she stated.

Interestingly, cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping the scents associated with various festivals and seasons. While many may associate Christmas with the smell of mince pies and turkey, this differs significantly in places like Kolkata, where the aromas of Chhena cake and festive lights prevail. McLean-MacKenzie highlights the importance of recognizing these differences, noting that the smell of cold can vary dramatically between regions.

The experience of scent can also yield unexpected surprises. For instance, a participant documenting smells in Antarctica reported encountering a dead seal that emitted a surprisingly pleasant, leather-like odour. McLean-MacKenzie reflects, “Just because something smells doesn’t mean it’s bad, and it’s only there temporarily. So get over yourself and go and have a whiff and see what it’s like.”

Ultimately, Dr. McLean-MacKenzie’s work seeks to enhance our understanding of urban life through the lens of scent, encouraging a deeper connection to the world around us. Her atlas not only highlights the olfactory richness of cities but also aims to inspire future generations to explore and appreciate the diverse sensory experiences that shape our lives.