Researcher Maps Global Smellscapes, Capturing Urban Aromas

Dr. Kate McLean-MacKenzie, a designer and researcher at the University of Kent, is embarking on an ambitious project to document the unique scents of urban environments around the world. Her work, which began over 15 years ago, aims to create an atlas that captures the diverse “smellscapes” of cities, revealing how aromas shape our experiences in these locations.

Uncovering the Invisible

McLean-MacKenzie recognized a significant gap in our ability to communicate sensory experiences, particularly when it comes to smell. While we can easily share visual and auditory moments, the olfactory realm remains largely unexplored. “I realised that there was an enormous gap in the fact that we communicate what we see… but any way of recording and communicating smell was largely missing,” she stated.

To address this, McLean-MacKenzie initiated a series of “smell walks” in various cities. Participants are asked to engage with their surroundings, noting not only the scents they encounter but also their intensity, duration, and emotional associations. This qualitative data is then analyzed to create visual maps along with narratives that reflect the cultural significance of these smells.

Since the project’s inception in 2011, McLean-MacKenzie has mapped over 40 locations, including cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Amsterdam, Verona, Kyiv, Kolkata, and Paris. Each map serves as a snapshot of the city’s olfactory landscape, capturing ephemeral scents that may evolve over time.

The Subjectivity of Smell

One of the primary goals of these smell walks is to assign meaning to scents, allowing them to resonate on a personal level. McLean-MacKenzie shared an example from a participant in New York who described the smell of stale beer on the sidewalk as “the smell of shattered dreams.” Such interpretations illustrate how deeply personal and varied our experiences with smell can be.

The maps created through this research are not merely scientific representations; they serve as vibrant cultural documents. “It’s like an impressionist painting of light. It’s a moment in time and the only way that you’ll get to experience it is by going out and smelling for yourself,” McLean-MacKenzie explained.

Furthermore, these maps could provide a historical record of urban scents. As cities evolve—especially with the rise of electric vehicles—the olfactory experiences may shift significantly. McLean-MacKenzie hopes that her atlas will encourage individuals to engage more fully with their senses during walks, fostering a greater appreciation for the diverse ways people perceive their environments.

Interestingly, McLean-MacKenzie noted that even festival-related scents vary greatly by location. For example, while many associate Christmas with the aromas of mince pies and roasted turkey, in Kolkata, the festive scents include Chhena cake and a range of local delicacies. The perception of cold itself can differ, as 20°C signifies winter for some, contrasting sharply with sub-zero temperatures in other regions.

In an unexpected finding, a participant who documented smells in Antarctica encountered a dead seal, which emitted a surprisingly pleasant, leather-like odor. “Just because something smells doesn’t mean it’s bad, and it’s only there temporarily,” she advised, encouraging individuals to explore their sensory surroundings with an open mind.

Through her innovative approach, Dr. McLean-MacKenzie is not only mapping the world’s smellscapes but also inviting a broader dialogue about the significance of scent in our lives. By embracing the complexities of how we experience smell, she aims to cultivate a deeper understanding and tolerance for the diverse perspectives that shape our urban environments.