Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas to capture how cities smell.
The researcher at the University of Kent says scent is the forgotten sense.
While images and sounds are easily shared, smell remains difficult to record.
That gap inspired her to begin mapping urban “smellscapes” 15 years ago.
McLean-MacKenzie asks volunteers to take guided “smell walks” through cities.
Participants note what they smell, how strong it is, and what it makes them feel.
The data is turned into visual maps and cultural stories about each place.
The project is subjective, focusing on human interpretation and memory.
So far, the atlas includes 40 locations, from Glasgow to Kolkata.
Some descriptions are poetic, including one scent called “the smell of shattered dreams”.
McLean-MacKenzie says the maps capture fleeting moments in time.
They may become historical records as cities change.
She hopes the atlas encourages people to engage more deeply with their surroundings.
Her message is simple: slow down, be curious, and take a sniff.
