University of Kent researcher Kate McLean-Mackenzie leads “smell walks” in various cities, where participants focus on their olfactory experiences. She believes that places should be perceived not only visually but also through our sense of smell. McLean-Mackenzie has spent 15 years documenting the scents of 40 towns and cities worldwide for her upcoming book, “Atlas of Scents and Smells.”
She creates “smellscapes,” analogous to visual landscapes, using data collected during smell walks. These smellscapes represent the olfactory environment of a particular location. For instance, Antarctica’s smellscape includes the odor of dead seals and the machinery at the Rothera Research Station. In Kyiv, Ukraine, the scent is a mix of pine forest, river, and seasonal elements like moss and greenery.
McLean-Mackenzie emphasizes the importance of preserving scent records as cities evolve, industries change, and scentscape transformations occur. She notes that scents are transient, as demonstrated during a smell walk in Montreal, where morning aromas shifted from natural elements to urban scents as the day progressed.
Beyond cataloging scents, McLean-Mackenzie’s work delves into how scents evoke emotions and memories. She finds the narratives behind scents fascinating and believes that every place has a unique and complex smellscape. Her favorite scent, she reveals, is the combination of a garden shed’s elements like cut grass, creosote, and wood.
The researcher’s dedication to capturing the essence of cities through smell stories reflects her belief in the emotional and evocative power of scents.