Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas to capture how cities smell.
The researcher from the University of Kent says scent is a missing sense in how people share experiences.
Her work maps “smellscapes” by asking participants to take guided smell walks.
They record what they smell, how strong it is, how long it lasts, and what it evokes.
McLean-MacKenzie turns the data into visual maps and cultural stories.
The results are subjective, focusing on memory, emotion, and meaning.
Since 2011, she has mapped 40 locations, including Paris, Glasgow, Kolkata, and Kyiv.
The atlas captures fleeting moments, like impressionist snapshots of urban life.
She believes the maps could become historical records as cities change.
Electric vehicles and climate shifts may alter how future generations experience smell.
McLean-MacKenzie hopes the project encourages people to walk, notice, and smell more deeply.
She says understanding different smell experiences can build empathy and curiosity.
