We share images and sounds easily, but smells rarely travel beyond their source.
Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie wants to change that.
Based at the University of Kent, she is publishing an atlas of urban “smellscapes”.
The project captures how cities smell, from food and traffic to fleeting, unexpected odours.
McLean-MacKenzie asks volunteers to take guided “smell walks”.
Participants record what they smell, how strong it is, and the memories it triggers.
She turns this data into visual maps and cultural narratives.
The results are subjective, but they reveal how people emotionally experience places.
Since 2011, she has mapped more than 40 locations worldwide.
These include cities across Europe and beyond.
The atlas also acts as a historical record.
Future cities may smell very different as technology and lifestyles change.
McLean-MacKenzie hopes the work encourages people to notice their surroundings more closely.
She says engaging with smell can build empathy and awareness of shared spaces.
