tech
December 25, 2025
Nosy researcher’s quest to map the world’s ‘smellscapes’
We can share images and sounds, so why not smells? Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie hopes her new atlas will make scents
TL;DR
- Dr. Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas of 'smellscapes' to capture the unique scents of towns and cities.
- The project involves participants taking 'smell walks' to record scents, their intensity, duration, and personal associations.
- Data from smell walks is analyzed to create visual maps and cultural narratives about the smells of different locations.
- Cities mapped include Glasgow, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Amsterdam, Verona, Kyiv, Kolkata, and Paris.
- The maps aim to document the ephemeral nature of smells and can serve as a historical record.
- The project encourages people to engage with all their senses and fosters acceptance and understanding of individual differences.
- Cultural differences in smells, such as Christmas scents in Kolkata versus Europe, are highlighted.
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