Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas to document how cities smell.
The University of Kent researcher says scent is missing from how we record and share places.
Her project uses guided “smell walks” where participants note scents, intensity, duration, and emotional associations.
The results become visual maps and narratives showing how people experience cities through smell.
Since 2011, she has mapped more than 40 locations, including Glasgow, Paris, Kolkata, and Kyiv.
The maps capture fleeting moments, shaped by weather, activity, and memory.
McLean-MacKenzie hopes the atlas becomes a historical record as cities change over time.
She says engaging with smell can deepen awareness, empathy, and how we experience everyday places.
