Kate McLean-Mackenzie, a researcher at the University of Kent, leads “smell walks” in various cities. During these walks, participants rely solely on their sense of smell to perceive their surroundings. They are encouraged to focus on both distant and nearby scents. McLean-Mackenzie believes that experiencing places through our noses, not just our eyes, offers a unique perspective that can change how we perceive the world.
Over the past 15 years, McLean-Mackenzie has studied and documented the scents of 40 towns and cities worldwide for her upcoming book, “Atlas of Scents and Smells.” She creates “smellscapes,” which she describes as the olfactory equivalent of visual landscapes, using data collected during smell walks in different locations.
For instance, Antarctica’s smell includes the leathery odor of a dead seal mixed with the scent of machinery from the Rothera Research Station. In Kyiv, Ukraine, the city’s historical essence is embodied by the combination of pine forests, the river, and hints of summer in the midst of winter.
McLean-Mackenzie emphasizes the importance of preserving scent records as cities evolve and industries change, leading to shifts in smellscapes. She captures the transient nature of smells, noting how scents in Montreal vary from early morning to later in the day.
Beyond the scientific aspect of cataloging urban scents, McLean-Mackenzie believes that understanding how scents evoke emotions is crucial. She finds joy in the stories and emotions associated with scents, highlighting the complexity of smellscapes and the uniqueness of each location’s scent profile.
Despite the subjectivity of scent perception, McLean-Mackenzie values the connections forged when individuals identify similar smells during a walk. She finds magic in these shared experiences and the diversity of scent profiles that enrich each location.
McLean-Mackenzie’s passion for studying scents stems from the stories and emotions they evoke. She finds beauty in the complexity of smellscapes and the nostalgia attached to specific scents. Her favorite scent, she reveals, is the aroma of a garden shed, a blend of cut grass, creosote, asphalt warmth, and wooden essence—a sensory experience that she cherishes.