Kate McLean-MacKenzie is creating an atlas to capture how cities smell.
The University of Kent researcher says smell is the missing sense in how humans share experiences.
For more than a decade, she has led “smell walks” in cities worldwide.
Participants record scents, their strength, duration, emotional impact, and personal associations.
The data becomes visual maps and narratives describing each city’s smellscape.
More than 40 locations feature in the atlas, including Glasgow, Paris, Kolkata, and Kyiv.
McLean-MacKenzie says the maps are subjective and intentionally human-centred.
They reflect fleeting moments, shaped by wind, place, and personal memory.
She believes smellscapes could become valuable historical records as cities change.
Future shifts, such as electric vehicles, may permanently alter urban smells.
The project also highlights cultural differences in seasonal scents.
Christmas smells vary globally, shaped by climate, food, and local traditions.
McLean-MacKenzie hopes the atlas encourages people to engage more fully with their surroundings.
She says smelling cities can foster empathy and awareness of shared, but diverse, experiences.
