Kate McLean-Mackenzie, a researcher at the University of Kent, leads groups on “smell walks” in various cities. During these walks, participants focus on their sense of smell to experience their surroundings. McLean-Mackenzie believes that places should be explored not only visually but also through the sense of smell to gain a different perspective.
Over the past 15 years, McLean-Mackenzie has been documenting the scents of 40 towns and cities worldwide for her upcoming book, “Atlas of Scents and Smells.” She describes the concept of “smellscapes” as the olfactory equivalent of visual landscapes, where individuals can experience the scents that surround them in a particular location.
For instance, in Antarctica, the smells of dead seals and heavy machinery at the Rothera Research Station are captured in her research. Similarly, in Kyiv, Ukraine, McLean-Mackenzie recalls the city’s historical scent of pine forests mixed with the river’s aroma and hints of summer even in winter.
McLean-Mackenzie emphasizes the importance of preserving these scent records as cities and environments evolve over time, leading to changes in their smellscapes. She believes that documenting these changes visually and descriptively is crucial for understanding the evolving nature of urban scents.
Through her work, McLean-Mackenzie also explores the emotional impact of scents on individuals and how different smells can evoke memories and feelings. She finds joy in the stories and connections that arise from sharing scent experiences, highlighting the complexity and uniqueness of each place’s smellscape.
Despite the subjectivity of scent perception, McLean-Mackenzie values the moments when individuals on a smell walk identify and agree on specific scents, creating a sense of shared experience and connection. She finds fulfillment in uncovering the diverse and intricate layers of scents that make up the fabric of urban environments.
When asked about her favorite scent, McLean-Mackenzie enthusiastically mentions the smell of a garden shed, describing it as a blend of cut grass, creosote, warm asphalt, and wood. For her, the exploration of scents and the stories they evoke continue to be a source of fascination and inspiration after years of research.