A smellwalking guide. The smellscape is the smell equivalent of a visual landscape.
This activity crafted by Kate McLean identifies 3 categories of smells:
- curious / unexpected smells are the short-lived, individually noted smells of the city e.g. books/paper, perfume on a passer-by, metal, paint, marshmallow, old books
- episodic smells reveal specific areas of town, these are localized smells e.g. wet fish, flowers, fried food, medicine
- background smells form a context, these are seen as a constant e.g. canal dampness, humidity and spicy cooking aromas against which all other smells reside
And identifies 3 modes of smelling:
- Smell catching (passive smelling)
- Smell hunting (active smelling)
- Free smelling (a combo of the two)
The activity walks participants through various descriptive reflective writing prompts. It provides a helpful chart for organizing observations and collecting data. It provides options for solo, pair, and group outings. Available via McLean’s website.