Scents of place

This chapter introduces the “scentsphere” as a way to rethink the relationship between smell, place, and atmosphere. Revisiting the concepts of smellscape and placeness, it shows how scents shape experience in three key ways: linking to cultural memory and history; providing therapeutic and healing qualities; and influencing behaviours and emotions. Rather than being background elements, smells emerge as active forces that define environments and identities. By situating olfaction within broader theories of sensory experience, the chapter lays the foundation for understanding smell as a central design and experiential dimension in architecture, urban space, and cultural practice.