What Does Boston Smell Like? -- A Sensory Cartography by Tufts University

This project visualizes Boston’s olfactory landscape, transforming scent into a dynamic, data-driven map. Inspired by Kate McLean’s pioneering work on sensory maps and exformation—the intentional omission of information to invite deeper interpretation—this map captures the ephemeral essence of place through smell. By blending data visualization with sensory perception, it invites viewers to explore Boston beyond the visual, stepping into an unseen but deeply evocative layer of the city.

Inspired by “Walking as Research Practice”, I documented the scents that define some of Boston’s neighborhoods. Each point on the map represents a recorded scent, positioned along a continuous color gradient. At one end, cool blues and greens evoke the freshness of nature—salt-laced ocean air, crisp pine, damp earth. At the other, warm oranges and reds mark the presence of human activity—roasting coffee, sizzling street food, the rich spice of a bustling market. The gradient is fluid, reflecting the way scents shift and mix in the air, never static, always in motion.

McLean’s concept of scent mapping highlights the personal and collective memory embedded in smells. This visualization is inspired by her insightful perspective, not as a rigid dataset, but as an interpretive, emotional guide to Boston’s fragrant topography. Scents linger, dissipate, and intertwine—what is momentary for one person becomes a lasting imprint for another.

This map offers a new (and highly personal!) way to experience the city—not just by sight, but through scent. It challenges us to reconsider what defines a place, revealing the invisible forces that shape our daily lives. From the sharpness of asphalt after rain to the sweetness of blooming flowers or the warmth of fresh bread, each scent carries a story, woven into the fabric of Boston.