A New Way to Tour Newport

What are the smells that tell you that you’re home? If you’re a Rhode Islander, chances are “the ocean” will come to mind. That’s exactly what graphic designer Kate McLean found when she constructed a Smell Map of Newport last year. She also highlighted other key scents that define the essence of Newport – think suntan oil and watering holes!

So what exactly is a Smell Map? Picture a physical map with graphics depicting where specific local scents are found, as well as the range, the intensity and the direction each smell moves in the prevailing local wind. Each scent is carefully selected to represent the character of the location. As a companion to the map itself, the scents are bottled using naturally-occurring ingredients and products. When the map is exhibited, viewers can actually sniff each scent and then identify where in the physical space it is found using the map.

To truly understand a place, you have to use more than just your eyesight. “Smell has been underestimated for centuries,” explains Kate. When she began constructing Smell Maps in 2010, she wanted to highlight the power of multi-sensory, non-visual communication. “A Smell Map helps us reconsider our environment from another perspective,” she says. “In the process of re-sensitizing ourselves we often become more aware of other sensory elements, giving us a richer picture of our cities.”

Kate, a native of England, has sniffed her way around multiple locations, including Edinburgh, Scotland, and Paris, France. Newport was the first US city she chose to create a Smell Map.

Hours of exploration go into identifying the key scents of a city. “Newport was the first location for me to use cycle rides as a part of the process of collecting smell associations for a city,” explains Kate. “The Newport Smell Map involved a lot of people and many miles traveled on foot and bicycle.” To really find the heart of Newport, Kate spoke with local residents about their smell perceptions and associations with their environment. “These smell perceptions are highly subjective but always contain astonishing depth in memories and stories.”

Kate describes the smells of Newport as “the smells of summer.” Her Smell Map showcases scents such as the ocean, beach roses, beer bars, juniper bushes, fudge/ cookies/ice cream, birds’ nests and lobster bait. “They epitomize the warmth and the open and friendly nature of the city.” Except for the lobster bait smell, which Kate learned can make fishermen retch but lures in the lobsters like magic. “It was my first ‘intolerable smell’ in the intensity scale I use for the maps!” she says.

Although the Newport Smell Map was on display at the Discover Newport Visitor Center last year, it is currently being prepared for a display at Illinois State University later this year. Check out visuals of it at Kate’s website. From there, you can visit her blog and contribute with your favorite city smell, along with any accompanying stories or associations the smell holds for you.