Analysis of Urban Vegetation in terms of Smellscape: The Kastamonu City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61326/silvaworld.v4i2.395Keywords:
Kastamonu, Scented plants, SmellscapeAbstract
The sense of smell is increasingly gaining importance as an element that enhances the user experience in urban open and green spaces. In this context, smellscape is not merely a visually based design approach; it supports the multisensory interaction individuals establish with space and enhances spatial memory. This study used qualitative data collection methods to examine the landscape effects of scented plants in the city center of Kastamonu. Literature review and field observation methods were used to investigate the smellscape components in the city, the scent diffusion of these components across seasonal cycles, and their spatial distribution. The primary objective of this study is to reveal the smellscape characteristics of existing plant species in Kastamonu's city center. To evaluate Kastamonu's existing landscape potential, this study emphasizes that scented plants should be integrated into landscape design processes with a user-centered approach that considers seasonal continuity and is based on sensory experience.
References
Ayan Çeven, E., & Belkayalı, N. (2019). Mekân, bellek ve koku. TMMOB, 1, 6-8. (In Turkish)
Ayan Çeven, E., & Belkayalı, N. (2021). Smellscapes: Imagining and remembering the city. In Ö. Demirel & E. Düzgüneş (Eds.), Landscape research-I (pp. 124-146). Livre De Lyon.
Ayan Çeven, E., & Belkayali, N. (2023). Experiencing urban smells when walking: Kastamonu city case. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 47(2), 237-257. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.13145
Aytatlı, B., & Kuzulugil, A. C. (2025). Scentscapes in landscape design: Aesthetic and functional uses. In M. Özyavuz (Ed.), Peyzaj mimarlığı konuları (pp. 93-116). Yaz.
Belkayali, N., & Ayan, E. (2017). Effect of smell in historical environments. New Trends and Issues Proceedings on Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(11), 297-306. https://doi.org/10.18844/prosoc.v4i11.2885
Bentley, P. R., Fisher, J. C., Dallimer, M., Fish, R. D., Austen, G. E., Irvine, K. N., & Davies, Z. G. (2023). Nature, smells, and human wellbeing. Ambio, 52(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01760-w
Billottet, C. (2020). Architecture nose: Towards multisensory architecture, an exploration of the sense of smell (Doctoral dissertation, Delft University of Technology).
Bozkurt, S. G. (2021). Sivas' da doğal olarak yetişen bazı odunsu ve çalı türlerinin peyzaj mimarlığında kullanım olanaklarının belirlenmesi. Eurasian Journal of Forest Science, 9(3), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.31195/ejejfs.969214 (In Turkish)
Drobnick, J. (2024). The smell culture reader. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003579540
Egerer, M., Annighöfer, P., Arzberger, S., Burger, S., Hecher, Y., Knill, V., Probst, B., & Suda, M. (2024). Urban oases: the social-ecological importance of small urban green spaces. Ecosystems and People, 20(1), 2315991. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2024.2315991
Eroğlu, E., Kesim, G. A., & Müderrisoğlu, H. (2005). Düzce kenti açık ve yeşil alanlarındaki bitkilerin tespiti ve bazı bitkisel tasarım ilkeleri yönünden değerlendirilmesi. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 11(03), 270-277. (In Turkish)
Hao, S., Qiao, Y., Sun, H., Jing, Q., & Jia, M. (2025). Multisensory urban design: Healing effects of visual, auditory, and olfactory enhancements in street landscapes. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5173818
He, J., Hao, Z., Li, L., Ye, T., Sun, B., Wu, R., & Pei, N. (2022). Sniff the urban park: Unveiling odor features and landscape effect on smellscape in Guangzhou, China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 78, 127764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127764
He, M., Wang, Y., Wang, W. J., & Xie, Z. (2022). Therapeutic plant landscape design of urban forest parks based on the Five Senses Theory: A case study of Stanley Park in Canada. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 10(1), 97-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2022.02.004
Henshaw, V. (2013). Urban smellscapes: Understanding and designing city smell environments. Routledge.
Huang, Y., & Yuan, X. (2024). Smellscape as a healing factor in institutional gardens to enhance health and well-being for older people with dementia: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(2), 454-468. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16908
Lewis, C. A. (1996). Green nature/human nature: the meaning of plants in our lives. University of Illinois Press.
Lygum, V. L., & Xiao, J. (2025). Creating smellscapes with plants: A landscape architectural framework. Urban Science, 9(3), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9030068
Oleszkiewicz, A., Abriat, A., Doelz, G., Azema, E., & Hummel, T. (2021). Beyond olfaction: Beneficial effects of olfactory training extend to aging-related cognitive decline. Behavioral Neuroscience, 135(6), 732. https://doi.org/10.1037/bne0000478
Öztürk, S., & Özdemir, Z. (2013). Kentsel açık ve yeşil alanların yaşam kalitesine etkisi "Kastamonu Örneği". Kastamonu University Journal of Forestry Faculty, 13(1), 109-116. (In Turkish)
Porteous, J. D. (1985). Smellscape. Progress in Physical Geography, 9(3), 356-378. https://doi.org/10.1177/030913338500900303
Qin, Q., & Xuan, W. (2023). Multisource data–based urban odor mapping and construction of a scent-emotional system for public spaces. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 149(4), 05023040. https://doi.org/10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-4655
Sakıcı, Ç. (2014). Bitkilerin psikolojik katkıları. Türk tarım Gıda Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı Dergisi, 216, 38-43. (In Turkish)
Song, X., & Wu, Q. (2022). Study on smellscape perception and landscape application of fragrant plants. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 67, 127429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127429
Wang, C., Gao, B., Hao, Z., Li, L., Yang, L., Chen, W. Y., & Pei, N. (2025). Plant smellscape: A key avenue to connect nature and human well-being. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 107, 128757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128757
Xiao, J., Tait, M., & Kang, J. (2017). The design of urban smellscapes with fragrant plants and water features. In V. Henshaw, K. McLean, D. Medway, C. Perkins & G. Warnaby (Eds.), Designing with smell: Practices, techniques and challenges (pp. 83-95). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315666273
Xiong, X., Jin, H., Hu, W., Zeng, C., Huang, Q., Cui, X., Zhang, M., & Jin, Y. (2023). Benefits of Jasminum polyanthum's natural aromas on human emotions and moods. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 86, 128010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.128010
Zhang, X., Guo, J., Zhang, X., & Zhang, Q. (2023). Physiological effects of a garden plant smellscape from the perspective of perceptual interaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 5004. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20065004
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Zeynep Şahanoğlu, Elif Ayan Çeven
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
