The Hidden Layers of Manaus: Understanding a City Through Scent

When we think of capturing a place, we often rely on images or sounds. But scent tells a deeper story – one that goes beyond what a picture can show. In the heart of the Amazon, Manaus Square reveals its history, its struggles, and its connection to the vast rainforest through the scents that fill the air.

Scent as Context: What You Can’t See in a Picture

A photograph of Manaus Square might show colonial architecture, bustling markets, and the movement of people, but it doesn’t capture the scents that shape the experience of being there. Smell provides context – it tells you what’s happening beyond your field of vision.

In Manaus Square, I noticed two dominant scent layers:

1. The Scent of Biomass: The Amazon’s Presence

The air carried a deep, organic scent – the smell of biomass, trees, and damp earth. Even in the city, this scent reminded me that Manaus is surrounded by one of the world’s largest rainforests. The Amazon’s presence is felt not just in its heat and humidity, but in the living, breathing aroma that seeps into the streets.

2. The Scent of Humanity: Poverty and Survival

Alongside the scent of the jungle was a harsher contrast – the stale smell of urine and decay. This was the scent of poverty, human habitation, and struggle. Manaus, like many cities, has a population living on the margins, and their presence is recorded not just in sight but in smell. Scent captures the human experience in a way that visuals often ignore.

Smell as a Change System: How It Informs Us

Smell is more than just an environmental detail – it alerts us to change. A shift in scent can tell you:

• How safe or dangerous an environment is – a sudden foul smell might warn of waste, pollution, or decay.

• The passage of time – fresh rain, rotting fruit, or burning wood all tell different stages of an event.

However, the challenge with scent is that we habituate to it quickly. A smell that is overwhelming at first fades into the background after a short time. That’s why recording and focusing on scents early is essential – before they become part of the unnoticed environment.

Recording the Unseen Through Scentgraphy

Scentgraphy is the practice of capturing and preserving scent alongside visual and audio documentation. In Manaus Square, scentgraphy would reveal:

• The biomass scent of the rainforest, constantly reminding the city of its wild surroundings.

• The scent of human presence, telling a story of poverty, adaptation, and survival.

• How the changing scents of the environment shape our perception of a place.

To truly experience a location, we need to engage beyond what we see. Smell provides a deeper, more immersive way to connect with a place – one that can reveal hidden stories, emotions, and transformations.

Would you start paying more attention to the scents of the places you visit? Let’s bring scentgraphy to life – one breath at a time.