Redolence and Land Use on Nosy Be, Madagascar

Abstract

Odor, or the "smellscape," is an intriguing dimension of place ignored by geographers. A small island in the Indian Ocean provides an empirical example oj a smell-defined space. The central odor there is a mixture of redolent ingredients dominated by the fragrant blossoms of ylang-ylang. Horticultural specialization on this plant provides an essential oil made from the flowers and exported for use in perfume. Olfaction, the most subtle yet enduring of human senses, can transmit geographical information in plate characterization, landscape reconstruction and atmospheric quality.