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Been There, Smelled That

Been There, Smelled That explores the aromas of places around the world. Travel writer Maggie Downs investigates some of the world’s most potent smells, looks at how odor cultivates a connection to place, and presents how humans engage with smells, from scents that have endured generations to the latest innovations in aroma-making.

  • August 27, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Reviving the Aromas of Greek Antiquity
    by Maggie Downs
  • July 18, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: The Aromatic Journey of an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
    by Maggie Downs
  • July 1, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: The Delight of Smelling Rome by Night
    by Maggie Downs
  • June 12, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: The Bad Scents
    by Maggie Downs
  • May 21, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Nose Dive into Mexico City
    by Maggie Downs
  • April 30, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Professional Ham Sniffing in Spain
    by Maggie Downs
  • April 8, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Climate Change Is Destroying What You Smell
    by Maggie Downs
  • March 22, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Can You Smell What I Smell in Iceland?
    by Maggie Downs
  • March 6, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: The City That Bottles Roses and Rain
    by Maggie Downs
  • February 20, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: The Smellitized Smells of Disney World
    by Maggie Downs
  • January 29, 2024
    Been There, Smelled That: Seeking Sweetness in Belize
    by Maggie Downs
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McSweeney’s is an independent nonprofit publishing company based in San Francisco.
As well as operating a daily humor website, we also publish Timothy McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Illustoria and an ever-growing selection of books under various imprints. You can buy all of these things from our online store. You can support us today by making a donation.

We are committed to our environment. Each year, we purchase carbon offsets commensurate with our estimate of the impact of the printing, shipping, and travel necessary to publish our books and magazines. We are continually working to minimize our impact on the planet by examining every business decision through a lens of sustainability. To support this effort, or to learn more, please write to executive director Amanda Uhle. McSweeney’s accepts no writing aided in any manner by AI. Before publishing any writing—from a letter to a book-length work—authors published at McSweeney’s will be asked to attest that AI played no part in the creation or writing of that work.
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Porthole is out now!

“A hilarious and exhilarating provocation about art-making at any cost and the gutting ruthlessness of power. Joanna Howard is a singular talent; her work is propulsive, kinetic, and laser sharp. She is a genius!”—Patrick Cottrell. Bring home Porthole today.

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