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Description
Indoor soundscape and smellscape research is transforming the conception of built environments, moving beyond sensory neutrality toward the intentional design of spaces that are pleasant and supportive of occupants’ activities, while explicitly recognizing the multisensory nature of environmental experience. This laboratory study investigated the effects of auditory and olfactory augmentation on soundscape perception in university study rooms. Thirty-six students participated in a full-factorial within-subject experiment, experiencing nine combinations of three binaural auditory conditions (baseline study-room background, background plus forest sounds, and background plus music) delivered via closed headphones, and three olfactory conditions (odourless, Talcum, and Swiss pine) administered through an eight-channel olfactometer. Participants evaluated soundscape and smellscape perception. Preliminary results indicate significant effects of sound type on soundscape pleasantness and eventfulness: music enhanced perceived pleasantness, whereas forest sounds increased eventfulness relative to baseline. Importantly, cross-modal effects of olfaction were also observed. Valence-related dimensions were aligned, with higher smellscape pleasantness associated with greater soundscape pleasantness, while activation-related dimensions were linked, as stronger smell presence corresponded to higher soundscape eventfulness. These findings highlight the potential of combined audio–olfactory strategies to enhance indoor study environments, warranting further validation in real-world settings.