ATLAS QUALITY BASELINE · AUDIT 1.0 · 2026-10-04
All 200 published entries, checked the same way.
This report lists facts about each published entry and the result of each audit check. It gives no score, grade or ranking, and a finding is not a judgement of the smell itself. A finding resolved as kept was read by an editor and found accurate; deferred findings are recorded for editorial follow-up; open questions wait for a decision rather than being guessed.
| Area | Check | Fixed | Kept | Deferred | Open question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | The entry meets every required criterion of the entry standard. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wording | The summary and note follow the writing guide. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Summary and scope | The summary makes no universal statement (always, never, every, universal, the smell of …). | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evidence presentation | Editorial text does not claim scientific backing (proven, scientifically, studies show, research shows, clinically, verified). | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Text and evidence | Editorial text that names a cause, chemical or emitting material is read by an editor against the entry's VERIFIED claims, and the result is recorded. | 3 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Summary and scope | A place entry's summary describes an environment; a source, material or food entry's summary describes that thing. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Descriptors | Every descriptor is classified in the descriptor review, and none is a setting word. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Descriptors | The entry does not use a descriptor whose spelling variant is also in use, until one spelling is chosen. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Links | Related entries exist, are not the entry itself and are not repeated. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Links | At least one other entry lists this entry as related, so it can be reached from the Atlas. | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Links | A smellscape-of link starts from a place entry; a produced-by link starts from a material, object, product, state, source or experience entry; every key exists. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Identity | An entry of the same kind that shares three or more descriptors with another, and is linked with it, has a written boundary (one names the other) or a reviewed distinction. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Fixed: The entry was corrected, with a revision and a change summary.
- Kept: An editor read the text; it is accurate as written.
- Deferred: Recorded for editorial follow-up; no change now.
- Open question: A subjective editorial choice recorded as an open question, not decided here.
Descriptors describe how something smells. Words that name a place, category, time or use are shown as the entry's setting instead. Words outside the curated vocabulary are not errors: they are listed for editorial review, and adding a word to the vocabulary is an editorial decision.
72 entries listed words such as "activity", "ambient", "busy", "clinical", "construction", "domestic" among their descriptors. These name a setting rather than a smell quality, so they are now shown separately as the entry's setting. Nothing was deleted, and no published fact changed, so these moves are recorded in each entry's change summary rather than as corrections.
- Curated descriptors: 37
- Smell qualities outside the curated list: 46
- Named after a familiar source: cocoa, coffee, concrete, hay, molasses, plastic, soap, steam, vanilla, water
- Cross-sense words: bright, cold, dark, fuzzy, lush, minimal, muted, rich, subtle
- Setting words: 35
Three entries named a cause of the smell (skin oils, rind oils) that no VERIFIED claim on the entry supports. The wording was corrected and each change has a public correction notice: COR-0004, COR-0005, COR-0006. Every other entry that names a cause, chemical or material was read against its VERIFIED claims: most were kept as written, with the claim or the reason recorded, and one is deferred for editorial follow-up.
47 pairs of the same kind share three or more descriptors and link to each other. In 8, the entry text or the identity rules already state the difference. The other 39 were read and recorded as distinct smells, with the reason.
- Cedar and Pine Needles: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Bergamot and Orange Peel: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Lemon Zest and Orange Peel: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Grapefruit Peel and Orange Peel: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Grapefruit Peel and Lemon Zest: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Lilac and Rose: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Jasmine and Lilac: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Gardenia and Jasmine: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Chamomile and Lavender: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Banana and Vanilla Bean: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Coconut and Vanilla Bean: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Banana and Coconut: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Basil and Mint: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Cinnamon and Clove: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Clove and Nutmeg: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Black Pepper and Nutmeg: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Garlic and Onion: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Apple and Strawberry: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Apple and Pear: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Apple and Watermelon: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Apple and Grape: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Strawberry and Watermelon: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Grape and Pear: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Mango and Peach: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Mango and Pineapple: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Rosemary and Sage: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Rosemary and Thyme: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Sage and Thyme: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Fresh Orange Juice and Lemonade: Different named sources (different plants, fruits, spices or foods).
- Pine Needles and Pine Resin: Different parts or materials of the same plant.
- Garden After Rain and Rainy Park: Different kinds of place, each with its own setting.
- Bookstore and Classroom: Different kinds of place, each with its own setting.
- Farmers Market and Supermarket Produce: Different kinds of place, each with its own setting.
- Fresh Laundry and Soap: Different product categories used in different routines.
- Fresh Towels and Soap: Different product categories used in different routines.
- Shampoo and Soap: Different product categories used in different routines.
- Fresh Towels and Shampoo: Different product categories used in different routines.
- Basil and Fresh Herb Bundle: One entry is a mix of sources; the other is a single source.
These choices are subjective, so they are recorded rather than guessed.
- Which spelling should SmellBook use: US (color, flavor, savory, gray) or UK (colour, flavour, savoury, grey)? Live entries mix both: "color", "flavor" and "center" with "grey", "tyre", "neighbourhood"; the descriptor "savory" is on 4 entries and "savoury" on 4. Once chosen, the other spelling is corrected across entries and the descriptor vocabulary.
- Which smell-quality words used on live entries should join the curated descriptor vocabulary? 46 words used on live entries are smell qualities outside the 37 curated descriptors (for example sharp, wet, damp, toasted, aromatic, dusty). A few words now shown as setting words could also be read as smell qualities (clinical, new, polished); they belong to this question too. Each added word gets a descriptor page and links; words not added stay on entries as uncurated qualities.
- Should "Spaces" remain a separate category from "Places"? Hotel Lobby, Hotel Room and Hotel Bathroom are in Spaces while Hotel Breakfast is in Places; seven entries are in Spaces in all. Either the boundary is written down, or the Spaces entries move to Places (category pages and facets change).
Related lists are editorial navigation. These links read oddly and are recorded for editorial review rather than changed.
- Garlic: Garlic lists Toast and Bakery, which share no setting or quality with it beyond cooking.
- Mushroom: Mushroom lists Dark Chocolate.
- Jasmine: A source lists a place through fragrance use; may be intended.
- Vanilla Bean: A source lists a place through fragrance use; may be intended.
- Orange Peel: Orange Peel lists Rain.
- Tomato Leaf: Tomato Leaf lists Rain.
- Wet Dog: Wet Dog lists Fresh Laundry.
| Record | Entry | Finding | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB-0004 | Orange Peel | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Peel oils are supported by the entry's VERIFIED claim CLM-CITRUS-001 (volatile essential-oil compounds in the rind). |
| SB-0018 | Lemon Zest | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Peel oil is supported by the entry's VERIFIED claim CLM-CITRUS-001 (volatile essential-oil compounds in the rind). |
| SB-0024 | Chlorine / Pool | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. The note says chemistry varies by treatment; it makes no claim about a cause. |
| SB-0036 | Garlic | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0038 | Mushroom | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0040 | Dust | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. The note says dust is not one material or chemical source; a negation, not a claim. |
| SB-0041 | New Car | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Adhesives are listed among the interior materials the smell is associated with, not as a measured cause; the VERIFIED claims concern volatile compounds from interior materials. |
| SB-0042 | Gasoline | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. "Volatile" is supported by the entry's VERIFIED claim CLM-GASOLINE-001 (volatile compounds in gasoline vapour). |
| SB-0045 | Metal | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. The note says the entry avoids claiming one metal odour chemistry; a negation, not a claim. |
| SB-0055 | Cheese | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0055 | Cheese | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0056 | Onion | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0066 | Chamomile | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0069 | New Paint | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Solvents and coatings are listed as what the smell is associated with, not as a measured cause; the note discourages inhaling them. |
| SB-0069 | New Paint | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Solvents and coatings are listed as what the smell is associated with, not as a measured cause; the note discourages inhaling them. |
| SB-0078 | Cardboard | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Deferred. The note says the smell changes with ink, adhesives, moisture and storage. Moisture is supported by CLM-CARDBOARD-001; ink and adhesives are not. Recorded for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0085 | Baby Powder | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0088 | Cat Fur | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0093 | Laundromat | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0099 | New Shoes | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Adhesives are listed among the materials of new footwear, not as a measured cause. |
| SB-0101 | Pine Resin | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Resin is the entry's own subject; its VERIFIED claim CLM-PINERESIN-001 describes the resin's composition. |
| SB-0101 | Pine Resin | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Resin is the entry's own subject; its VERIFIED claim CLM-PINERESIN-001 describes the resin's composition. |
| SB-0104 | Clay | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0109 | Greenhouse | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0110 | Flower Market | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0112 | Hair Salon | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0119 | Taxi Interior | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0120 | Hotel Breakfast | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0131 | Thyme | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0133 | Tomato Sauce | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0134 | Fried Onions | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0137 | Cocoa Powder | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0144 | Elevator | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0145 | Beach Towel | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0146 | Sports Hall | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0147 | Stable | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0160 | Popcorn | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0163 | Woodshop | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Resin is listed among the materials of a workshop, not as a measured cause. |
| SB-0166 | Hand Sanitizer | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. "Alcohol-like volatility" describes the quick-evaporating impression as an association, not a measured cause. |
| SB-0168 | Restaurant Kitchen | Descriptors: descriptor spelling | Open question. "savory" and "savoury" are both in use; which spelling SmellBook uses is an open editorial question (see the spelling question). |
| SB-0171 | Rainy Park | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0172 | Summer Garden | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0178 | Vanilla Ice Cream | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0180 | Toasted Almonds | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0182 | Fresh Herb Bundle | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0183 | Curry Spice Blend | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0184 | Wet Cardboard | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0185 | Fresh Carpet | Text and evidence: mechanism wording | Kept. Backing and adhesives are listed as parts of new flooring; the VERIFIED claim CLM-CARPET-001 attributes the new-carpet odour to the latex backing. |
| SB-0185 | Fresh Carpet | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0186 | New Furniture | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0187 | Hardware Store | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0188 | Parking Garage | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0191 | Fresh Bedsheets | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0192 | Ironed Shirt | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0195 | Backpack | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0196 | School Cafeteria | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0197 | Hotel Bathroom | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0198 | Open Window After Rain | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0199 | Morning Street | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
| SB-0200 | Grocery Bakery Aisle | Links: inbound related | Deferred. Reachable from its category, descriptor and search pages. Related lists are editorial navigation; which entries should list it is left for editorial follow-up. |
75 entries have a new revision dated 2026-10-04. Each entry page and the catalogue show its change summary.
Atlas quality baseline
The checks, every entry's facts and findings in record-ID order, the descriptor review and open questions.
Entry standard
Publication criteria and the result for every entry.
Correction notices
Every published correction, keyed to permanent identifiers.