Off-time but not off-topic, an exceptionally good story is narrated in Perfume by Patrick Süskind:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Süskind
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume_(novel)
What many people forget today is that we are now (with the obvious exception of smog/pollution and related) mostly living in odourless environments whilst the air in a city, at least until the 18th or 19th century was full of very strong smells.
Only think of:
1) open gutters/sewers
2) "side effects" of ubiquitous animal traction
3) small shops/industries (using fires, chemicals, etc., one example for all tanneries) were often side by side with homes
King Lear: "Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee"
Now, Civet here is a by-product of anal glands of a civet cat (not really a cat) and it smells pretty much like you'd imagine: extremely fecal, pungent and long lasting.
Modern perfumes still use this ingredient sometimes in minuscule amounts, but one ounce of civet is a lot for a modern nose. it would stink up the entire king's palace for days or even weeks.