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
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