Sensory perception of humidity in the built environment for wellness: a scoping review

Water vapour in the air is an essential element that directly affects all animate and inanimate constituents of the planet. It is a fundamental constituent in all interactions that characterize life and planetary systems. Water vapour in the air is distinctly associated with the functioning of the human sense organs. All five senses, i.e. smell, touch, sight, sound and taste respond to water vapour in the air. The sensory mechanisms determine a human being’s physiological and psychological balance, which is the foundation of wellness, relevant on a planetary scale. However, the sensory mechanisms associated with water vapour in the built environment have not been discerned holistically, parti­cularly its role in human wellness. The present article reviews sensory perceptions and responses attributed to humidity/water vapour in the built environment and examines its role in promoting human wellness, drawing insights from diverse interdisciplinary disciplines