Following the ISO 12913-1 definition of soundscape as a perceptual construct arising from the interaction between individuals and their acoustic environment, recent research has increasingly focused on its cognitive dimensions. Behaviour, information, expectation, emotion, and memory are recognised as key modulators shaping soundscape perception. Developing coherent taxonomies for these modulators is essential to establishing standardised reference frameworks that enable systematic investigation, deeper understanding, and meaningful comparison across different urban contexts. Over time, various researchers have proposed distinct classification scales to evaluate memory retrieval within urban soundscapes, drawing upon diverse theoretical and disciplinary perspectives. This study aims to elucidate how memory retrieval in urban soundscapes has been conceptualised, classified, and applied in various research settings. It discusses the fundamental mechanisms underlying memory retrieval, the cognitive and affective dimensions involved, and the principal taxonomies currently available for investigating this phenomenon within the broader field of soundscape studies.