The scent of rain: What is petrichor?

Have you ever stepped outside after a long dry spell, just as the first raindrops begin to fall, and recognised a scent in the air? Earthy. Fresh. Comforting.

Not many people realise that scent has a name: petrichor.

Coined in the 1960s by two Australian scientists, petrichor describes the distinct, almost nostalgic smell that rises from dry ground when rain falls.

It’s the result of oils secreted by plants during dry weather, mingling with a compound called geosmin, released by soil-dwelling bacteria. When rain disturbs the soil, it releases these molecules into the air.

Petrichor is nature’s way of telling us a change is coming. It reminds us that the earth is alive.

After a few sunny weeks on the salty isle, today we had rain, and the scent of petrichor was very welcome.