Imagine it’s a hot summer day and the humidity in the air is absolutely insane. And you see intense clouds rolling closer toward you in the distance. Suddenly it’s down pouring so hart you think the rain droplets are about to crack the pavement on the roads.
When the rain passes you’re met with shining skies and this unique aroma evaporating from the ground. That is the scent of rain. Some may say the scent of rain is petrichor.
Petrichor is a fragrance that is a blend of natural elements. It’s this gorgeous symphony between dry soil and rain drops. On a more microscopic level, it’s a blend of ozone bacteria, plant oils being released around your atmosphere at the same time.
Scientists attribute the scent of rain to a compound called geosmin - released by soil-dwelling bacteria called actinomycetes.
When raindrops hit the ground, they disturb these microorganisms, releasing geosmin into the air. This compound, along with other volatile oils from plants, contributes to the distinctive scent that permeates the atmosphere after a rainfall.
My favorite thing about the scent of rain, more specifically the experience I illustrated above, is that it feels like the world around you is reborn. That’s why sun showers are one of my favorite things. It’s rejuvenating, refreshing, and sensory stimulating.
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