Name: Smell associated with rain has a name: petrichor
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T16:45:21.822Z
Duration: 1 min 1 s
Description: Australian scientists first viewed the formation of petrichor in 1964. Here’s what it is and why people say you can smell rain.

Australian scientists first viewed the formation of petrichor in 1964. Here’s what it is and why people say you can smell rain.

The scent commonly associated with the onset of rain is known as petrichor. This aroma is produced when raindrops strike the ground, releasing plant oils and bacterial byproducts into the air as tiny particles. These particles can be carried by the wind, allowing the scent to travel over long distances.

Petrichor was first identified by Australian scientists in 1964, with further research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about a decade ago. The next time rain is forecast, individuals can try to detect this distinctive fragrance as the first drops fall.

Smell associated with rain has a name: petrichor

The water in raindrops has no smell, so what is that distinctive scent that accompanies the beginning of storms? It's often described as musky or earthy, and as it turns out, it has a name, petrichor. The combination of fragrant compounds includes oils made by some plants and the byproducts from different bacteria decomposing dead and decaying plant matter. When raindrops strike the ground, they eject these tiny particles into the air. The reason some people, like my grandmother, say they can smell rain from miles away is because these aerosols can be carried by the wind for long distances. Petrichor formation was first discovered in 1964 by Australian scientists with recent research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about a decade ago. So the next time rain is in your forecast, do your own experiment and see if you can smell the petrichor as those first drops hit the ground.

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