What is the term used to denote earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil?

Petrichor is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Greek, petra, meaning "stone", + ichor, the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology. The scent accompanying the first rain after a long period of dry weather has always been described as one of the most pleasant existing smells.

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56 Comments

Peter Thomas

Freshly cut grass and baking bread...two of the best smells!

Shirley Dutt

Praying for rain in California. We're burning up. Bad forest management for 40 years will do that.

Roy Mead

In Scotland we don't get any dry soil

Carolyn Brior

Once again, knowledge of Greek and Latin word roots helped.

Chris Braid

A fascinating word. Good Q and A!

Doris Dallaire

I love that smell too.

agree 🤗

Player

Petrichor is an exhilarating aroma.

Mario Cutolo

The first part of the word: Petri… was a giveaway since I am Italian….

Treffer 1

ninakamwene, Amen to that ! I agree!,helped me too !

Alicia Thompson

I love this. The smell of rain is one of the best scent to smell when you want to relax and meditate. There is healing in it. Wow I feel that this is one of the best in quiz club thus far. Although, I got it wrong, I recieved the answer. Now I know.

Mattman

Love this! I live in central Arizona where we get dry spells and then rain which produces that smell and I'll open all my doors and windows to let it come through it's better than any air freshener