petrichor
2 synonyms for petrichor, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The distinctive earthy smell in the air when rain falls on dry ground.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
earthy smell
rain smell
How to use petrichor
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the smell of petrichor
petrichor rose from
first rain petrichor
Literary and scientific rather than everyday speech; popular in poetry and nature writing.
Etymology
From Greek petra meaning 'stone' and ichor, the fluid said in Greek myth to run in the veins of the gods.
Full origin of petrichor →Frequently asked questions
What causes petrichor?
Two things mainly. Plant oils that build up on dry soil and rocks are released when rain hits them, and a compound called geosmin, produced by soil bacteria, is thrown into the air by raindrop impact. Human noses are extraordinarily sensitive to geosmin.
What is the difference between petrichor and geosmin?
Geosmin is a single chemical compound made by soil-dwelling bacteria. Petrichor is the whole smell you experience, of which geosmin is only one ingredient alongside plant oils and, before a storm, ozone.
Is petrichor the smell before or after rain?
After, or as the rain begins. The sharper smell some people notice before a storm arrives is usually ozone carried down on the downdraught, which is a different thing.
