noun
petrichor
PET-ri-kor
Petrichor (noun) means the distinctive earthy smell in the air when rain falls on dry ground. Example: “The first storm of the summer filled the garden with petrichor.”
noun
1
The distinctive earthy smell in the air when rain falls on dry ground.
"The first storm of the summer filled the garden with petrichor."
"She wound the window down for the petrichor coming off the hot road."
How to use petrichor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe smell of rain hitting dry earth.
When to use it
Literary and scientific rather than everyday speech; popular in poetry and nature writing.
Memory tip
Uncountable: say 'the petrichor', not 'a petrichor'. The final syllable rhymes with 'core'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
geosmin
ozone smell
Common pairings
the smell of petrichor
petrichor rose from
first rain petrichor
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The first storm of the summer filled the garden with _____.
Etymology
From Greek petra meaning 'stone' and ichor, the fluid said in Greek myth to run in the veins of the gods.
Synonyms
View more →
earthy smell
rain smell
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.
What is the meaning of petrichor?
"petrichor" (noun) means the distinctive earthy smell in the air when rain falls on dry ground.
