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

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 notes

In 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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Can you complete this real example?

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.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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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.