Why does it smell so good after it rains? Meet petrichor
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The smell of rain has a name; you're actually smelling three thingsThere is a very particular smell that happens when it rains, and it has a name: petrichor. It actually isn’t just one smell. There are three, and they come from totally different places. What are the three smells? The term petrichor was coined by Australian scientists in 1964 to describe the earthy and recognizable smell linked to rain. Let’s break down the three smells you are experiencing: Ozone: This almost metallic smell occurs when lightning strikes split oxygen and nitrogen molecules. These recombine into nitric oxide and ozone. The ozone molecules are brought down to the surface by downdrafts from powerful storms. Multiple lightning strikes are seen during a summer nighttime thunderstorm near the city of Thessaloniki, as seen from Kalochori Lagoon in Delta National Park in Northern Greece. Lightning strikes create ozone molecules which are then brought to the surface via downbursts. Ozone has an almost metallic smell to it and is one of the components of petrichor. (Getty Images)Geosmin: The earthy note comes from bacteria in the soil. They create compounds that our noses detect.
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