Petrichor
- “the smell of rain on dry ground”
- “that earthy scent when it first starts raining after a dry spell”
- “what is the word for how rain smells”
- “the fresh smell right before and after a storm”
:: COMPARE ::
PetrichorvsGeosmin
The short answer
Geosmin is one molecule — the main earthy note. Petrichor is the whole smell: geosmin plus plant oils plus a hit of ozone, released together by rain on dry ground.
Side by side
| Aspect | Petrichor | Geosmin |
|---|---|---|
| Is | The full scent | One compound |
| Made of | Oils + geosmin + ozone | Just geosmin |
| Made by | Rain on dry ground | Soil bacteria |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Petrichor rather than Geosmin are usually searching for phrases like “the smell of rain on dry ground”, “that earthy scent when it first starts raining after a dry spell”, “what is the word for how rain smells”.
Where the confusion comes from
“Rain itself has a smell.”
Rain is odourless — petrichor comes from oils and geosmin in the ground, flung into the air by the drops.
Read either one in full