Michelle McKeown: The smell of rain and the science behind it

This smell of rain is a real physical thing that can be explained by science. In Ireland, where rain is a regular feature of daily life, this phenomenon is easy to overlook. But it is worth pausing to notice next time it rains

Scientists have a name for the smell of rain: petrichor. It was coined in the 1960s and loosely translates as ‘the blood of stone’. Picture: iStock

Have you ever noticed a familiar smell when it starts rains, especially after dry weather? That sudden, earthy scent that seems to appear out of nowhere. It drifts through the air just as the first drops land, catching your attention in a very nostalgic way that few other natural smells can. This smell of rain is a real physical thing that can be explained by science.

Scientists have a name for this scent: petrichor. It was coined in the 1960s and loosely translates as “the blood of stone”. It comes from the Greek word ‘petra’ (stone) and ‘ichor (the blood of the gods in Greek mythology). It sounds poetic, but the science behind it is far more grounded (pun intended). Because this smell doesn’t come from the sky. It comes from the soil beneath our feet.