Stormy Skies & Wet Earth

If, as the song goes, some of your favourite things include “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” you’ve come to the right place — at least as far as those raindrops are concerned. Rain on earth is an aroma that is universally experienced and appreciated. More than just smelling “wet”, the scent of a rainy day is a bewitching blend of humid air, clean dirt, hot concrete and mineral moisture. The odor soothes our collective subconscious which, according to some scientists, comes from prehistoric times when rain signalled safety to our cavemen ancestors, as big cats and other predators do not hunt during the rain.

Whether triggered by drizzle or downpour, bacteria and plants play a role in the pleasing smell we experience after rain. The scent is known as “petrichor”, coined from Greek “petros”, meaning "stone", and “ichor”, meaning "the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods". As raindrops hit the soil, they can release aerosols carrying geosmin and other compounds, contributing to the overall effect. Geosmin is the product of happy microorganisms awakened by the showers. Adding to the bouquet are plant oils released when rain pounds the ground.

For such an epic natural phenomenon, clever perfumers have a variety of tricks up their sleeves to conjure the magic of petrichor. Geosmin is the go-to aromachemical along with Cashmaran, aka cashmere woods, which lends a mineral, softly enveloping woody character to a perfume. And some natural materials smell damp and earthy: oud, patchouli and vetiver. Lucky for you pluviophiles, perfumers have a deluge of ways to summon your rain fantasies, and this edit explores a few.  Long may rain reign!