You know that fresh smell after it rains? Do you know what it’s called? Watch to find out!
[Video Description: Alicia, an Asian woman with wavy brown hair, is wearing a gray mottled sweater. The background shows a string light hung over a white fence. There is an apartment building behind the fence.]
Transcript: Love the smell of rain, so fresh. Rain is just water and water doesn’t have a smell. Why does it smell so good? Back in 1964, two scientists decided to research what was happening. They called the scent, petrichor. What we think of the smell of rain is actually the smell of oil released from the earth…basically nature’s self released essential oil! Two things happen. Some plants make oil when it is dry. It is suggested plants make these oils to prevent seed germination to limit competition when water is scarce. When it rains, the oil is released from the plants into the air. Second has to do with bacteria in the soil. When the rain hits the ground, spores produced from the bacteria are forced into the air. The oil compounds from the plants and the compounds on the spores combine to create that aroma of fresh rain. When it hasn’t rained in awhile, the smell will be stronger because of all the oil and spore buildup! Next time it rains, imagine what is happening on a microscopic level! Vee!
