Rain won’t smell like rain—it’s geosmin: the scent that signals water
The familiar rain aroma comes from geosmin, a pungent compound produced by soil-dwelling algae and bacteria. When water wets soil, geosmin is released into the air, creating the “petrichor” scent coined in 1964. Some researchers suggest detecting geosmin offered a survival advantage for early humans by signaling available water during droughts. Geosmin also influences beet flavor, linking soil biology to taste as well as scent.
