Do you know that feeling?
The sky darkens, the wind picks up, and suddenly you smell it.
Rain.
Before a single drop has fallen.
Some people even say they can smell rain approaching. But is that actually true? Or are our brains just playing tricks on us?
The fun part is: there's definitely something to it.
That typical smell of rain
The familiar scent that arises when rain falls on dry ground even has a name: petrichor.
Especially after a prolonged dry spell, this scent can be very strong. Plants release certain oils during dry periods, and bacteria in the soil produce geosmin, among other things.
When raindrops hit the dry ground, tiny particles of these can be released into the air.
And we smell them.
Want to know more about Petrichor, about the smell of rain? Read more here.
But that mainly explains why it smells so good when it's already raining.
What about that smell just before a shower?
Sometimes you really can smell the storm coming
Especially during thunderstorms, the air can smell different just before it starts raining.
During thunderstorms, electrical discharges can contribute to the formation of ozone. Air currents around a storm can bring air from higher in the atmosphere downwards.
Ozone has a very specific, pungent smell.
In addition, the wind often changes just before a rain shower. This can cause ambient smells to suddenly be blown more strongly in your direction.
So when you think:
"It smells like rain..."
...it could well be that your nose is indeed picking up signals associated with approaching rainy weather.
Why doesn't everyone smell it?
Not everyone is equally sensitive to smells.
Geosmin – a major cause of that typical earthy smell – can be detected by humans in very small quantities. However, our sensitivity to smells varies from person to person.
Circumstances also matter.
After a long dry period, the smell is often stronger than when it has been raining for days. And a summer shower on warm, dry ground smells very different from a grey drizzly day in November.
Curious why it often rains after a warm summer day? Read more here.
And then it begins...
Those first big drops on the pavement.
The smell of wet earth.
That typical sound on leaves.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why a summer rain shower can sometimes feel so pleasant. Read also: Why rain isn't actually that annoying at all.
As long as you're not completely caught off guard by it, of course. 😉
Rain coming?
Unfortunately, we cannot predict when you will smell those first raindrops.
But we can make sure you stay dry.
Let the rain come 🌧️
From light summer raincoats to long waterproof jackets: discover our collection for days when the Dutch weather does whatever it feels like.
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