FROM THE ARCHIVETuesday, September 22, 2026
petrichor
PET-ri-kor/ˈpɛtrɪkɔːr//noun
01 / MEANING
The earthy scent that rises when rain falls on dry ground.
In a sentence.
- 01
Petrichor drifted through the open window after the first rain.
- 02
The trail smelled of petrichor as the storm passed.
Where it came from.
Researchers coined petrichor in the 1960s from Greek pétra, ‘stone,’ and ichor, the fluid said to flow in the veins of the gods. The name evokes rain drawing a scent from dry earth and stone.
Explore the sourceWhy it’s interesting.
A familiar smell received a name with a mythological root. Its poetic sound contrasts with its scientific origin.