Rain smells good because of a special kind of smell that comes from the ground when it gets wet. It’s called petrichor. When raindrops fall on dry soil, they push out tiny chemicals that have been sitting in the dirt for a while. These chemicals float up into the air and make us feel happy because our brains recognize them as familiar, like when we smell something we love!
Examples
- When you walk outside after a long dry spell and it starts to rain, the ground smells like wet dirt.
- Your mom always loves the smell of rain right before a big storm hits the town.
- You feel calmer when it rains because your brain recognizes that scent from childhood.
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See also
- What Causes the ‘Scent’ of a Rainy Day?
- What Causes the Different Types of Rain?
- What Causes the ‘Scent’ of Rain Before It Falls?
- Why Do We Love the Smell of Rain Before It Falls?
- Why Do Some Places Have Constant Rain?
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