Petrichor

Ayers Rock after the rain

Petrichor.
Any guesses what it means?

Noun. Pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.

Origin: 1960s: blend of petro– ‘relating to rocks’ (the smell is believed to be caused by a liquid mixture of organic compounds which collects in the ground) and ichor. According to the BBC, it was first named by two Australian researchers – Isabel Bear and RG Thomas – in the 1960s. The warm, earthy fragrance produced when rain hits dry ground is produced by bacteria; Bear and Thomas discovered that it was being captured to sell as a scent called “matti ka attar” in Uttar Pradesh, India.

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