The Scent of Stone That fresh rain smell has a scientific name. Petrichor comes from Greek mythology. Petros means stone, ichor means godly fluid. The scent comes from oils released by rocks. Bacteria in soil also contribute aromatic compounds. Humans can detect petrichor at extremely low concentrations. We're hardwired to love the smell of approaching storms.
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PsychologyMar 22, 2026
The Scent of Stone
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