Scientists confirm some people are able to smell when rain is coming

That smell after rainfall is a popular 'favourite' smell that many have, but scientists suggest that some people can even smell when it's about to rain.

That smell that we all love but can't put our finger on is actually called ''petrichor', - that comforting scent of wet dirt which despite its description, smells incredible.

The word 'petrichor' comes from the Greek word 'petros' meaning stone (as in petrify), and ichor, which was the substance that flowed through the veins of the Greek Gods. So petrichor is almost like saying the 'blood of the stone', and was coined by mineralogists Isabel Joy Bear and Richard Thomas back in 1964.

Bear and Thomas are clinical researchers who looked into the science behind the smell behind the rainfall, and noted that the smell was different when the downpour was on wet soil vs dry oil, as they will produce a different scents.

Umar Shankar/Getty images

But where does the smell come from? Well according to scientists, the smell is produced by bacteria within the soil, which then creates a chemical called 'geosmin'.

Bacteria produces the smell specifically to attract organisms into the soil, and in turn spread the bacteria to other places.

Geosmin isn't just something us humans can smell, it's also the scent picked up by sharks when they smell blood within the water... Geosmin is what makes it so attractive to them!

While this smell indicates that it's been raining, scientists have confirmed that certain smells in the air may mean that people can smell when it's about to rain.

The comforting smell is said to be due to bacteria in the earth. Getty images/Veena nair

So, we know there's a smell that let's us know it's been bouncing down, but what's the reason some gifted few can smell when it's about to rain?

IFLScience explains that there is another source of smell which could impact us. This is the chemical 'ozone'.

This has a unique smell which isn't as earthy as petrichor but just as recognisable, and this is the scent that can indicate a storm is on the way.

Bubbles of ozone become pushed down in the ground whenever there's winds from a storm approaching, which causes us to smell them from our level.

So it's true! Smelling when a storm is brewing is a niche, but real gift.

Topics: News, Weather, Science, Nature, Environment

Chelsea Connor

Chelsea is a Journalist for UNILAD. Before this she worked as a Journalist and Comedy Writer for seven years, working for companies such as Newsquest, NationalWorld and Samahoma Productions. She became a qualified journalist back in 2017, completing a NCTJ at Liverpool City College.

@theccjourno