Why Does Rain Smell So Good?
Do you love the good smell of rain? If so, you're not alone.
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00:00Why does rain smell so good?
00:03Do you love the smell of rain?
00:06If so, you're not alone.
00:08In fact, some scientists actually think that people inherited their affection for the scent
00:12of rain from our ancestors, who relied on rainy weather for survival.
00:16But what makes rain smell so nice?
00:19The answer lies in several scents that permeate the air after a rainfall.
00:24One of these pleasing scents is called petrichor.
00:27This earthy scent is produced when rain falls on dry soil, and it's actually a combination
00:32of two different smells.
00:34The first comes from plants.
00:36Certain plants secrete oils during dry spells, and when it rains, these oils are released
00:41into the air.
00:42And the second odor sprouts from the soil.
00:45It comes from chemicals from soil-dwelling bacteria, and it's also released when rain
00:49hits the ground.
00:51But this petrichor scent isn't the only reason that the smell of rain is pleasing.
00:56There's also the scent of ozone.
00:58That's right, ozone.
01:00It's formed during thunderstorms, when lightning causes chemical reactions to take place in
01:05the atmosphere.
01:06The sharp smell of ozone is somewhat similar to chlorine.
01:10And if you're one of those people who can smell rain coming, ozone is why.
01:15Wind can carry the molecules from an approaching storm straight into your nostrils.
01:20The scent of rain.
01:21Just another one of life's little mysteries.