Petrichor is the scent that is created when the rain hits dry ground after a long period of dry weather. Bacteria, plants and even lightning can all play a role in the pleasant smell we experience after a thunderstorm. This scent has long been chased by scientists and even perfumers for its enduring appeal. First named by two Australian researchers in the 1960s as petrichor, it is the warm, earthy fragrance we experience when rain hits dry ground. It was already a signature fragrance being produced in Kannauj, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India in the 1960s and was called "mitti attar" (Earth's perfume). This village has been capturing the scent of rain and do it to this day.
For a bit more of a scientific look, you know how just before it rains, you can smell the rain? That's because the air becomes more humid and the ground begins to moisten. This process helps to speed up the activity of the actinobacteria and more geosmin is formed. When raindrops fall on the ground, especially porous surfaces such as loose soil or rough concrete, they will splatter and eject tiny particles called aerosols. The geosmin and other petrichor compounds that may be present on the ground or dissolved within the raindrop are released in aerosol form and carried by the wind to surrounding areas. If the rainfall is heavy enough, the petrichor scent can travel rapidly downwind and alert people that rain is soon on the way. The scent eventually goes away after the storm has passed and the ground begins to dry. This leaves the actinobacteria lying in wait – ready to help us know when it might rain again.
You will receive a 1/2ml sample (1ml sample vial filled half full) of each of the fragrances in this sampler. You also have the option of choosing a larger sized sampler.
- Filippo Sorcinelli Pioggia Moderata Extrait de Parfum - Pioggia Moderata is the nostalgia of finding yourself walking in Milan while your own steps draw your emotions on the wet road. Pioggia Moderata features top notes of bergamot, iris, marine notes, myrtle and nutmeg; middle notes of jasmine, clove, precious woods and soil; and base notes of musk, thyme, tonka bean, labdanum, patchouli and sandalwood.
- Independents Warsaw Petrichor EDP - The smell of the air after a storm. With notes of geosmin, incense, cypriol, musk T, ISO E Super, and Ambroxan.
- Marissa Zappas Petrichor EDP - Reminiscent of cold, wet dirt, while at the same time feeling luminescent. It’s main note is orris, the bulb of an iris flower. There is a rooty, shimmering effect that is undeniably like the scent of fresh rain on dirt and cold stone. It is a cold, dry, powdery, dramatic, avant-garde, conceptual fragrance with top notes of damp earth and lemon; middle notes of immortelle, orris and vetiver; and base notes of ambergris, sandalwood, moss and musk.
- Ottochem Perfumes Wet Soil EDP - Wet soil is based on Indian mitti attar. It is an extremely long lasting eau de parfum that is reminiscent of dark clouds hanging low. Lightening, thunder and finally.....the first downpour of the season. Wet Soil is inspired by the earth’s rejuvenating scent after a refreshing rainfall and it encapsulates the purity and vibrancy of the outdoors. Let it transport you to a tranquil oasis, where the essence of rain-soaked earth and lush greenery intertwine to create an unforgettable olfactory experience.
- Solstice Scents Cliffside Bonfire EDP - A aquatic forest fragrance with a touch of petrichor and some warm woodsmoke. It is a dry, woody blend with a generous dose of sea spray, followed by light charred wood, embers and a bit of wood smoke. The dry woods and smoke are more apparent as the blend begins to dry down. It features notes of Ponderosa pine, sub-alpine fir, tamarack, swiss stone pine, spruce, Siberian fir, juniper wood, Port Orford cedar, blue cypress, seaweed, ambergris, oud, moss, fossilized amber and birch tar. It was created as part of a collection of fragrances based on the fictional town of Foxcroft, Maine.
- TokyoMilk Sonoran Bloom Parfum - Rain-soaked blossoms unfold in rare beauty. Lush notes of alluring Saguaro Flower enchant passersby, set against a saturated Red Clay base in this uniquely fresh floral. A sumptuous display, desert splendor awakened. Desert Splendor Awakened: petrichor, saguaro flower, agave and red clay.
