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 following fragrances.
- Sixteen92 Hessian Of The Hollow Parfum - Hessian of the Hollow was released as part of Sixteen92's Friday the 13th Collection (originally released October 13, 2017). The headless rider who roams the roads and forests of Sleepy Hollow in search of his missing head. His scent is eerie and wrathful: the haze of smoke from an extinguished lantern; the sudden clatter of horse hooves on frozen ground; charred wood and distant fire; ashes and bone; iron shrapnel; and the chill of night air in a moonless forest, still damp from autumn rain. An eerie atmospheric that is simultaneously fiery and chilled; cold fog and frozen leaves aside smoke, fire, ash and charred woods. Primarily a dark, dreary and smoky wood fragrance. Hessian Of The Hollow features notes of cold iron, frozen fog, petrichor, charred birch, forest mushroom, extinguished fire and bone ash.
- Juliet Rose Perfumes Gothic Woods EDP - Deep dark woody gothic unisex fragrance that is not for the faint hearted. This perfume contains deep aged frankincense, cedar and vetiver which brings a very deep base. It also contains a petrichor note which is that delicious smell of earth after rainfall. There are lighter top notes of bergamot, pine and basil which balances the composition out. On the whole this fragrance is earthy and warm yet chilly, a beauty and a beast. With top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, basil and pine; middle notes of cypress, Palo Santo, palmarosa and ho wood; and base notes of vetiver, cypress, aged frankincense, myrrh and amber.
- Ottochem Perfumes Wet Soil EDP - Wet soil is based on Indian mitti attar. It 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. It is a vegan scent and comes from Kannauj, India.
- Redwood Alchemy Traveler Parfum - Traveler tells a tale of traveling trails through brush and undergrowth. Ferns and grasses brush by lightly as moss and leaves dampen steps taken through forested paths. It features notes of wood, petrichor, leaves, fern, moss and grass.
- Sixteen92 Layering Accord No 01: Petrichor Parfum - The layering accords feature simple blends or singular crafted notes. Experiment with different combinations to create your own unique scent or wear them on their own for a little boost of nostalgia any time you need it. Petrichor is the earthy scent of rain on warm, dry soil.
