Petrichor, essentially, refers to the smell of rain. But a better description would be that it describes the smell of the earth after rain, especially after a long dry period.

It often is a mixture of soil, rock, and water, and gives a gentle, earthy Vanilla vibe. 

The term comes from the ancient Green words Petra, meaning Rock, or Petros, meaning Stone, and Ikhor, which describes the blood of the Gods, in Greek mythology. 

“Petrichor” was coined by Australian researcher, Dick Thomas, in 1964, having previously been referred to as Argillaceous(Geology) Odour. 

Thomas and fellow researcher Isabel Bear essentially describe Petrichor as such: During dry periods, certain plants produce a compound that gets absorbed by the surrounding soil and rocks. Also found in the soil is another compound called Geosmin, which is secreted by certain bacteria. When raindrops land on the rocks, aerosol bubbles are produced and carry the scents of the compounds into the air, creating the scent we know as petrichor.

British scientist, Thomas Lambe Phipson, described Petrichor beautifully and simply: 

‘The odour…”was due to the presence of organic substances closely related to the essential oils of plants…” and that these substances consist of “...the fragrance emitted by thousands of flowers…” absorbed into the pores of the soil, and only released when displaced by rain.’ *

So, in essence, Petrichor is the aroma of the earth after rain. It is a blend of plants, flowers, soil, and water. 

In fragrance, it can be created by accident or on purpose. There are a few fragrances you can find at Parfumerie Nasreen that will give you the essence of Petrichor.

Black Monsoon Attar from the Parfumerie Nasreen Attar collection embodies the cause of Petrichor. It is inspired by the Monsoon season in India, when heavy rains follow the dry season. Black Spruce, Black Musk, and Myrrh bring an earthy intensity that is tempered with the sweetness of Vanilla and Tonka Bean. Gentle touches of fruits and citruses brighten the composition, and you can almost imagine you are there, enveloped in the aroma.

Levanta Attar from the Parfumerie Attar collection is a simple blend with a lot of complexity. It is simply Lavender Oil and Sandalwood. Lavender has a natural dry aromatic feel to it and the Indian Sandalwood has a sweetness to it. The blend creates an aroma that mimics standing at the edge of a Lavender field after the rain.

Wet Stone from Amouroud is interesting, and slightly realistic. A Wet Stone Accord is blended into a mix of citruses, Sea Salt, Sage, Amber, Cedar, and Patchouli. Close your eyes and breathe in deep, and you are standing at the edge of a creek. The recent heavy rains bring up the aroma of wet earth, and the flowing water awakens the essence of the stones and pebbles in and around its surfaces. 

Encre Noire from Lalique is a foresty scent. Its blend of multiple Vetiver notes, Cypress, and Cashmere Wood creates an almost 'Inky' essence that reminds one of walking through a forest after a heavy rainfall. You can almost picture the aromas of the moist soil, the trees releasing their vegetal essence after opening their pores to the water, and the richness of the air.

Sometimes it depends on your perception, and one person may not notice the Petrichor aroma until someone else points it out.

We’d love to hear about some of your favorite fragrances that have the aroma of Petrichor.

*Sourced and quoted from Wikipedia