~ PETRICHOR: A Love Story ~

The smell of rain is also known as “petrichor.” It derives its name from the Greek words for “rock” and “the blood of the gods.” Petrichor has some common attributes but is subtly unique to different regions (PNW temperate rainforest versus New Mexican desert, for example). It is strongest after a dry spell when the rain softly hits the ground.

The smell of rain is 450 million years old.

Its biological beginnings have echoed through millennia, maintaining the signature evolutionary leap of a tiny soil bacteria that found a way to reproduce by attracting small arthropods. So successful was this evolution that the smell of rain has wafted through the nostrils of dinosaurs, the drenched canopies of ancient forests, and the open windows of the first humans.

Our love of rain smell is a recognition we share with generations of insects and animals spanning continents. Air, land, and sea animals have breathed in the chemical signature, though human beings can distinguish it in smaller amounts than sharks can distinguish blood in the water.

Rain is part of our planet’s memory.

It was — and remains — the reliable carrier for seed nourishment and life-giving hydration, the gentle watery kisses that hushed parched soils, and the torrential downpours that sculpted the ever-changing landscapes. Rain is the memory of hope, change, respect, balance, seasons, and promise. To smell rain is to be reminded of a much greater story on this planet, one that spans place and time.

This Eau de Toilette fragrance was handcrafted in my studio. Ingredients: essential oils, perfumer’s alcohol, and distilled water. Test skin for allergic reaction; discontinue use if redness or rash appears. Do not ingest.