Table of contents:
- Petrichor, the distinctive smell that appears when it rains
- Actinomycetes, the bacteria behind the smell of rain
- The acidity of the rain also has an effect
- Natural oil from plants
- So, why do some people like the smell of rain?
- Life experience
- The result of human evolution
Many people love rain. Some of them feel calm or sleepy hearing the sound of falling water. Some others are happy to smell the aroma that appears. Actually, what makes rain smell so special? Why would anyone like to smell when it rains or has just stopped?
Petrichor, the distinctive smell that appears when it rains
Rain is indeed a natural phenomenon that can evoke various feelings, ranging from feelings of confusion when it rains, comfort, or peace when the smell of rain appears.
Yes, when it rains or has stopped, you may notice a distinctive smell. Usually, this scent comes out of the ground when it rains after a prolonged dry season.
Apparently, what many people call the smell of rain has a special term, you know. In 1964, a pair of Australian scientists named Isabel Joy Bear and R. G. Thomas conducted a study on the scent of rain. In this study, they describe the phenomenon of the aroma of rain with the term petrichor.
Emergencepetrichorcan be caused by a number of things, from bacteria released into the air, to oils found in plants.
Actinomycetes, the bacteria behind the smell of rain
Reporting from the EarthSky.org site, one of the main causes of rain has a distinctive smell is actinomycetesoractinobacteria.
Actinomycetesis a type of fibrous bacteria that grows in the soil. The tiny spores that come from these bacteria will be released into the humid air, then they are inhaled and enter our sense of smell.
The acidity of the rain also has an effect
Apart from bacteriaactinomycetes,the level of acidity present in rainwater also affects the odor that appears.
When rainwater falls and comes into direct contact with dust or organic chemicals in the soil, a distinctive aroma will come out of the reaction.
Natural oil from plants
The "cool" scent that appears when it rains can also be formed from natural oils derived from plants. This oil is one of the main keys why the smell of rain is so liked by most people.
The oil found in these plants is oilvolatile, which is a type of volatile oil. Oilvolatileit is also a type of aromatherapy oressential oil.
So, why do some people like the smell of rain?
Now you know what are the ingredients and chemical reactions behind the scent of rain. However, what exactly causes some people to really like this scent?
Here are some reasons why some people love the smell of rain:
Life experience
One theory as to why a certain scent, such as the smell of rain, is liked by some people is inseparable from your life experiences.
According to Rachel Herz, a psychologist from Brown University, this olfactory preference (taste) has even been formed since you were just born.
Human smell is closely related to the brain, amygdala and hippocampus. These two parts of the brain are responsible for forming long-term memories or emotional events.
Herz added that the human olfactory system is formed in such a way that certain scents can be associated with certain experiences, whether those experiences are pleasant or not. From here humans begin to be able to distinguish whether a smell is good to smell or not.
So, it's possible that when you were a baby or a child, you often smelled something that resembled the scent of rain. Your brain then associates the scent with memories of certain pleasant events or experiences, so that you love the smell of rain.
The result of human evolution
Some experts also believe that this is the result of human evolution. According to an anthropologist from the University of Queensland in Australia, Diana Young, this phenomenon is called cultural synesthesia, or cultural synesthesia. This term refers to the mixing of different sensory experiences in society because of a particular evolutionary history.
How can? It is possible that humans in ancient times liked to smell the rain because there were more plants and animals that could be eaten when the rainy season arrived.
Now, thinking like this is what makes the scent of rain associated with something positive and pleasant. This thought may have been passed on biologically from our ancestors to humankind today. That's why some people like the smell of rain even though they don't know exactly why.
