What does the smell associated with rain come from? Water does not have a smell, right?

Answer 1

Probably ozone.

Answer 2

As rain comes down it takes polluted particles to the the ground with it leaving fresh and clean smell. Water has a smell but it depends on the water. If it does smell it's had something introduced.

Answer 3

Are you talking about that iron smell? It's ozone. Out here in the desert, though, most of the smell comes from the plants, especially the mesquite tree. Absolutely wonderful smell! So, between the ozone and the plants, that's where the smell is coming from.

Answer 4

I believe Ozone to have a most foul smell...in fact I know it does. The oder is I suspect riding the approaching storm front slightly ahead of the falling rain and wafting freshly wetted botanical materials ahead of the rainfall. Mold may be a part of it but is a pleasent "fresh" aroma to me.

Answer 5

It's from the humidity accumulated from the rain. Also, it depends on what's being rained on. When something gets rained on, it gets wet and produces a smell. For example, my dog can smell like roses, but once she gets wet, she smells icky; hence the term "wet dog" smell...

Answer 6

First off pure water does not smell, but rain water is not pure. There are all kinds of pollutants in water that could cause it to smell.

Answer 7

Ozone - I love that smell of rain

Answer 8

If there's lightning and thunder associated with it, the "fresh" smell is ozone.

Answer 9

the replace in scent is with the help of the upward push in humidity (ammount of water interior the air). smells persist with the water extra useful, then once you inhale them extra of what you scent gets on your sinus in lots of situations. i dont understand a technical call for the scent.

Answer 10

Airborn dust and other particle in the clouds or caught by the rain as it falls.

Answer 11

Another vote for ozone. With or without lightening.