Why after rains there is smell from soil?

Answer 1

When water hits almost anytype of material it can magnify it's smell because water is adhesive (it sticks to other objects). When water evaporates it can carry greater amounts of small scent particles with it into the air thus increasing the smell of whatever was in the soil. If this smell is particularly offensive you may want to check your soil for things that could be rotting etc.

Also, moisture in your nasal area can help attract scent particles from the air, this is why after a shower you temporarily have a stronger sense of smell.

Answer 2

Geosmin gives moist soil its familar earthy smell. Geosmin is produced as actinomycetes break down organic matter. Actinomycetes are a filamentous bacteria that produce spores and hyphae, like fungi. They are important to healthy soil function, and are ubiquitous. Thus the smell of healthy soil is similar the world over.

Answer 3

The water evaporates with the smell of the soil.

Answer 4

I guess the best way to answer this would be like when you take a shower or a bath, you have a smell from the wet soap. I like the smell of the earth after a shower; it makes me think of things growing. Of course I would not want to smell earth that has decaying matter, animal feces, sulfur, etc., scatter upon it. That would be very unpleasant, don't you think?

Answer 5

can you smell dog doo when its dry? Nope, so when the soil gets wet you can smell it same as dog doo.

Answer 6

Gasses released during the absorption/evaporation process.