Earthy

Petrichor

Note Profile

Mineral 27 perfumes

Also Known As

Petrichor Accord

About

Petrichor is an accord that recreates the smell of rain on dry earth. It is built from materials such as geosmin, isobutyl quinoline, patchouli and vetiver. It smells of wet soil, clay and damp stone, with green touches and a faint ozonic freshness. It can move from sharp to mellow. It is used in the heart or base for realism.

Scent Profile

Petrichor evokes the distinctive scent of earth after rainfall, characterized by mineral, damp stone, and subtle green nuances. It carries facets of wet soil, clay, and a faintly ozonic freshness that can shift from sharp to mellow as it develops. The note is often described as grounding and atmospheric, with a realistic impression of rain-soaked landscapes.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~4h lasting

Family Woody & Earthy, Fresh & Citrus

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

(+)-geosmin

Principally this

CAS 16423-19-1

Geosmin is the wet-earth-after-rain compound, and we hold it. An earlier version of this link said otherwise and was wrong. Petrichor is the whole phenomenon and geosmin is its strongest single contributor, so this is the main odorant rather than the note itself.

How the layers join

Origin

Petrichor is not a single natural extract but a recreated accord in perfumery, inspired by the interaction of rain with dry earth. The effect is typically achieved using a blend of materials such as geosmin, isobutyl quinoline, patchouli, vetiver, and other earthy or mineral notes. These components are synthesized or isolated from natural sources to mimic the complex aroma of rain on soil.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use petrichor accords primarily in the heart or base of a composition to impart realism and a sense of place. It pairs well with green, woody, and aquatic notes, enhancing naturalistic or atmospheric fragrances. The note is valued for its ability to evoke mood and memory, often anchoring compositions with an earthy, contemplative depth.