Word of the Week 1: Petrichor

Meaning: Petrichor is the distinctive earthy aroma that rises when rain falls on dry soil. It’s that nostalgic scent of summer storms, often described as fresh, musky, or sweetly mineral.

Etymology: The term was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists Isabel Joy Bear and R.G. Thomas. They blended the Greek words petra (“stone”) and ichor (“the ethereal fluid said to flow in the veins of the gods”) to describe the oil exuded from rocks and soil before rain, which releases the smell when water hits the ground.

Example in a Sentence: "After weeks of drought, the first drops of rain released a wave of petrichor that drifted through the open windows.”