Words We Love 2025: Petrichor

A little something extra on Valentine's Day!

This word is shared as part of the Words We Love Substack Carnival, a lexicon of lovable language compiled by some of your current or future favorite educators and writers on Substack. Enjoy all the Valentine’s Day vocabulary on the Words We Love 2025 page.

Let's explore a wonderfully evocative word: PETRICHOR!

Have you ever smelled that amazing scent after a rain shower? You're not alone. It's a truly special experience. Close your eyes, breathe it in, and let the storm wash away the dust!

👉 PETRICHOR (noun): The earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry ground.

Example: The air was thick with the sweet smell of petrichor after the summer rain.

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Here’s a little short story about what petrichor does for me…

The first fat drops splatter on the dusty pavement, a herald of the storm to come. You perch on the edge of the park fountain and tilt your face upwards, welcoming the cool kiss of the rain. The air, thick with the promise of release, crackles with a strange energy. Then, it arrives.

Not just the rain, but it. Petrichor.

The word itself feels like a poem on your tongue, a secret whispered by the earth. It isn't just a smell; it is a feeling. The parched ground, thirsty for the downpour, exhales a sigh of relief, releasing the trapped scent of sun-baked earth and minerals.

It is the smell of renewal, of cleansing, of the earth breathing again.

You close your eyes, letting the rain wash over you, the scent filling your senses. It transports you. You are no longer in the bustling city park, but in a vast, open field, the rain drumming a rhythm on the tall grasses. You are a child again, barefoot and free, chasing lightning bugs in the twilight after a summer storm. You remember your grandmother, her hands gnarled with age but gentle as the rain itself, explaining the magic of petrichor, telling you it is the earth's way of saying thank you.

A smile touches your lips. It is more than just a thank you, you think. It is a promise. A promise of new beginnings, of growth, of the earth’s endless cycle of life and rebirth.

The rain intensifies, a curtain of shimmering water, but you don't move. You are lost in the moment, enveloped by the scent, a connection to something ancient and powerful.

The city noises fade into the background, replaced by the symphony of the storm – the drumming rain, the rumbling thunder, and the earth's grateful sigh. It is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy, a reminder that even in the heart of the city, the magic of nature and the power of a single word can transport you to another world.

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👉 Now it's your turn!

Share your thoughts in the comments:

• What's your favourite thing about a rainy day?

• Does the smell of petrichor bring back any memories for you?

• Have you ever tried to describe the scent of petrichor to someone? How did you do it?