birdienl: (Default)
[personal profile] birdienl
You probably all experienced it, the lovely smell of a forest after rain. It's very distinctive, but what makes it smell so good? 

It can be caused by multiple things. One of the main reasons is a group of bacteria called Actinomycetes. These very common bacteria grow in the soil, in damp and warm conditions. When the soil dries out, as in summer, the bacteria produce tiny spores. Rainfall kicks the spores up into the air and we breathe them in. The spores have a typical, earthy smell, which we associate with rainfall. 

Another typical after-the-rain smell comes from the volatile oils plants and trees secrete. The oils collect on the ground and on rocks and when the rain reacts with the oils, it is carried as a gas through the air. Most people consider this a fresh and  pleasant smell, and it even been bottled and sold for it's aromatic qualities!




At Ascension Day, I visited Amerongen Castle. I posted my pictures from the visit at [livejournal.com profile] all_castles. If you're interested, you can read about it here


Date: 2012-05-23 11:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] msantimacassar.livejournal.com
I just love the smell of rain! Here in the desert it is especially wonderful...

Date: 2012-05-24 07:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] birdienl.livejournal.com
I can imagine that!

Date: 2012-05-24 06:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elysium-22.livejournal.com
Your journal entries are very interesting!
Thanks for sharing this.

Amazing pictures!

Date: 2012-05-24 07:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] birdienl.livejournal.com
Aw, thanks very much!

Date: 2012-05-24 07:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ever-maedhros.livejournal.com
I always wondered why rainfall encourage the smell that it does. :)

Date: 2012-05-24 07:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] birdienl.livejournal.com
And now you know, yay! ;-)

Date: 2012-05-24 09:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] florencia7.livejournal.com
That's so interesting about the scent of the rain! I love the way in which you do this 100 things blogging challenge. It's really fun. And the castle is sooo beautiful ♥

Date: 2012-05-25 09:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] birdienl.livejournal.com
Thank you! I find it quite hard to come up with these facts, so I save up on things I'm curious about myself and things I read in magazines etc. If you've ever got any suggegstions, don't hestitate to tell me!

Date: 2012-05-25 01:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mystery-spell.livejournal.com
I agree! That smell is so nice during and after the rain, especially when it means that the humidity (thank you, NYC area) is gone.

Lovely pictures!

Date: 2012-05-25 09:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] birdienl.livejournal.com
Oh, it was so humid here to for the last few days. Then the rain is such a blessing!

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