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Writer's pictureRajalakshmi Dhandapani

The Scent of Soil

When we cross a restaurant or bakery unknowingly, most of us will be tempted to eat, because the smell of the food pulls us towards them. Am I right? Some of us likes the smell of coffee, some tea. So, irrespective of the food items, everyone has our own preference. While traveling to different places, you might have noticed a particular smell for different regions. It might be due to the flora and fauna, or it might also be pollution. We humans are interlinked with this scent.


How many of you have noticed a particular scent after rain from the soil? May be at least a few of us might have noticed this. I mostly experience this smell, whenever there is rain in nearby areas after a dry period and the wind distributes this pleasant smell to us even before rain occurs at our place and believe me or not, I always feel refreshed by this smell. I hardly know the reason for that. Every one of us likes a particular scent. I liked this, and so do some of you.


Have you wondered what is the reason behind the smell of soil after rain? I do wondered... and one day in my microbiology class of my Bachelor's degree, I got the answer. Hurray! And the answer is due to a type of bacteria present in the soil. The bacteria are Actinomycetes. These bacteria produce a compound known as Geosmin, after a long dry spell when rain occurs. That is the reason for the earthy smell.


So, now you know the reason for the earthy smell after rain. Enjoy them when you experience it, with pride that, now you know the reason behind it. Enjoy life with science.

Like every organism has a special scent, the women in our society have their special scent according to the place they thrive, and they see to it that they have that uniqueness in whatever they do. As a mom, as a daughter, as a sister, as a wife, as a daughter-in-law, as a grandmother, as a friend, as a home maker, as an entrepreneur, as an employee, whatever role we are, we maintain a special scent, that is unique to us.

Our unique scent is our strength. Let us grab to it and grow together.

Happy Women's Day !

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