Lovely rain... but a recurring question...

[sbisson]

Thunder is rumbling around South London, and the heavens have opened, cooling things down nicely after a busy day involving furniture construction, an interesting press event, and a hot afternoon's shopping for this year's summer wardobe...

But, as marypcb and I were walking back down the road from the tube station it was just starting to spit with rain, leaving us with a question that keeps coming back: what is it that makes that lovely smell of rain on warm pavements?

Comments

[nmg.livejournal.com]

If it weren't for the fact that petrichor is in the OED, I'd accuse you of making that word up.

Does this mean that the English language is now complete?

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

I must confess to having a similar thought when I heard the word, as well!