It is a too hot day for the beginning of summer. Stuffy weather rose over picturesque surroundings by occupying every tiny place. Sky is too dark over clouds that cannot light up by natural sun rays. In some moments it seems that the nature died down. Moreover the birds which appeared to be cheerful before passed out of sight in their further nests. Generally, I am not in great favor to walk in “unfortunate” days of nature yet it has own loveliness. Since the nature is preparing to meet his majesty “RAIN” the smell of which I am crazy about.
How does the rain smell? Many poems in my native language are devoted to that particular smell. I guess I should emphasize that I like the smell of approaching rain and in addition the first two minutes of raining when in summer hot days the heated asphalt of big cities covers with first small drops of rain’s cool water. It is an incredible enjoyment for me to smell that. It is hard to describe but sill it has fresh and fascinating, cool and bright and some heady smell. I try to be outside any time when it is going to rain with purpose not to miss tremendous smell which continues only several minutes. Several minute happiness of smell of sky’s roar mixed with calmness of nature. I associate the smell of approaching rain with foretaste of crispness of spring coolness which absorbs to all parts of body through nose. It brings support in future successes for some people however it could accompany with old sad memories of past for others.
The Robert Henson just like me was interested in the smell of approaching rain and wrote a lot about it in his article “Smells like rain”. He says: “It’s not an easy aroma to describe. Some consider it fresh and earthy; others find it acrid. On the streets of Manhattan, it summons up the soles of shoes and the rubber of automobile tires. On a Kentucky farm, it might hold traces of fresh-cut hay, newly tilled earth, or (whew) fertilizer”.
I liked the way he described the difference between the smell of approaching rain in countryside and big cities as I had experienced it myself. In childhood I got used to visit my grandmother who had been living in village. The rains there vary much from city ones. As a rule, the rain in villages is more often and stronger than in big cities. That is a reason why rains are loved more by city inhabitants than by people who live in countryside. During the time when I spent my holidays in village I frequently was losing my great feelings that appear as a result of smelling the rain that I experienced regularly in city. Since I began to get used to rain falls in village. Generally people of big cities are extra dependable on freshness of rain because of air pollution which is a common picture of big cities than people of countryside.
All these interesting statements lead me to following thoughts: “Why approaching rain smells like that? Are there any biological reasons or is it only me who is anxious about this smell?” After impartial investigation I confronted with materials in article where a Geoff Lewen, a New Jersey physicist said next about the aroma of approaching rain:
“The ‘earthy smell’ which precedes rainy weather is probably due to volatile products of streptomycete metabolism . . . . Streptomycetes are a member of the acrinomycete family of bacteria. Moreover, when we lived in Arizona, you could always tell when a gust front from a nearby thunderstorm arrived by the smell of it. That ‘rain is coming’ odor gets some desert dwellers very excited.”
Oh! That was hard to believe! Could it be truth that my favorite smell of approaching rain is the cause of some bacteria? I was used to perceive this smell as something extraordinary and indescribable. Though, it was the case of real World. The smell which I appreciated so much is the smell of bacteria! Now I guess it would be enough for me to smell bacteria to receive an unbelievable sensation!
Simultaneously, it was interesting to get to know what perfumers think about the smell of rain. Geraldine O’Keefe, for example, a New Jersey perfumer says that each person will have his own interpretation of how rain smells. It’s a translation of a totally emotional experience”. She guesses that after a rain in the city, the smell of blacktop and cement may not seem very pleasant, but to some people, it could be very comforting.
What I essentially find out is that “not all perfumers care about duplicating the smell of rain. Many traditional lines of fragrance are keyed more toward sexual allure than environmental awareness. They consider that an earthy, rainy scent is likely to be made from natural ingredients and might be found at a health food store rather than a department store”.
Conclusion that I did about my favorite smell did not seem as significant as I could imagine. While I was waiting that there are many people who are interested in smell of approaching rain I just came to understanding that it is was not appropriate way of thinking. However, in spite of all these facts I did not change my mind and my attitude to the charming smell of approaching rain remained the same. When I go outside to enjoy it I try to forget that it is only smell of some bacteria and make an effort to represent it as smell of unearthly bliss. It is easier to understand when one stands on the edge of rock with closed eyes and smells the freshness of approaching rain.
