# What's that smell in the air just before it rains? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 18, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351 "2011-11-18T15:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phhsd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c0e974/32.png) [@phhsd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phhsd)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/1 "2011-11-18T15:56:43Z")
> **[What’s that smell right before it rains? Plus: Will spinning around too much...](https://www.straightdope.com/21344114/what-s-that-smell-right-before-it-rains-plus-will-spinning-around-too-much-kill-you)** Wasn’t the question Before it rains, not just as? And isn’t it caused by the positive ionization of the air? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/2 "2011-11-18T17:56:29Z")
Yes, that was the question, and Cecil answered it. If it hasn’t started raining where you are standing, you smell it because you are downwind of where it is already raining. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/3 "2011-11-19T00:39:51Z")
how could anyone find that smell unpleasant? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/4 "2011-11-19T13:55:30Z")
“What’s that smell in the air just before it rains?” The joke goes “usually, a wonderful outdoor barbecue.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/5 "2011-11-19T19:29:17Z")
Lots of things smell good in very low concentrations and are absolutely revolting in mass. Ever hear of ambergris? It was a crucial ingredient in high-quality perfumes for centuries—and it’s whale vomit, with an odor often described as “fecal”. ---
**Author:** ![harwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eb8c5e/32.png) [@harwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harwell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/6 "2011-11-29T19:34:23Z")
I live in the Pacific Northwest. What is this “dry earth” Cecil speaks of? ---
**Author:** ![jaychandler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47c2d/32.png) [@jaychandler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaychandler)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-that-smell-in-the-air-just-before-it-rains/603351/7 "2011-11-30T13:53:06Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Lots of things smell good in very low concentrations and are absolutely revolting in mass. Yeah, have you been in a Yankee Candle store lately??? I love a good scented candle, but that place gives me a headache within SECONDS. ☹