noun
- A volatile organic compound produced by certain bacteria and algae that gives soil and water a distinctive earthy smell, especially after rain.
Usage: technical; chemistry/biology
Examples
- The geosmin released by soil bacteria after a rainstorm creates that characteristic petrichor smell.
- Geosmin is responsible for the earthy taste sometimes found in drinking water.
- Cyanobacteria produce geosmin as a byproduct of their metabolism.
- The human nose can detect geosmin at extremely low concentrations, even in parts per trillion.
- Water treatment plants often struggle to remove geosmin from municipal water supplies.