Heaven's Scent

One of my most enduring memories from childhood is the long summer holidays and endless rain. For people my age the one exception was 1976. A hosepipe ban, a ladybird plague and sunstroke for feral children. Now that was a proper summer! Otherwise, for me it was a childhood spent staring out of my window into the endless greyness wishing the rain would stop.

Times have changed and our planet is warming up but the British rain is constant. This summer (and spring, for that matter) seems wetter and colder than usual. I am no scientist, but I understand that the southerly direction of the Jetstream this year is largely responsible, dragging down cold wet weather from the north.

The good news is, rain can make you happier and healthier. Again, I am no scientist, but I understand this is due to the negative ions released when rain splashes on the ground or indeed on your face. When you inhale them, it is thought they can help to relieve stress and boost your energy levels.

So, I hear you cry, why aren’t we the happiest and healthiest nation on earth? It should be clear by now that I am no scientist, but I suspect it’s because we are staring out of our windows at the rain rather playing outside in the rain.

I don’t want to be a hypocrite. There are still plenty of days when I stare out of my window at the rain. Often, when I am in the car psyching myself up for a hike or bike ride. Just ten more minutes in my cozy car, I think. Ten more minutes for the rain to ease. Ten more minutes for the ground to dry. Ten more minutes for whatever other feeble excuse I can think of.

As if by magic, after just a few strokes of the pedals or a few steps on the trail your senses start to tingle. The earthy scent that comes with fresh rain soon fills your nostrils and then intoxicates your brain. The term petrichor, or smell of rain, is itself illuminating. It comes from the Greek words petra, meaning "stone", and ichor, meaning "the fluid that flows in the veins of the gods" (thank you BBC for that little nugget!). For me it is indeed heaven’s scent, for you it might just be chemicals being released into the air. Either way, let’s all get out and play in the rain. It really is good for you!