Found the Cause of the 'Earthy Smell' After Heavy Rain... Used as a Perfume Ingredient

Researching cyanobacteria that produce '2-methylisoborneol,' a substance causing the smell of rain. Photo by National Honam Biological Resources Center

The National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, under the Ministry of Environment, announced on the 20th that it has discovered a microorganism that produces the "smell of rain." The institute emphasized that it has filed a patent for culturing the microorganism and aims to contribute to industrial revitalization, such as perfume manufacturing.

The microorganism discovered by the institute is a cyanobacterium that produces "2-methylisoborneol." 2-methylisoborneol is a substance that causes the earthy smell when it rains. Although it is not harmful to humans, it causes a distinctive unpleasant odor in drinking water and is included as a water quality monitoring item. Recently, it has been used as a raw material in perfumes that mimic natural scents, increasing its potential for industrial applications.

Through the "Soil Cyanobacteria Library Construction" project, which began in 2022, the institute discovered that soil microorganisms from islands produce 2-methylisoborneol. Additionally, they developed a method to culture this microorganism and filed a patent last month.

Ryu Tae-cheol, director of the National Institute of Biological Resources in the Honam region, stated, "To revitalize the national bio-industry, including perfume raw materials, we will actively pursue further research on the positive effects of 2-methylisoborneol on brain health functionality."