geosmin

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek γεω- (geō-, “earth”) + ὀσμή (osmḗ, “smell”) +‎ -in.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /d͡ʒiːˈɒz.mɪn/
  • (US) IPA(key): /d͡ʒiˈɑz.mɪn/

Noun

geosmin (countable and uncountable, plural geosmins)

  1. (organic chemistry) A bacterial derivative of decahydronaphthalene that has a strong earthy smell and is the material responsible for petrichor and for the earthy taste of beetroot.
    • 1998, F. Colin, Ph. Quevauviller, Monitoring of Water Quality, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 151:
      A good example of this is geosmin, for which a typical sensitivity for the human nose is below 10 parts per trillion (10 parts in 1018 v/v) (ppt).
    • 2011, Olaf C.G. Adan, Robert A. Samson, Fundamentals of mold growth in indoor environments and strategies for healthy living, Springer, →ISBN, page 255:
      A. versicolor may be one of the major producers of the moldy smelling component, geosmin, in buildings (Bjurman and Kristensson 1992).
    • 2014, Burkhard Fugmann, Susanne Lang-Fugmann, Wolfgang Steglich, editors, RÖMPP Encyclopedia Natural Products, Georg Thieme Verlag, →ISBN:
      Beetroots: The flavor is decisively characterized by the earthy note of geosmin

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