earthsmelling

Earthsmelling is the deliberate act of noticing and describing the scent of soil and earth. It is used in sensory education, nature therapy, and mindfulness practices to cultivate awareness of the natural environment through olfactory sensation. The term combines earth and smelling and is not widely standardized, but it has appeared in discussions of experiential learning and environmental perception as a way to focus attention on the odors associated with soil.

In practice, earthsmelling involves selecting a location with exposed earth or a soil sample, then engaging in slow, intentional breathing through the nose while observing the scent. Participants may note qualitative characteristics such as dampness, mineral notes, woody or mossy tones, or acidic hints, and some exercises accompany the smell with journaling, drawing, or verbal descriptions. Understanding soil chemistry and biology helps explain variations in earthy odors: compounds such as geosmin contribute to the distinct “earthy” smell, while processes like rainfall can produce petrichor, the scent of rain on dry soil. Moisture, temperature, microbial activity, and soil type all influence perceived odors.

Earthsmelling has applications in education, therapy, and horticulture. In classrooms, it can illustrate soil science and the human sense of smell; in nature therapy or mindfulness practice, it may support grounding and stress reduction; and in horticultural training, it can heighten sensitivity to environmental cues and soil health. Safety considerations include avoiding sniffing soil that may be contaminated or moldy, and recognizing that olfactory experiences are highly subjective and vary among individuals and contexts.

Related concepts include petrichor and geosmin, which describe specific sources of earthy scents, and the broader field of scent ecology, which studies how humans perceive environmental odors.