✗ The myth everyone repeats
The distinctive smell of a wet dog comes from the water being absorbed into the dog's fur.
✓ What is actually true
The wet dog smell doesn't come from water itself but from volatile organic compounds produced by bacteria and fungi on the dog's skin and fur. Water activates and releases these compounds, making the smell more noticeable. These compounds include geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, which also give soil its characteristic smell after rain.
Reception
The receipts 2 sources
- NOVA: Wet Dog SmellREFERENCE
- Science Magazine: Wet Pet OdorREFERENCE