Geosmin is an
organic compound with a distinct earthy flavor and aroma produced by a type of
Actinobacteria, and is responsible for the earthy taste of
beets and a contributor to the strong scent (
petrichor) that occurs in the air when rain falls after a dry spell of weather or when soil is disturbed. In chemical terms, it is a
bicyclic alcohol with
formula , a derivative of
decalin. Its name is derived from the Greek γεω- "earth" and ὀσμή "smell".