Petrichor, that fresh aroma you can smell after the rain, is caused by a little molecule called geosmin. The name literally means "earth smell." It's produced by soil bacteria and gives an earthy flavour to beets.
Humans are extremely sensitive to this scent – much, much more sensitive than sharks are to blood. Some think we evolved that way to find fresh drinking water after droughts.
@InvaderXan new project; hook up humidifiers to wind turbines in my backyard
since we're on the subject, any ideas on low cost fog/mist reclamation? More the former than the latter, I'm more interesting in capturing stuff in the air before it hits the ground but I haven't been able to find specs on this sort of thing.
@joamo Someone on tumblr told me about a device used in South America called an atrapaniebla, for collecting water from fog. Apparently they're often used for sea mists in Chile.
In English, I think it's called a fog fence? Basically, a big sheet of netting which fog condenses onto. Perhaps that could be what you need?
(Image: Flickr/Nicole Saffie, https://www.flickr.com/photos/26946475@N08/9292245749)
@InvaderXan Yeah! I read about that when some articles were published a while back, but I didn't see a name or specs for it. Is it literally just a net? IIRC the students designed some nifty features into it.
Answered my own question with first page googling: https://watersustainabilityandfogwater.wordpress.com/fog-catchers-and-how-to-make-your-own/
Thanks for the search term 
@joamo Anytime! ☀️
As far as I can tell, it's a net with some drainpipe and a water butt to collect any water that condenses.
I'd guess something water repellant like nylon would be ideal. You'd probably need to suspend it carefully so the water runs down where you want it – though be careful if you're making one, as some types of cord shrink slightly when they're wet!
toxicodendron radicans
jay 🌱