This dataset contains information about how seeds collected from Brazilian Cerrado plant species germinate in smoke water and control water solutions. Seeds were collected from site across the Cerrado between 2013 and 2020. Germination was assessed in laboratory experiments by placing seeds on wet filter paper with water and smoke water solutions. Two different methods were used. One used a commercially available smokewater, Regen 2000 and the other used smoke water produced from burning biomass collected in central Brazil. Germination was counted daily by observing emergence of radicle from the seed. The work was supported by NE/T004851/1 NERC-FAPESP Seedcorn Fund Collaboration Project "Fire-adapted seed traits in Cerrado species" between RHUL (UK) and UNESP (Brazil). Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/ad4e3224-4674-47a1-ad1a-80c1c109f20c