Urine is a waste product that is produced when the kidneys filter toxins and excess water from the blood. The smell and color of urine can provide important clues about your health and hydration status. Here’s what you need to know about what healthy urine should smell like:
Normal Urine Smell
Most of the time, normal urine should have little to no noticeable smell. If you are hydrated and eating a balanced diet, your urine should be a pale yellow to gold color and should not have a strong or unpleasant odor.
Some descriptions of normal urine smell include:
- Faint or mild smell
- Slightly nutty, corn-like, or ammonia-like smell
- Slightly aromatic or floral smell
The mild smell of normal urine comes from urea, uric acid, water-soluble vitamins, and amino acids that are present. But if you are drinking enough fluids, the smell is very subtle.
Causes of Abnormal Urine Smell
Certain medications, foods, supplements, and medical conditions can alter the smell of your urine. Some causes of abnormal-smelling urine include:
- Dehydration – Concentrated urine with a strong ammonia smell can occur when you are dehydrated and not drinking enough fluids.
- Medications – Some supplements like B-complex vitamins can lead to a strong or unusual urine smell.
- Foods – Asparagus, garlic, onions, and spices can sometimes make urine have a pungent odor when metabolized and passed.
- UTIs – Bacteria that cause urinary tract infections can make urine smell bad, often foul or strongly ammonia-like.
- Diabetes – Uncontrolled diabetes can cause urine to have a sweet, fruity odor due to ketones.
- Liver disease – Severe liver conditions may make urine smell musty or sweet.
When to See a Doctor
While a slight urine smell is normal, a very strong or abnormal odor can signify an underlying health issue. See your doctor if you notice any of these urine smell changes:
- Ammonia-like or very foul-smelling
- Sweet or fruity smell
- Smells like chemicals or rotting eggs
- Strong medicinal smell
- Smell gets worse despite drinking more fluids
Some urine smells like these can indicate infections, metabolic changes, or serious conditions like liver disease. It’s important to get checked out to determine the cause.
Tips for Healthy Smelling Urine
Here are some tips to help keep your urine smelling normal:
- Drink plenty of fluids like water throughout the day. Dark, concentrated urine smells stronger.
- Eat a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
- Avoid excessive vitamins, supplements, and foods that alter smell like asparagus.
- Practice good hygiene to prevent UTIs that can cause foul-smelling urine.
- See your doctor regularly for screenings and checkups.
When to Worry
While urine smells may vary slightly day-to-day, consistent foul or abnormal smells could signal an underlying health issue. See your doctor if you notice these red flags:
- Pungent urine smell lasts more than a few days
- Smell is still strong despite drinking more fluids
- Urine is dark brown, bright red, or cola-colored
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Unexplained nausea and fatigue
- Fever over 101°F (38°C)
Sudden, unexplained changes in urine smell, particularly if combined with other symptoms, should always be evaluated. It could indicate an infection, metabolic problem, or other condition requiring treatment.
The Bottom Line
Healthy urine should have a mild, non-offensive smell. Any sudden, strong, or strange urine odors could signify an underlying problem and should be checked out. To help maintain normal urine smell:
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet.
- Avoid strong-smelling foods if odor bothers you.
- Practice good hygiene.
- See your doctor for any persistent odor changes or other symptoms.
Monitoring urine smell and staying hydrated can help identify potential problems early. Consult a doctor if any abnormal or very strong urine smells develop so the cause can be diagnosed and treated if needed.