Why does my creatine smell bad? (6 facts about smelly creatine)

Creatine is usually described as tasteless or odorless creatine. Additionally, some users report a slight sour smell, but definitely nothing bad. If brand new creatine smells bad, return it to the manufacturer for a replacement or refund. You should also be careful where you store creatine as it can be affected by heat, humidity and direct sunlight. A closed container of creatine can last a long time, even a year or two after the expiration date. However, if the container has been open for more than 36 months, you should replace it.

Creatine should be odorless

First, to be clear, creatine is supposed to be odorless.

Additionally, I’ve seen some users describe it as having a slight sour smell.

There are even those who say it has a slightly chalky smell.

I guess it all boils down to the fact that we have different senses, with some being more sensitive to smell than others.

However, when you first buy creatine, and even if you have been in the bath for a long time, it should not give off any particular bad smell.

Why does my creatine smell like fish?

If your creatine supplement has a fishy smell, it often means that the product has gone bad or spoiled. Under normal circumstances, creatine monohydrate is a stable substance that should not give off strong odors, especially not those that resemble fish. In such cases, it is advisable to discard the supplement and avoid consuming it.

I researched the smelly creatine phenomenon online and was quite surprised at what I found.

In fact, I’ve come across various online fitness forums and Q&A websites where tons of people have complained about the smell of creatine.

Then you know right away that something is wrong with your tank.

In fact, one user just bought a brand new tub and stated that upon opening it, it gave off an extremely strong fishy smell.

As I mentioned, creatine is supposed to be odorless, and if you find that it has an odor, it definitely shouldn’t be a bad thing.

So our fishy friend quite obviously got a tank that went bad for whatever reason.

He mentioned that he bought creatine decanate, which is slightly different from the standard monohydrate.

Creatine decanate is micronized creatine.

This simply means that creatine is essentially monohydrate, but the molecules have been cut or split.

This basically increases the surface area of ​​the creatine, which promotes faster absorption and can reduce potential stomach discomfort.

And this is just one of them many forms of creatine.

But, in reality, even another type of creatine should NOT smell fishy.

There was definitely something wrong with his container.

Even a small amount of water that comes into contact with creatine during the manufacturing process can have an impact.

However, if your creatine smells like fish, you know for sure that you probably shouldn’t be consuming it, because you will probably feel sick.

Immediately return the creatine to the manufacturer and request a replacement or refund.

Does creatine cause an unpleasant smell?

I have to admit that I often laugh to myself at some things I read on the Internet.

In fact, I found one creatine user who was convinced that creatine made him smell like onions.

He even “tested” it himself.

On the days when he consumed creatine, he states that he must have smelled like onions.

And that’s even after he washed and showered.

But as a test, he decided to go without creatine for a few days and claimed that his onion smell disappeared.

Now, I don’t want to get into the details of this person’s personal hygiene, diet, or even his sweat glands, but this is clearly very strange.

Not only should creatine be tasteless and odorless, it certainly shouldn’t make you smell any different when you consume it.

Okay, our onion friend has convinced himself that creatine is clearly to blame, but I’d hazard a guess that there’s another explanation.

So, I will categorically state that creatine does not create an odor.

Where do you keep your creatine?

Okay, so now you know that if your brand new creatine is giving off a pungent smell, you should definitely put it back.

However, what if you’ve been drinking creatine in the bath for a few weeks and it suddenly starts to smell awful?

This may have something to do with where you store your creatine.

Creatine should always be stored in a cool and dry place.

Like most powders, you probably don’t want to store it anywhere that gets above 70F.

Okay, I understand that due to climate temperatures this is not always possible, but obviously do your best.

However, if you store your creatine container outdoors, especially near heat or direct sunlight, it is more likely to go bad.

In addition, humidity can also have an effect.

So you don’t want your bowl near the stove or microwave.

You don’t want it on a shelf near a window so it’s in direct sunlight.

And it is not good to store it next to the boiler.

You probably You shouldn’t keep ant species in your car either, especially during very hot weather.

However, storing creatine in a warmer environment or in direct sunlight may not have any effect.

But why risk it?

How long have you been taking creatine?

Another thing to be aware of is the expiration date of your creatine.

The vast majority of dietary supplements will have an expiration date.

This usually happens within a maximum of 3 years from the production of the product.

However, in reality, a sealed container of creatine that has been stored in a cool, dry place will usually last up to a year or two after it expires.

On that note, if you’ve had an open container for more than 36 months, I suggest throwing it away and replacing it.

I know most of us generally buy creatine and use it regularly.

So we never come close to the actual expiration date.

But this is definitely something you should be aware of.

Should I use creatine capsules?

I know some users are put off by the fact that their creatine smells bad.

So they could be encouraged to take creatine capsules.

In truth, if you have purchased good quality creatine, there should be absolutely no difference between the tablets and the powder.

I’ve heard people claim that the capsules enter the circulation faster, but I pay very little attention to that.

Creatine supplementation is all about flooding the muscles with creatine and then maintaining that state.

So once you’ve achieved this either through bulking or regular consumption, there’s very little difference in how “quickly” creatine is absorbed.

I will say that creatine powder is cheaper than capsules, so it’s something to consider if you’re on a budget.

Additionally, creatine capsules will also have an expiration date, so they can actually “go bad” too.

In reality, it just comes down to personal preference.

Final thoughts

So, as you can see, if your creatine smells bad, it probably means something is wrong with it.

Creatine should definitely be odorless, but if it has a slight odor, it shouldn’t smell bad.

If this is a new cartridge, return it to the manufacturer.

You should also ensure that you store your creatine in a cool, dry place.

Also, don’t forget that creatine has an expiration date, so keep an eye on how long you have the container.

So that’s the “smell” we’ve been dealing with, but here’s another common complaint, namely, why creatine causes hunger?