Creatine is usually described as having no taste or smell. With that said, some users report a mild 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 sealed container of creatine can last a long time, even a year or two past the expiration date. However, if the container has been unlocked for more than 36 months, you must replace it.

Creatine should be odorless

First, let’s get this straight, creatine must be odorless.

With that said, I have seen some users describe it as having a mild sour smell.

Some even say it has a slightly chalky smell.

I think it all comes down to us having different senses to each other, where some may be more sensitive to smell than others.

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

Why does my creatine smell fishy?

If your creatine supplement emits a fishy odor, it often suggests that the product has spoiled or gone bad. Normally, creatine monohydrate is a stable substance that should not give off any strong odor, especially not a fishy odor. In such cases, it is advisable to discard the supplement and avoid consuming it.

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

In fact, I came across various online fitness forums and question-and-answer websites where tons of people complained about the smell of creatine.

This is when you immediately know that there is something wrong with your particular container.

In fact, one user had just purchased a brand new tub and stated that as soon as it was opened, it gave off an extremely strong fishy smell.

As I mentioned, creatine should be odorless, and if you notice an odor, it definitely shouldn’t be anything bad.

So our fish friend has very clearly received a container that has broken for whatever reason.

He mentioned that he had purchased creatine decanoate, which is slightly different from standard creatine monohydrate.

Creatine decanate is a micronized creatine.

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

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

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 fishy, ​​you know for a fact that you probably shouldn’t be consuming it, since. it is likely to make you feel sick.

Return the creatine to the manufacturer immediately and request a replacement or refund.

Does creatine make you smell?

I have to admit that I often laugh to myself at some of the things I read online.

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

He had even “proved” this for himself.

On the days he consumed creatine, he says that he definitely smelled like onions.

And that was even after he had washed and showered.

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

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

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

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 say that creatine does not make you smell.

Where do you store your creatine?

Okay, so you now know that if your new creatine smells bad, you should definitely put it back.

However, what if you’ve had a tub of creatine for a few weeks and it suddenly starts to smell awful?

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

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

As with most powders, you probably don’t want to store it anywhere the temperature is above 70F.

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

However, if you store your container of creatine outdoors, especially near heat or direct sunlight, there is a greater chance of damage.

Plus, humidity can also have an effect.

So you don’t particularly want your container next to the cooker or microwave.

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

And it’s not a good idea to store it near the boiler.

You probably you should not store ant supplement type in your car, especially during very hot weather.

Of course, storing creatine in a warmer environment or in direct sunlight may have no effect at all.

But why take the chance?

How long have you had creatine?

Something else to be aware of is the expiration date of your creatine.

The vast majority of supplements will have an expiration date.

This is usually within a maximum of 3 years from the manufacture 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 expiration.

With that said, if you have a container that has been open for more than 36 months, I would suggest throwing it away and replacing it.

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

Therefore, we never get 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 may be pushed to take creatine capsules.

In fact, if you bought a good quality creatine, there should be absolutely no difference between the pills and the powder.

I’ve heard people say that capsules go into circulation faster, but I pay very little attention to that.

Creatine supplementation is all about filling your muscles with creatine and then maintaining that state.

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

I will say that creatine powder is less expensive than capsules, so this is something to consider if you’re on a tight budget.

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

In reality, it just comes down to personal preference.

Final Thoughts

So, as you can see, if your creatine smells bad, then it probably means that there is something 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 container, then return it to the manufacturer.

You should also make sure to store your creatine in a cool, dry place.

Plus, remember that creatine has an expiration date, so be careful how long you’ve kept the container.

So that’s the “smell” dealt with, but here’s another common complaint, namely, why creatine makes you feel hungry?

Hi, I’m Partha, owner and founder of My Bodyweight Exercises. I am a level 3 personal trainer and certified strength and conditioning specialist through the Register of Exercise Professionals, UK. I have been a regular gym goer since 2000 and have been training clients since 2012. My goal is to help you achieve your body composition goals.