Creatine is generally described as having no taste or odor. That being said, some users report a slight sour smell, but certainly nothing serious. If 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 unsealed for more than 36 months, you must replace it.
Creatine should be odorless
First of all, let’s be clear, creatine should be odorless.
That being said, I have 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 this all comes down to the fact that we have different senses from each other, some may be more sensitive to smell than others.
However, when you first buy creatine, and even if you have been using a tub for a while, it should not have any particular bad odor.
Why does my creatine smell like fish?
If your creatine supplement smells fishy, this often suggests that the product is spoiled or deteriorated. Normally, creatine monohydrate is a stable substance that should not emit strong odors, especially those reminiscent of fish. In such cases, it is advised to discard the supplement and avoid consuming it.
I did some research online about the smelly creatine phenomenon and was quite surprised by what I found.
In fact, I came across various online fitness forums and question and answer sites where multitudes of people were complaining about the smell of creatine.
This is when you immediately know there is a problem with your particular container.
In fact, one user had just purchased a brand new bathtub and proclaimed that once opened it had an extremely strong fishy smell.
As I mentioned, creatine should be odorless, and if you find it has an odor, it certainly shouldn’t be bad.
So our fish friend clearly received a container that went bad for some reason.
He mentioned that he purchased creatine decanate, which is slightly different from standard monohydrate.
Creatine decanate is micronized creatine.
This simply means that creatine is essentially monohydrate, but the molecules have been cut up or split.
This essentially increases the surface area of the creatine, which promotes faster absorption and can reduce possible stomach discomfort.
And this is just one of 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 coming 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 consume it, because it might make you sick.
Return the creatine to the manufacturer immediately and request a replacement or refund.
Does creatine make you feel?
I have to admit that I often laugh 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 “tested” this for himself.
On the days he took creatine, he says it definitely smelled like onions.
And that was even after he had washed and taken a shower.
However, as a test, he decided to go without creatine for a few days and claimed his onion smell was gone.
Now, I don’t want to get into the ins and outs of this individual’s personal hygiene, diet, or even his sweat glands, but it’s clearly very strange.
Not only should creatine be tasteless and odorless, but it certainly shouldn’t make you smell different when consumed.
Okay, our onion friend has convinced himself that creatine is clearly to blame, but I would venture to guess that there is another explanation.
So, I will categorically say that creatine does not make you feel.
Where do you store your creatine?
Okay, so now you know that if your brand new creatine has a pungent smell, you should definitely return it.
However, what if you’ve been taking a jar of creatine for a few weeks and it suddenly starts to smell terrible?
This may have something to do with where you store your creatine.
Creatine should always be stored in a cool, dry place.
As with most powders, you probably won’t want to store it anywhere the temperature exceeds 70F.
Okay, I understand that due to weather temperatures this is not always possible, but obviously do your best.
However, if you store your creatine container out in the open, especially near heat or direct sunlight, it is more likely to go bad.
Additionally, humidity can also have an effect.
So you don’t particularly want your container near the stove or microwave.
You don’t want to place it on a shelf near a window so it gets direct sunlight.
And it’s not a good idea to store it next to the boiler.
You probably you also shouldn’t store ant-type supplements in your car, especially in very hot weather.
Certainly, storing creatine in a warmer environment or in direct sunlight may have no effect.
But why take this risk?
How long have you been taking your creatine?
Another thing to consider is the expiration date of your creatine.
The vast majority of supplements will have a specific expiration date.
This usually happens within a maximum of 3 years after the product was produced.
However, in reality, a sealed container of creatine that has been stored in a cool, dry place will generally last up to a year or two past the expiration date.
That being said, if you have a container that has been open for more than 36 months, I suggest you throw it out and replace it.
I know most of us usually buy creatine and use it regularly.
Therefore, we never get close to the actual expiration date.
But it’s definitely something you need to be aware of.
Should I use creatine capsules?
I know some users are put off by the fact that their creatine smells bad.
Thus, they could be encouraged to take creatine capsules.
The truth is, if you have purchased a good quality creatine, there should be absolutely no difference between pills and powder.
I have heard people say that the capsules circulate more quickly, but I pay very little attention to this.
Creatine supplementation involves flooding the muscles with creatine and then maintaining this state.
So once you’ve achieved this goal, either through loading or regular consumption, it matters very little how quickly the creatine is absorbed.
I will say that creatine powder is cheaper than capsules, so it’s something to consider if you’re on a tight budget.
Additionally, creatine capsules will also have an expiration date, so they can also “go bad.”
Really, it just comes down to personal preference.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, if your creatine smells bad, it probably means there is something wrong.
Creatine absolutely must be odorless, but if it has a slight odor, it should not smell bad.
If it is a new container, return it to the manufacturer.
You should also make sure to store your creatine in a cool, dry place.
Also, remember that creatine has an expiration date, so be careful about how long you have the container.
So that’s the “smell” we’re talking about, but here’s another common complaint: why does creatine make you hungry?
Hello, 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 going to the gym regularly since 2000 and coaching clients since 2012. My goal is to help you achieve your body composition goals.
