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What Gives Urine Its Distinctive Smell?

May 6, 2025 08:00 am ET Estimated Read Time: 10 Minutes

Fact checked by Precious Ileh Medically reviewed by Dr. Abraham Benavides

Sometimes, your urine has a strange, weed-like, or other abnormal smell, and you might not be sure what’s causing it. This common experience often leads to online searches driven by curiosity or concern about potential health issues.

This article explores some of the most common reasons behind a cannabis-like urine odor and other types of odd urine odors. We’ll cover how factors like diet, medications, hydration, and underlying health conditions can influence how urine smells. Plus, steps you can take to manage or reduce unusual urine smells, and when it might be time to seek medical attention.

Why Does My Urine Smell Like Sulfur?

Someone on sitting on a toilet bowl — Photo Credit: iStock

Cannabis can change how your body smells—including your urine. After consuming cannabis, the body absorbs and breaks down THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) into different byproducts called metabolites. These metabolites exit the body through sweat, urine, and other bodily fluids.

Some other byproducts the body breaks down include sulfur-containing compounds like dimethyl sulfate and dimethyl trisulfide. These sulfur-containing compounds can cause a sharp, skunky, or weed-like odor. When your body processes the sulfuric and phenolic compounds naturally found in cannabis, these strong-smelling chemicals are metabolized and released in urine and feces.

Some foods, especially those high in sulfur, can also make your urine smell strong or sulfur-like, such as:

Asparagus: It contains a unique compound called asparagusic acid. After the body breaks down asparagus, it produces sulfur-based metabolites, giving urine a noticeable odor. Interestingly, some people metabolize it differently enough not to give off a urine smell, or can’t smell it altogether.
Other foods: Foods like onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, fish, and cumin also contain sulfur compounds that can affect urine smell.

Eating these foods is perfectly fine and carries many health benefits. What you eat can directly influence the smell of your body and urine, but just don’t let it stop you from eating these wholesome and nutritious superfoods.

Health Conditions and Other Things That Can Affect the Smell of Your Pee

In general, urine gets its distinctive smell from the waste products your body removes during digestion and metabolism, such as:

Urea: This is a nitrogen-based compound that forms as your body breaks down protein. It makes up a large part of urine.
Ammonia: Formed when bacteria break down urea, especially in sitting urine. Ammonia gives urine a more noticeable, concentrated smell.
Other waste products: Waste products such as electrolytes, volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) mentioned above, and different compounds also add to the overall odor of urine.

Typically, changes in urine smell can be harmless and have much to do with what you put into your body. Several factors can influence the smell of your urine, such as:

What you eat
How hydrated are you
Your age
Being pregnant
Medications you’re taking

For example, eating certain foods can make your urine smell strong and distinct, while drinking plenty of water can help keep the odor mild or barely noticeable. Some antibiotics, especially sulfonamides, can also cause urine to smell strongly.

When dehydrated, urine tends to have a more pungent, concentrated smell. Although some variation in odor is normal, sudden or intense changes can signal a health problem—like a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition that needs attention.

Health Conditions That Affect the Smell of Urine

Several health conditions can also cause unusual urine smells by altering your body’s chemistry. For example, people with diabetes may notice a sweet or fruity urine odor due to excess sugar in the urine, called glycosuria. With conditions like diabetes, kidney problems, or other conditions, excess sugar gets expelled in the urine because the body can’t use glucose properly.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common culprit when it comes to medical conditions that change urine odor. Bacteria in the urinary tract can create foul-smelling chemicals as they grow, giving urine a strong, unpleasant odor. In more serious cases, a bladder fistula can allow fecal bacteria to enter the bladder, leading to severe infection and changes in urine smell.

Liver disease can also cause changes in urine odor, developing into a musty or fishy smell. This happens when a damaged liver can’t properly break down and eliminate certain substances. As these compounds build up in the body, this changes how urine smells.

Another symptom called ketonuria occurs when the body produces high levels of ketones, which also affect urine smell. Ketones can give urine a fruity or acetone-like scent. Ketonuria can show up in many situations, including the following:

Diabetes
Fasting or starvation
Eating disorders
Alcohol use disorder
Prolonged and intense exercise
High-protein or low-carb diets
Severe vomiting (such as during pregnancy) or diarrhea
Infections or sepsis
Burns and fevers
Hyperthyroidism
Nursing while malnourished
Use of SGLT-2 inhibitors (a type of diabetes medication)

Note that the uncontrolled buildup of ketones, such as in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or advanced AUD, is considered a life-threatening emergency and should be treated by local emergency medical services right away.

READ: How Long Does Weed Stay In Your System?

Things You Can Do if You Have Smelly Pee

Staying properly hydrated helps manage urine odor by allowing your body to effectively dilute waste products, which keeps your urine light in color and mild in smell. When you drink enough water, your body flushes out toxins more effectively.

On the other hand, dehydration increases risk of metabolic, kidney, and cognitive diseases. Plus, it concentrates urine, making it darker and smelling stronger.

To stay properly hydrated, drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 L) daily if you’re a biological woman, 15.5 cups (3.7 L) if you’re a biological man, and even more water if you’re pregnant. You may also need to adjust your water intake based on your activity level, climate, or elevation. Older adults may drink slightly less but are at higher risk of dehydration, especially if they have one or more chronic conditions.

Vitamin C tablets may help with urine odor, but it’s essential to consult your doctor before taking them, especially if you’re already on other medications or treatments. Vitamin C can potentially interact with certain medications, so it’s best to seek professional advice. Additionally, while citrus juice or fruits contain vitamin C, their acidity may worsen urine odor or irritation.

Cranberry juice is an exception when it comes to strong-smelling urine. It can help reduce urine odor by limiting the growth of certain bacteria. Cranberries contain natural compounds that may stop bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls, potentially lowering the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs)—a common cause of strong urine smells.

Note that cranberry juice can also add a lot of sugar, which can cause or worsen glycosuria and diabetes. Cranberry capsules or tablets are available but may carry less of the presumed active ingredient, proanthocyanidins (PACs). In general, try to avoid sugar additives.

Since the type of foods you consume can also affect the smell of your urine, consider limiting or avoiding them if you dislike how they make your urine smell. Some of the best foods to avoid that could make your urine smell strong or unusual include:

Asparagus
Garlic
Onions
Fish or seafood
Coffee
Brussel sprouts
Certain strong-smelling spices (i.e., cumin and curry)
Alcohol
Cooked cabbage
Broccoli

The intensity of a food’s effect on urine smell varies from person to person because genetics and individual metabolism influence how the body processes what you eat. These changes in urine odor are usually temporary and fade once your body finishes metabolizing the food.

However, drinking plenty of water can help dilute urine and reduce strong food odors. Products designed for internal deodorizing may also neutralize urine smells.

Getting a doctor’s examination to rule out bladder and urinary tract infections or other medical conditions can also be a good idea.

When Should You See a Healthcare Provider About the Smell of Your Urine?

Changes in urine odor often result from harmless factors like diet, medications, or hydration, but persistent, unexplained changes could indicate a medical issue. If you notice persistently strong, frequent, foul, fishy, or sweet-smelling urine, seeking medical advice is essential. Especially along with any physical symptoms like pain or fever.

Your doctor can help rule out any underlying health problems, providing you with reassurance and the care you need.

Contact your doctor if the urine odor comes with other symptoms, such as:

Pain while urinating
Frequent urges to urinate
Fever
Cloudy or bloody urine
Sudden changes in urine color
Strong back pain
Persistent changes in urine odor without an apparent dietary or medication-related cause.

These signs could indicate a urinary tract infection, kidney issues, or other conditions that need prompt medical care. For instance, if you notice strong, foul, or sweet-smelling urine, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider to rule out potential health concerns.

You can typically manage urine odor by staying hydrated and monitoring your diet. However, if you notice a persistent sulfur smell and pain or discomfort, see a doctor to check for underlying conditions. Being mindful of the factors that affect urine odor can help you seek timely care and address health issues early.

Key Takeaways

What you eat, how much water you drink, your medications, and your health all affect urine odor. While smells like cannabis or sulfur may seem concerning, they often stem from simple causes like diet or dehydration.

Listen to your body—consult a healthcare provider if persistent, unusual odors occur with other symptoms. Staying hydrated, mindful of your diet, and alert to changes can help you manage urine odor and maintain your health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Causes My Urine to Smell Like Weed?

After consuming cannabis, the body metabolizes THC into various compounds, including sulfur-containing metabolites like dimethyl sulfate and dimethyl trisulfide. These substances can cause urine to emit a distinctive, skunky, weed-like odor.

Why Does My Urine Smell Like Skunk?

Consuming certain foods rich in sulfur compounds, such as asparagus, garlic, and onions, can result in a skunky urine odor. Dehydration can also concentrate urine, intensifying urine odors.

Why Does My Pee Smell Like Weed When I Don’t Smoke?

Even without smoking, consuming cannabis in other forms or even consuming foods high in sulfur can lead to metabolites that produce a weed-like urine odor. Additionally, dehydration can concentrate urine, enhancing any urine odors.

Why Does My Pee Smell Like Skunk?

You can often manage urine odors effectively by staying hydrated and being mindful of your diet. Consulting a healthcare provider is advisable if the odor persists without these factors.

Why Do I Smell Weed When There Is None?

A phantom weed or other smell is known as phantosmia or olfactory hallucination. The phantom smell may appear constantly or come and go. Phantosmia can result from various common conditions, such as allergies, colds, and upper respiratory infections. Neurological issues like epilepsy, stroke, or Alzheimer’s disease may also cause it, or it may be linked to nasal problems or exposure to certain substances. The cause varies from person to person. If this occurs frequently, seek medical advice for proper evaluation.

Other substances can also smell similar to cannabis, making you think you smell weed. These include beer, certain cheeses, skunks, body sweat, and even plants like crucianella.

Is the Smell of Weed Harmful?

The odor itself is not harmful. Most substances with noticeable smells outdoors aren’t present in concentrations high enough to cause long-term health effects. Additionally, the sulfur, phenolic, and terpenoids responsible for cannabis-related odors are beneficial to human health. Secondhand cannabis smoke, however, can potentially irritate the airways, depending on the person’s sensitivities.

When I Open My Legs, It Smells Like Urine.

Urinary incontinence, infections, or poor hygiene practices could cause a persistent urine-like odor in the genital area. Consulting a healthcare provider can help identify the cause and provide appropriate treatment.

Author, Share & Comments

Sarah Welk Baynum is a Columbus, Ohio based published fiction author and experienced freelance writer specializing in long-form content. When she isn't working on her next novel or writing for her clients, she enjoys spending time riding and competing in showjumping or eventing with her two horses, Tilly and Letty.