Why Does My Poop Smell So Bad? The Causes and Solutions

Wondering why your poop smells like a skunk got stuck in a sewer pipe? Dive into the science of stinky stools. From sulfur-rich foods to gut health, explore the steps you can take to minimize the stank and learn how our cutting-edge pre-poop toilet sprays can help by trapping odors and eliminating embarrassing odors.

While hardly a topic of conversation at the average dining table, why poop smells is a worthy question to ponder whenever you have to take care of business, so to speak.

Candles and air fresheners ease the smell somewhat, but there is always evidence that you were there.

The fact is that everybody is there at one time or another during any given day and covering up this fact of life has been a fruitless act since the dawn of time when pooping and poop shame began; that is, until now.

The advent of cutting edge technology and innovations in industrial science have led to the development of peaceful, natural moments via the use of pre-poop toilet sprays.

Our toilet sprays are a boon to human kind and their convenience and simplicity of use evolved from the 18th century French bidet, which presented a method to cleanse the body in between baths.

Their chemical components of fragrance oils, alcohol, preservatives and emulsifiers are specifically crafted to create a thin film on the water’s surface that is applied into the bowl before using the toilet.

They serve to prevent odors that arise from escaping into the air and leave a fresh scent in the air after flushing.

The Diverse Smells Of Poop And What They Mean

Knowing the reason behind poop smells is more than just a game of playing You Vomit First.

Understanding can help to reduce the smell and may also indicate the need for a visit to a health provider.

The nature of poop smells can be affected by several factors.

The breakdown of undigested food from gut bacteria, which release malodorous sulfurous compounds, can smell like rotten eggs.

This is caused by a diet sustained from foods like: meat, fish; eggs; alcohol; dairy and vegetables like broccoli; cauliflower and Brussel sprouts.

Some medications and supplements that contain sulfites can also add to the smell, and if too much sulfur is found in the digestive system, it can potentially indicate a sign of infection.

Malabsorption And Sulfur-Rich Foods

Malabsorption is a condition associated with the imbalance of the gut microbiome (bacterial accumulation in the body) occurring from diet or infection or maladies such as: Celiac or Crohn's Disease.

This occurs when the body cannot absorb certain nutrients such as vitamins, fats minerals and carbohydrates in the lining of the small intestine and they wreak smelly havoc on their way out.

Stools can be greasy, fatty and sharply unpleasant. Sulfur-rich foods are harder to digest than other foods, forcing the gut to work overtime without extra pay. According to Yeral Patel, M.D., founder of Youva MD:

“During this process, more gasses are released—hence the more pungent smell…If your diet is heavy on foods that are high in sulfur, consider either shrinking your servings or avoid combining several sulfur-rich foods in single meals”.

Other Stool Smells

Diverse but just as nasty smells can include: vomit; chemicals or burnt hair.

In some instances, stools may not smell like anything more than just a bigger stink than usual.

A burnt hair smell is usually the result of sulfur compounds and can also be a sign of malabsorption.

Stools can be greasy, fatty and sharply unpleasant.

Stools that smell like vomit can be the result of gastroenteritis (stomach flu) or other digestive issues. They can also indicate a latent food intolerance. 

According to gastroenterologist, Dr. Samantha Nazareth, MD: “A common one is lactose, but people can also have fructose and other carbohydrate intolerances. The sugar component of the food item isn’t being broken down by the gut.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the sugar reaches the colon undigested , which allows the residing bacteria to ferment and cause an unbelievably horrible smell. 

Alcohol and how much you drink can also affect stool smells. 

Alcohol is high in sulfates which are converted into stinky sulfide gases once inside your gut. A few drinks can speed up digestion, which in turn can cause a smellier stool than usual.

Spread out cocktails and drink a lot of water. Dehydration can also unpleasantly concentrate the smell of poop.

According once again to Dr. Patel: “The longer poop takes to find its way through your colon, the longer it has to ferment and cause a stink. Because the body produces more smelly gasses, the longer the stool sits without being eliminated, the smell is unusually bad when it finally comes out.” 

In addition to chemicals and additives, many highly processed and sugary foods are difficult to digest, making the process last longer.

According to research cited in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology, these foods are high in trans fats, which pass through the GI tract undigested and are often accompanied by malodorous stools.

It should also be said that even with an increased intake of protein and healthy fats, the smell of poop will intensify.

Dr Patel states. That “taking medications can also result in foul-smelling poop. They typically upset the dynamic between the good and bad bacteria in the gut. Make sure to ask for ways to keep your gut flora happy during treatment, such as taking a probiotic at the same time."

Poop Smells And One Very Upsetting Situation

One night, a woman who was almost 9 months pregnant had an unexpected experience that she described as trying to push a bowling ball through a small hole. She felt the urgent need to go, but it would not move.

She tried everything from suppositories to enemas and nothing worked.

After lying in a ball of pain on the bathroom floor, she decided to take action, and without waking her husband, drove herself to the nearest hospital.

When she arrived, she was hysterical and the ER nurse surmised that she was going into labor and rushed her into the delivery room. 

All she could do was cry and work on her breathing. 

She felt as if her poor bottom would explode, and as they placed her in a hospital bed, she managed to tell them she was not about to give birth to anything except a gargantuan stool that was stuck inside her.

A nurse gave her a gentle enema and comforted her, but couldn’t answer her question: What will happen to my baby if this doesn’t come out? 

Finally the offensive log left her body and filled the room with a stink that would have killed a herd of frightened skunks.

She watched, horrified as she saw the nurse bent over the toilet with knife. She was cutting up her poop for fear it would clog the pipes!

At that moment, our poor star of the show felt contractions, went into labor, and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

The doctor congratulated her as being the only woman to ever give birth to both a baby and a poop!

For a long time afterwards, she had nightmares in smell-o vision featuring her unforgettable mother load aroma!

The Emergence and Importance of Air Wisp Toilet Sprays

While not as life altering as the invention of penicillin, toilet sprays remain a very pleasant boon to humanity that have improved the quality of one of life’s most intimate moments. 

Our sprays are made with the finest essential oils, which are highly volatile and dissipate quickly, which prevents them from both overpowering the space and clashing with ambient bathroom humidity.

They are also infused with multi-layered fragrances inspired by some of the most luxurious hotels scents in the world.

What's more, our oils are also eco-friendly and kind to mother Earth and future generations.

In Conclusion

Scents are mysterious, soft and even noble, whether of the forest primeval or the endless aromas of the sands and the sea. 

Give our hotel-inspired toilet sprays a try! The scents of a lifetime await and they all promise to ease that non sentimental journey we all have to take.

Enjoy a new kind of emotional freedom our toilet sprays make possible. The power of change begins with a single step!