Why Do Your Face Pores Smell So Bad? Here's Why

by Mehul Hathi on Nov 20 2025

You touch your face, scratch your nose, or squeeze a blackhead, and suddenly you're hit with an unmistakable smell—something between old cheese, mushrooms, or sour milk. If you've experienced this, you've likely wondered: is this normal? Why do my pores smell? And more importantly, does it mean something is wrong with my skin?

The truth is that facial pore odor is completely normal and has a straightforward biological explanation. Your skin is teeming with life—bacteria, fungi, oils, and dead cells all living together in a complex ecosystem. When certain conditions align, this ecosystem produces compounds with distinctive odors. While the smell might be off-putting, understanding what causes it empowers you to manage it effectively without resorting to harsh or unnecessary treatments.

This comprehensive guide explains exactly why facial pores develop odor, what different smells might indicate, and how to keep your skin fresh and healthy.

The Anatomy of Your Pores: Understanding What's Happening

Before diving into why pores smell, let's clarify what pores are and what they contain.

What Are Pores?

Pores are tiny openings in your skin that serve as outlets for hair follicles and sebaceous (oil) glands. There are two main types:

Sweat pores release perspiration to regulate body temperature. These are distributed across your entire body and are typically smaller.

Hair follicle pores are connected to sebaceous glands that produce sebum (oil) and typically have a hair shaft growing from them. These are larger and more prone to developing odor, particularly on your face where sebaceous glands are especially active.

What's Inside Your Pores?

Your pores aren't empty tubes—they're filled with various substances:

Sebum: The natural oil your skin produces to keep itself moisturized and protected. Sebum is composed of triglycerides, fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol.

Dead skin cells: Your skin constantly sheds cells, and many accumulate inside pores before working their way to the surface.

Bacteria: Numerous bacterial species naturally live on and in your skin, particularly Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), which thrives in the oxygen-poor environment of your pores.

Keratin: A protein that makes up skin cells and hair.

Environmental debris: Pollution particles, dirt, and product residue can accumulate in pores.

When these components mix together, especially in the presence of bacteria, they create the perfect conditions for odor development.

Why Facial Pores Smell: The Science

The smell from your pores isn't the sebum itself or the dead skin cells—it's the byproducts created when bacteria break down these substances.

Bacterial Metabolism Creates Odor

Your skin is home to trillions of bacteria—collectively called your skin microbiome. These aren't harmful invaders; they're normal residents that actually help protect your skin from more dangerous pathogens.

The primary odor culprit is Cutibacterium acnes, which lives deep within your pores feeding on sebum. As these bacteria metabolize sebum and dead skin cells, they produce various compounds:

Short-chain fatty acids: Including propionic acid (which smells sour or vinegary) and butyric acid (which has a rancid butter or cheese-like smell).

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Various gases with distinct odors.

Other metabolic byproducts: Depending on what the bacteria are breaking down.

These compounds collectively create the characteristic "pore smell" that many people notice when they squeeze their skin or examine extracted comedones (blackheads).

Oxidation Adds to the Smell

When sebum sits in your pores exposed to air (particularly in blackheads where the pore is open), it oxidizes—essentially, it reacts with oxygen and begins to break down chemically. This oxidation process creates additional compounds with their own odors and also turns the sebum dark, which is why blackheads appear black.

Oxidized sebum has a more rancid smell than fresh sebum, adding another layer to pore odor.

Fungi Can Contribute

Your skin also hosts various fungi, particularly species of Malassezia. These fungi also feed on skin oils and produce their own metabolic byproducts. In some cases, fungal overgrowth can contribute to skin odor and may be associated with conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or fungal acne.

Dead Skin Cell Accumulation

When dead skin cells (keratinocytes) accumulate in pores and break down, they release various compounds that contribute to odor. The protein keratin, when broken down by bacteria, can produce sulfur-containing compounds with particularly unpleasant smells.

Hormones Influence Sebum Production

The amount of sebum your skin produces directly impacts pore odor. More sebum means more food for bacteria and more substrates for oxidation. Sebum production is heavily influenced by androgens (hormones like testosterone), which is why:

Pore odor often becomes more noticeable during puberty when hormone levels surge
Women may notice more pore odor at certain points in their menstrual cycle
People with hormonal conditions may experience more pronounced pore odor
Areas with more sebaceous glands (face, particularly the T-zone, upper back, and chest) tend to have more odor

Different Pore Smells and What They Mean

Not all pore odors are identical. The specific smell can provide clues about what's happening with your skin:

Cheesy or Sour Smell

This is the most common pore odor, caused primarily by the propionic and butyric acids produced by C. acnes bacteria. It's completely normal and indicates typical bacterial activity in your pores. This smell is particularly common from:

Blackheads when squeezed
The sides of the nose
The T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin)
Behind the ears

Musty or Earthy Smell

A musty odor might indicate fungal activity on your skin. Malassezia fungi can produce compounds with earthy or yeast-like smells. If you notice this smell along with flaky skin, itching, or redness, you might have seborrheic dermatitis or fungal-related issues.

Metallic or Iron-Like Smell

Sometimes people notice a metallic smell from their pores. This might be related to oxidation processes or could indicate the presence of blood from minor skin trauma or inflammation. If you frequently pick at your skin or squeeze pores aggressively, you might notice this metallic component.

Sweet or Fruity Smell

While less common, some people notice a sweet or fruity smell from their pores. This could be related to ketones on the skin's surface, which might be more noticeable in people following very low-carbohydrate diets or experiencing certain metabolic changes.

Rotten or Sulfurous Smell

A particularly foul, rotten smell could indicate more significant bacterial overgrowth, infected cysts, or accumulation of keratin and protein breakdown products. If you notice this smell accompanied by pain, significant inflammation, or pus, see a dermatologist as you might have an infection requiring treatment.

Factors That Make Pore Odor Worse

Several factors can intensify the smell from your pores:

Poor Cleansing

When you don't cleanse your face regularly or thoroughly, sebum, dead cells, and bacteria accumulate, creating more substrate for odor-producing reactions. However, over-cleansing can also be problematic—stripping your skin of all oil can trigger increased oil production as your skin tries to compensate.

Using Heavy or Occlusive Products

Products that heavily coat the skin and don't allow it to "breathe" can trap sebum, sweat, and bacteria, creating an environment where odor-producing bacteria thrive. This includes very thick moisturizers, some makeup formulations, and petroleum-based products.

Touching Your Face Frequently

Your hands carry bacteria and oils that transfer to your face when you touch it. This introduces additional bacteria and can push oil and debris further into pores, contributing to both odor and breakouts.

Diet

While the connection between diet and skin odor isn't fully understood, some evidence suggests that certain foods might influence body odor through compounds secreted in sweat and sebum. Foods that may potentially affect skin odor include:

Garlic and onions
Spicy foods
Red meat
Alcohol
Processed foods high in refined sugars

Stress

Stress increases cortisol levels, which can stimulate sebum production. More sebum means more food for bacteria and potentially more odor. Additionally, stress sweat (produced by apocrine glands) has a different composition than regular sweat and can contribute more to body odor.

Hormonal Fluctuations

As mentioned earlier, hormones significantly impact sebum production. Periods of hormonal change—puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal conditions like PCOS—can all intensify pore odor.

Hot, Humid Weather

Heat and humidity increase sweating and sebum production while also creating ideal conditions for bacterial and fungal growth. Many people notice their pores smell stronger during summer months.

Wearing Masks for Extended Periods

The "maskne" phenomenon many people experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic also came with increased pore odor for some. Masks trap heat, moisture, and bacteria against your face, creating an environment where odor-producing microbes flourish.

How to Reduce Pore Odor: Effective Strategies

While you can't eliminate pore odor completely (nor should you try—some bacterial activity is normal and healthy), you can minimize it through proper skincare:

Cleanse Effectively (But Don't Over-Cleanse)

Do: Wash your face twice daily with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser appropriate for your skin type. Look for cleansers that remove excess oil and debris without stripping your skin.

Don't: Wash more than twice daily (unless you've been sweating heavily), use harsh soaps or cleansers with high pH, or scrub aggressively, which can damage your skin barrier and trigger increased oil production.

For effective yet gentle cleansing products, explore the Matevara facial care collection, which offers cleansers formulated to maintain skin health while removing impurities.

Use Chemical Exfoliants

Chemical exfoliants help remove dead skin cells and can penetrate into pores to help clear out accumulated debris:

Salicylic acid (BHA): Oil-soluble, so it can penetrate into pores and break down sebum plugs. Particularly effective for oily and acne-prone skin.

Glycolic acid or lactic acid (AHAs): Water-soluble acids that exfoliate the skin's surface and can help with cell turnover, though they don't penetrate pores as deeply as salicylic acid.

Niacinamide: While not an exfoliant, this vitamin B3 derivative helps regulate sebum production, which can indirectly reduce pore odor by limiting the food supply for bacteria.

Start with low concentrations and gradually increase as your skin tolerates. Over-exfoliation can damage your skin barrier and worsen problems.

Consider Products with Antibacterial Properties

Certain ingredients can help balance your skin microbiome without completely eliminating beneficial bacteria:

Benzoyl peroxide: Kills acne-causing bacteria when used in appropriate concentrations (2.5-5% is often sufficient).

Tea tree oil: Has natural antimicrobial properties. Use diluted and with caution, as it can be irritating for some people.

Zinc: Has antimicrobial properties and can help regulate oil production.

Don't Skip Moisturizer

It might seem counterintuitive, but properly moisturizing your skin is essential even for oily skin types. When skin is dehydrated, it compensates by producing more oil, which can worsen pore odor. Choose lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizers appropriate for your skin type.

Incorporate Clay Masks (Occasionally)

Clay masks, particularly those containing kaolin or bentonite clay, can help absorb excess sebum and draw impurities from pores. Use them once or twice weekly—not daily, as they can be drying.

Address Hormonal Factors If Applicable

If hormonal fluctuations significantly impact your skin, consider discussing options with your healthcare provider including hormonal birth control, spironolactone, or other treatments that can help regulate hormones and reduce sebum production.

Maintain a Healthy Skin Barrier

A damaged skin barrier can lead to increased oil production and bacterial imbalance. Support your skin barrier with ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.

The Matevara facial care collection features products formulated to support and protect your skin barrier while addressing concerns like excess oil and bacterial balance.

Consider Probiotic Skincare

Topical probiotics or prebiotics can help support a balanced skin microbiome, potentially reducing populations of odor-producing bacteria while supporting beneficial species. Research in this area is ongoing, but early results are promising.

Keep Your Phone and Pillowcase Clean

These items regularly contact your face and can harbor bacteria that transfer to your skin. Wipe your phone screen daily with an alcohol wipe and wash your pillowcases at least weekly (or use a fresh one every few nights).

Stay Hydrated and Eat Well

Proper hydration helps your skin function optimally, including appropriate sebum production. A balanced diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins supports overall skin health.

What NOT to Do

Some common approaches to addressing pore odor actually make things worse:

Don't squeeze or pick at your pores excessively. While the occasional extraction of a ready blackhead won't cause major problems, constantly squeezing and picking damages your skin, introduces more bacteria, and can cause scarring and infections.

Don't use harsh, stripping cleansers. These damage your skin barrier and trigger rebound oil production, ultimately worsening the problem.

Don't try to sterilize your skin. Your skin microbiome is supposed to have bacteria. Attempting to eliminate all bacteria with harsh antibacterial products disrupts the balance and often makes things worse.

Don't over-exfoliate. More isn't better with exfoliants. Over-exfoliation damages your skin barrier and can increase inflammation and oil production.

Don't use body cleansers on your face. Face skin is more delicate than body skin and needs gentler, pH-appropriate products.

When to See a Dermatologist

While pore odor is usually normal, certain signs indicate you should seek professional evaluation:

Sudden dramatic increase in pore odor without obvious cause
Odor accompanied by significant acne, cysts, or painful inflammation
Signs of infection (increasing redness, warmth, pus, fever)
Persistent strong odor that doesn't respond to improved skincare
Severe oiliness that significantly impacts your quality of life
Suspicion of hormonal imbalance or other underlying medical conditions

A dermatologist can properly diagnose any underlying conditions and prescribe appropriate treatments including prescription-strength retinoids, antibiotics (oral or topical), hormonal treatments, or specialized procedures.

The Bottom Line: Pore Odor Is Normal

If your pores occasionally smell when you touch your face or extract a blackhead, you're experiencing completely normal human biology. Your skin is alive with microorganisms that perform essential functions while producing odorous byproducts as they metabolize skin oils and cells.

The goal isn't to eliminate pore odor entirely—that's neither possible nor desirable. Instead, focus on maintaining a healthy skin barrier, balanced microbiome, and appropriate oil production through consistent, gentle skincare practices.

Remember that what you notice up close when deliberately smelling your fingers after touching your face is not what others smell from a normal social distance. In most cases, pore odor isn't perceptible to others and doesn't indicate poor hygiene or a skin problem.

By understanding the science behind why pores smell and implementing appropriate skincare strategies, you can maintain healthy, fresh skin without obsessing over every pore or resorting to harsh treatments that ultimately do more harm than good.

For high-quality facial care products formulated to support skin health, balance oil production, and maintain a healthy skin barrier, explore the Matevara facial care collection.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided about facial pores and skin odor is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. While pore odor is typically normal, certain skin changes, odors, or symptoms can indicate underlying conditions requiring professional medical evaluation. Individual skin needs vary significantly based on skin type, sensitivities, medical conditions, medications, and environmental factors. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional, dermatologist, or skincare specialist before starting new skincare products or treatments, especially if you have existing skin conditions including acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis, take medications that affect your skin, have a history of allergic reactions to skincare products, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have any concerns about changes in your skin. Never use this article to self-diagnose skin conditions. If you experience severe acne, painful cysts, signs of infection, sudden dramatic changes in skin odor or oil production, or skin issues that significantly impact your quality of life, seek professional dermatological evaluation. The skincare recommendations provided represent general guidance and may not be appropriate for all individuals.

FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and skincare practices discussed in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Skincare products are not regulated in the same manner as pharmaceutical drugs, and quality and effectiveness vary significantly between manufacturers.

Individual Results Disclaimer: Results from implementing skincare strategies discussed in this article vary widely between individuals based on skin type, age, hormonal status, environmental factors, genetic factors, overall health status, and consistency of skincare practices. Some people may notice significant improvements in skin condition while others may experience minimal changes. The information provided represents general guidance and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of specific outcomes.

Skin Sensitivity and Allergies: Skincare products contain ingredients that may cause allergic reactions, irritation, or sensitivity in some individuals. Always patch test new products on a small area of skin before applying to your entire face. Discontinue any product that causes redness, burning, itching, swelling, or other adverse reactions. If you experience severe reactions including difficulty breathing, extensive rash, or signs of anaphylaxis, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Product Quality and Safety: The quality, purity, and safety of skincare products vary dramatically between manufacturers. Some products may contain contaminants, allergens, or irritating ingredients not listed on labels. Choose products from reputable companies that provide transparency about ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturing, third-party testing results when available, and appropriate safety and stability testing. Be particularly cautious with products containing active ingredients like acids, retinoids, or benzoyl peroxide, as improper formulation or concentrations can cause skin damage.

Over-Use and Over-Exfoliation: More is not better with skincare products, particularly exfoliants. Over-exfoliation is one of the most common skincare mistakes and can cause barrier damage, increased sensitivity, inflammation, and paradoxically worsen the problems you're trying to solve. Start with lower concentrations and frequencies of active ingredients and increase gradually only as your skin tolerates. If you experience persistent irritation, scaling, or increased sensitivity, reduce or discontinue active ingredients and focus on barrier repair.

Sun Protection: Some skincare ingredients including chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs) and retinoids can increase sun sensitivity. When using these products, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily and reapply as directed. Sun damage can worsen skin concerns and increase risk of skin cancer.

Underlying Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can affect skin health, oil production, and odor including hormonal imbalances (PCOS, thyroid disorders), diabetes, metabolic conditions, and various dermatological diseases. If you experience sudden significant changes in skin condition, excessive oil production, severe acne, or other concerning symptoms, see a healthcare provider for evaluation of possible underlying conditions.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Hormonal changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding significantly affect skin and may alter appropriate skincare choices. Some skincare ingredients are not recommended during pregnancy or lactation. Always consult with your obstetrician or midwife before using new skincare products when pregnant or nursing.

Not a Substitute for Professional Care: This article provides general information about pore odor and skincare but does not replace professional dermatological evaluation and treatment. Persistent skin concerns, severe acne, suspicious skin changes, or conditions that impact your quality of life require examination by a board-certified dermatologist who can provide accurate diagnosis and evidence-based treatment options tailored to your specific needs.

FTC Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to products. We may receive compensation if you make a purchase through these links. However, this does not influence our content, and we only recommend products we believe may be of value to our readers based on quality standards and beneficial formulations.

Realistic Expectations: While proper skincare can significantly improve skin health and appearance, it cannot completely eliminate normal biological processes like sebum production, bacterial colonization, or pore odor. Set realistic expectations about what skincare can and cannot achieve. Everyone's skin produces oil, harbors bacteria, and has some degree of pore odor when examined closely—this is normal human biology, not a flaw requiring correction.

Mental Health Considerations: Excessive preoccupation with minor skin imperfections, normal skin processes like pore odor, or compulsive skin picking can indicate body dysmorphic disorder or other mental health concerns. If worries about your skin significantly impact your daily life, relationships, or mental wellbeing, or if you engage in compulsive skin picking, consider seeking support from a mental health professional who specializes in body image or skin picking disorders.

Hygiene Balance: While maintaining good skincare habits is important, avoid becoming so obsessive about cleansing or odor elimination that it damages your skin or negatively impacts your quality of life. Balance is key—appropriate cleansing and skincare without excessive intervention that disrupts your skin's natural protective functions.

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FAQ About Why Do Your Face Pores Smell So Bad? Here's Why

Yes, this is completely normal. Your nose has an extremely high concentration of sebaceous glands—more than almost any other area of your body. More sebaceous glands mean more sebum production, which provides more food for the bacteria living in your pores. Additionally, the sides and creases of your nose can trap oil, dead skin cells, and debris more easily than flatter areas of your face. This combination makes the nose particularly prone to developing pore odor. The area behind your ears is similar—lots of oil production combined with skin folds that trap debris. As long as you're not experiencing pain, severe inflammation, or signs of infection, nose pore odor is simply biology at work.

The connection between diet and pore odor isn't as direct or well-established as some people believe, but there is likely some connection. Certain foods can influence body odor through compounds that are secreted in sweat and possibly sebum, including sulfur-containing foods like garlic and onions, foods that affect blood sugar levels dramatically, processed foods, and excessive alcohol. However, diet affects everyone differently, and most pore odor comes from bacterial metabolism of sebum rather than from dietary compounds directly. If you suspect specific foods worsen your pore odor, try eliminating them for a few weeks to see if you notice improvement. That said, maintaining a balanced, whole-foods diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients generally supports overall skin health, which may indirectly help with oil production and odor.

Occasional, gentle extraction of blackheads that are ready to come out won't harm you and might temporarily reduce odor from that specific pore. However, regular, aggressive extraction can damage your skin, cause scarring, introduce bacteria, and actually increase inflammation and oil production over time. Sebaceous filaments—the small, normal accumulations of sebum in pores that many people mistake for blackheads—are meant to be there and will refill immediately after extraction. You cannot permanently empty pores or prevent them from producing oil and accumulating some sebum. A better approach is using salicylic acid and other chemical exfoliants that help keep pores clear without the trauma of physical extraction. If you want professional extractions, see a licensed esthetician who performs them properly with appropriate sanitization.

No. Pore odor is a normal biological process that occurs even with excellent hygiene. Everyone has bacteria living on and in their skin—this is not only normal but necessary for skin health. These bacteria naturally produce odorous compounds as they metabolize sebum and dead skin cells. You could wash your face perfectly twice daily and still notice pore odor if you touch your face or examine extracted blackheads closely. What others smell from a normal social distance is very different from what you notice when deliberately sniffing your fingers after touching your face or squeezing a pore. Good hygiene means cleansing regularly with appropriate products and not allowing excessive buildup of oil and debris—it doesn't mean achieving odorless pores, which isn't possible or necessary.

Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle significantly affect sebum production. Androgens (including testosterone, which women produce in smaller amounts than men) stimulate sebaceous glands to produce more oil. These hormone levels fluctuate predictably during your cycle. Many women notice increased oiliness, more breakouts, and more pronounced pore odor in the week or two before their period when progesterone and androgens are relatively high. Estrogen, which peaks around ovulation, generally has positive effects on skin. If hormonal fluctuations severely impact your skin and quality of life, discuss options with your healthcare provider. Hormonal birth control, spironolactone, or other treatments can help regulate these fluctuations and their effects on your skin.

Yes, stress can affect pore odor through multiple mechanisms. Stress increases cortisol production, which stimulates sebaceous glands to produce more oil—more oil means more food for bacteria and potentially more odor. Stress triggers inflammatory responses that can alter skin function and bacterial balance. Some people touch their faces more when stressed, transferring more bacteria and pushing oil deeper into pores. Stress can also disrupt sleep and healthy eating habits, which indirectly affect skin health. Additionally, stress activates apocrine sweat glands (different from the regular eccrine glands), which produce sweat with more proteins and lipids that bacteria break down into especially odorous compounds. Managing stress through exercise, meditation, adequate sleep, and other healthy coping mechanisms can genuinely improve skin health including pore odor.

The contents of whiteheads and blackheads are similar—both contain sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria. The main difference is that blackheads have an open pore exposed to air, allowing oxidation to occur, which darkens the material and can create additional odor compounds. Whiteheads have closed pores, so less oxidation occurs. However, whiteheads can be inflamed and may contain more white blood cells and inflammatory compounds, which can affect odor. The most noticeable difference in smell often comes from infected or inflamed pimples (pustules) versus non-inflamed comedones. Infected lesions containing pus have a particularly unpleasant smell due to dead white blood cells, bacteria, and inflammatory byproducts. If you notice increasingly foul smells from your pores accompanied by pain and inflammation, see a dermatologist, as you may need antibiotic treatment.

Antibacterial products can reduce bacterial populations on your skin surface, which might temporarily decrease odor. However, this approach has significant downsides. Your skin microbiome is supposed to have bacteria—they perform important protective functions and help maintain skin health. Completely eliminating skin bacteria is impossible, undesirable, and attempting it through harsh antibacterial products can disrupt the balance of your microbiome, damage your skin barrier, and potentially allow more harmful bacteria to colonize. Additionally, bacteria living deep within pores are more protected and harder to reach with topical products. A better approach is using products that help balance your microbiome rather than trying to sterilize your skin, including appropriate cleansing to remove excess oil and debris, chemical exfoliants to keep pores clear, and products that support your skin barrier and beneficial bacteria. Some antibacterial ingredients like benzoyl peroxide have a place in acne treatment, but they should be used strategically, not as an all-over approach to eliminate all bacteria.