Picture this: You're kneeling down to give your partner the absolute joy of oral sex, only to be hit with the realization that their general genital area smells...off. You’re already on your knees, and they’re looking at you with a combination of lust and gratitude, but you’re just not sure how long you can tolerate the odor. Oh no, you think. Now what?
First off, penises aren’t supposed to smell like a Bath & Body Works store—you shouldn’t expect to get gobsmacked in the face with a gust of perfume as soon as your partner whips out their willy, or you take out yours. But penises aren’t odorless, either. “All genitalia naturally have some scent due to sweat, hormones, and the presence of healthy bacteria,” says board-certified urologist and urogynecologist Fenwa Milhouse, MD, co-founder of Down There Urology, a sexual and urological health center in Chicago, Illinois.
Exactly how a penis smells at any given moment will depend on factors such as when its owner last exercised, showered, or washed their underwear. But generally, “a healthy penis will have a mild, natural smell similar to other body parts,” according to board-certified urologist and sexual health specialist Justin Houman, MD, senior medical advisor at Cake, a sexual wellness platform.
“The idea that genitals should either smell like flower shops or nothing at all is a misconception that stems from unrealistic standards and societal pressures around cleanliness,” says Dr. Houman. The prevalence of genital washes that cover up our natural scents also fuels the misconception, says AASECT-certified sex therapist Rufus Spann, PhD, founder of Libido Health.
Of course, penises aren’t immune to odor-causing infections, bacteria build-up, or poor hygiene. So, being aware of changes in odors and foul smells can give you valuable information about your own or your partner’s health and habits, says Dr. Houman. Read on for the most common causes of penile odor, plus tips for talking to your partner about it with tender love and care.
The 5 Most Common Reasons a Penis Might Smell
Here are some of the most likely reasons your or your partner’s junk smells like funk.
1. Crotch sweat is stinky sweat.
Everyone sweats, so it makes sense that the most likely culprit behind shaft stench is sweat, per Dr. Milhouse. The groin is spotted with the same type of sweat glands that litter the armpits and other body parts with dense swatches of hair (or pubes), she says. Known as apocrine glands, these sweat glands pump out sweat with certain compounds and fats that can turn sour when it comes into contact with the surrounding bacteria, she explains. ICYWW: The sweat released by eccrine sweat glands, which are basically everywhere else on your body (palms, arms, feet, etc), don’t contain the same fats, and therefore, are less likely to cause a stink.
“Underwear can trap sweat scent, leading to a musty odor,” says Dr. Houman—especially when the underwear is made from moisture-absorbing materials such as cotton.
The Fix: Changing underwear following a workout and wearing undergarments made from moisture-wicking materials (like polyester and nylon) in and out of the gym can help reduce the odor of groin sweat, says Dr. Houman.
2. Pee droplet stench can add up.
After peeing, penis owners should shimmy and shake their penis to remove any lingering pee droplets. Skipping this step can leave “urine residue on the tip of the penis or in the underwear that can cause an odor,” says Dr. Milhouse.
The Fix: Spending an extra few seconds standing around at the urinal or sitting down while urinating can help reduce the likelihood of droplets, she says. Patting your tip with toilet paper will also dry up any lingering drops. If your post-pee stains look more like puddles than raindrops, consider consulting a pelvic floor specialist or urologist—after-dribble is a common sign of incontinence in penis owners.
3. There’s a build-up of smegma.
Smegma might sound like a made-up word, but “it is a medical term that describes a crumbled cheese or pasty white-looking buildup of dead skin cells and oil that can be found in the folds of the genitals,” says Dr. Milhouse. This substance, which can build up in response to infrequent or incomplete washing, often smells like spoiled milk, rotten cheese, or musk, she says.
“Smegma itself isn’t harmful,” says Dr. Houman. However, if left uncleaned and allowed to accumulate, it can lead to a cheesy, sour stink—plus, other symptoms such as irritation, itchiness, pain when peeing, and cottage cheese-like discharge, he says.
The Fix: Smegma can usually be washed away with a proper clean with warm water and fragrance-free soap, says Dr. Houman. If your smegma has hardened and you can’t remove it yourself, or the build-up is accompanied by penile inflammation, call up your doc.
4. A yeast infection is brewing.
If the particular penile odor smells similar to a sourdough starter kit (kinda like sliced bread), the cause of the smell could be a yeast infection. (As it turns out, yeast infections aren’t sexist and can impact people with peens, too.)
“Most fungal or yeast infections involving the penis don’t cause an odor,” says Dr. Milhouse. More commonly, they cause redness, itching, burning, swelling, and chunky discharge. When penile yeast infections do cause odor, however, that odor is often described as having a “sour scent,” according to Dr. Houman.
Some of the factors that cause yeast infections are often the same ones that lead to penile stink, including poor hygiene or non-breathable undergarments, which can lead to bacterial and yeast build-up, says Dr. Houman. But diabetes, a weakened immune system, and taking certain meds can increase risk, too.
The Fix: Penile yeast infections can often be treated with an over-the-counter antifungal cream like Monistat. However, because all genital infections may cause similar symptoms, if you’ve never had a yeast infection, Dr. Houman suggests seeking medical treatment.
5. Discharge from an STI is to blame.
“Most sexually transmitted infections do not have any odor,” says Dr. Houman. But sometimes STIs can cause fishy, foul-scented discharge, which leads to general genital malodor, he says. Trichomoniasis, a parasitic STI, is the infection most likely to have this impact, he says.
The Fix: Unfortch, your nose alone cannot determine STI status. “The only way to know somebody else’s or your own is through proper testing,” says Dr. Houman. So, if your crotch smells spunky—or you’re experiencing any other unusual symptoms—and you don’t know your current STI status, drop into your local STI testing center or order an at-home STI kit. Meanwhile, if your partner’s parts are smelling off, consider using that as an impetus to chat about STI status and safer sex protocols if you haven’t already.
What to Do If Your Partner’s Penis Smells Off
Expert-approved suggestions so you can go downtown in peace.
1. Suggest a sexy shower.
Although open communication is the best policy for addressing any kind of sex or relationship issue, it's understandable if you’re nervous that bringing up this sticky (er, stinky) situation might hurt your partner’s feelings. That’s totally valid! In this case, there are a few things you can try before bringing it up in conversation.
First, Dr. Houman suggests taking your sexy time to the shower. “Shared washing time can be an intimate activity, in addition to an odor-removing one,” he says.
If you’re feeling theatric, you can make a show about facing away so your partner can wash their bum, balls, and peen in private. You could also take a steamy approach, suds up your palms, and offer to give your partner a soapy hand(y). (Just make sure to use a milk soap, as fragrances can irritate the delicate genital skin, notes Dr. Houman.)
Of course, if the smell is recurring, your partner might get suspicious if you suggest a sexy shower before sex every time. In that case, your best bet is to be straightforward about the scented situation. (See tip #3.).
2. Buy them a gift.
If your boo is a certified gym fanatic or otherwise has some serious fitness goals, consider gifting them some moisture-wicking underwear, Dr. Houman suggests. In addition to showing your support, this purchase will work overtime managing their penile stink without them being any the wiser.
3. Express concern.
If the smell of your S.O.’s penis is an ongoing issue in your relationship, a cutesy workaround won’t cut it. Instead, you should initiate an actual convo about what you’re noticing and how it impacts you, says Spann.
“Although this can be a sensitive topic, it's possible that your partner hasn’t recognized the issue or isn’t aware of how it’s impacting your relationship or sexual dynamics,” he says.
Of course, how you introduce the topic matters. “You want to approach it with care, avoiding judgment or shame-based language,” says Dr. Houman. Framing it as a health concern, rather than a hygiene one, is more likely to be well-received, he says.
For example, you can start with:
- I’ve noticed something that might be worth checking out. Can I share it with you?
- Can I share an observation with you that maybe we could look into it together?
“Additionally, the conversation shouldn’t be started during the act of sex or sexual engagement, or immediately after it,” says Spann. Sex is a vulnerable experience, so your partner is more likely to interpret your words as an attack if you bring the issue up in bed.
So, what should you say once you have the metaphorical mic? Dr. Milhouse recommends taking the "compliment sandwich" approach. “Start by telling your partner how much you love or enjoy their genitalia before expressing that you've noticed an unfamiliar smell that you would like to address together,” she says.
You can go on to say:
- I love the way your penis feels inside of me. But I’ve noticed that your scent has been off and that your penis looks a little inflamed. Have you noticed that? Would you be open to chatting with a doctor about it? I just want to make sure we’re both as healthy as possible so we can keep boning forever.
- I can’t get enough of pleasing you orally. But the last few times, your scent has been stronger than it has before, and I’m worried about it. I’d love for you to talk to a doctor about it so that we can both be fully in the moment and only focused on pleasure.
- Baby, I love having sex with you. When you get back from the gym, though, the sweaty scent and taste of your peen isn’t my favorite. Can I ask you to take a bird bath post-workout so that all the sex acts are on the table?
The Bottom Line on Penis Odor
Even the healthiest, cleanest penis in the world might not be scent-free. But certain cheesy, sour, foul, and fishy odors can signal an underlying infection or hygiene issue. If you notice any of that coming from your penis, it may be time to revamp your hygiene routine and call up your doctor. If your partner’s peen is the one in question, starting a conversation with compassion is the best, most straightforward move.
