# Why does feces smell so bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2001, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851 "2001-03-21T13:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Llardball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Llardball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llardball)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/21 "2001-03-22T01:53:19Z")
Originally posted by WIGGUM: > [@](#): > > On a related note, does the smell of feces escape from the toilet water. I can understand why the smell would spread if I had a case of the Hershey squirts and created a “stew” in the toilet, but what about solid movements? Once under water can the smell escape or does the smell escape during the second or two between the bunghole and the pot when the waste is airborn? If the latter is true, it must be a highly potent aroma. Cecil has your answer. [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990416.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990416.html) I think this will explain why the smell engulfs the room, but I am not sure. This article only explains about bacteria moving about the room, not aromas. I would assume, however, that as the bacteria move about the room, the smell of your ‘product’ would move with it. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/22 "2001-03-22T02:23:09Z")
Damn… does this mean that my “crap” really does stink? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/23 "2001-03-24T23:12:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WIGGUM \* > \*\*I would say that it does stink because of what we perceive it to be. I’d bet that if you cooked some food in a bathroom that people normally think smells good, and removed the food and somebody went in there, that they would comment on the stench. > \*\* I have to disagree with you WIGGUM. I was on Orlistat for a short time, which prevents some of the fat that you eat from being absorbed. Since fat is carries some of the foods flavor, I found that my shit sometimes had a disturbingly appetizing smell :eek: Whether the dislike of the smell is genetic or learned is another matter, but it is definitely the smell, not the context. ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stephen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/24 "2001-03-24T23:43:14Z")
I’m certain I’ve seen it stated, that children below a certain age are far more tolerant of the smell. They pointed out, that along with mice and spiders, etc. children can be conditioned to react positively, or negatively. I’ve entered rest rooms that made my eyes water and caused me to gag. Some people have the same reaction to foods that others have no problem with. There may be some genetic disposition to it, but I think the degree to which we are repulsed is mostly conditioned response. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/25 "2001-03-26T11:52:58Z")
I think people are reacting to the smell, not the context. I mean, if a baby craps a diaper in the living room, is whisked away to the bathroom for a change, and I walk into the living room, I don’t think “Hmm… banana mash, yum!” I think “Hey, smells like a kid crapped a diaper in here.” And what you eat definitely has an effect. Certain ethinic combinations of spices should probably be outlawed by the Geneva convention. I remember after a week-long binge of downtown Chicago’s cheap ethnic eateries I was unloading in the restroom at work, in some misery, when a lady walks in and goes “Uh- uh- UH! That green and purple haze! Some chile better change her eating, that just not _right_” I couldn’t have agreed more, and would have said so, except I was gagging on my own emissions and courtesy flushing for all I was worth. Also, high-fiber foods can lead to greater gas production. This may or may not smell bad enough to make you want to die in preference to breathing, but whatever stink you produce (mildly foul or deadly) a high-fiber diet can make you produce more of it. And if you have lactose intolerance… well, please issue gas masks to those around you. ---
**Author:** ![Speleophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Speleophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speleophile)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/26 "2001-03-27T02:45:36Z")
It’s been pointed out to me (by people in the know) that in general, herbiove dung doesn’t stink. It may not be especially pleasant, but it’s nowhere near as overpowering as **carnivore** crap. This suggests a possible evolutionary link for why it smells bad - people who detect carnivore feces and react negatively might be more likley to pass on the jeans - excuse me, that was one pun I simply could not resist. So, any vegatarians or vegans out there want to comment? Does you shit not stink? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851/27 "2001-03-27T04:54:32Z")
[hijack] > [@](#): > > “Morning Breeze” for use by low life type practical jokers Ahhhh, Morning Breeze. I’ve never actually been the perp. . . . but a friend of mine thought it was just hysterical to open up a bottle of that stuff in the lines at Worlds of Fun. There were many unhappy people waiting in line that day. [/quote] [/hijack] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-feces-smell-so-bad/58851.md?page=1)