Most Likely Causes (Ranked)
Your belly button harbors a diverse microbiome — research found an average of 67 different bacterial species per navel. Bacteria like Brevibacterium (the same species used to make Limburger cheese) thrive in the warm, moist environment and produce cheesy-smelling fatty acids as they digest dead skin and oils.
Belly buttons — especially deeper 'innie' navels — collect lint from clothing, dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and sweat. Over time, this creates a dark, compressed mass called an umbolith (belly button stone) that can smell quite strong.
The moist, warm environment of the belly button is ideal for Candida yeast overgrowth. This is more common in people who are overweight, diabetic, or who recently took antibiotics.
If the belly button is injured (from a piercing, scratch, or surgery) or if skin breaks down from chronic moisture, bacteria can cause an actual infection rather than just normal colonization.
How to Fix It
Clean Properly (Daily)
$0This solves 95% of belly button smell.
- 1In the shower, use a finger or washcloth with soap to gently clean inside the navel.
- 2For deep navels: dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol or soapy water and gently clean the folds.
- 3Rinse thoroughly and dry completely — pat dry with a towel or use a hair dryer on cool.
- 4Drying is critical — residual moisture feeds bacteria and yeast.
Remove Buildup (Umbolith)
$0If there's accumulated material.
- 1Soften the buildup by applying baby oil or coconut oil to the navel. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
- 2Gently work the material out with a cotton swab. Don't force it — multiple sessions may be needed.
- 3Clean with rubbing alcohol afterward.
- 4Large, hard umoboliths may need a doctor to remove if they won't budge.
Treat Yeast Infection
$5-15If redness and itching accompany the smell.
- 1Apply OTC antifungal cream (clotrimazole/Lotrimin, miconazole) to the navel twice daily for 2 weeks.
- 2Keep the area as dry as possible — moisture feeds Candida.
- 3If you're diabetic, manage blood sugar — high glucose promotes yeast growth.
- 4See a doctor if it doesn't improve in 2 weeks.
When to Call a Professional
Green or bloody discharge with pain — possible bacterial infection needing antibiotics
Redness spreading outward from the navel — see a doctor for possible cellulitis
Foul smell from a navel piercing with swelling — remove the jewelry and see a doctor
Persistent smell despite daily cleaning — may indicate a deeper issue like an urachal cyst (rare)
How to Prevent It
Clean your belly button daily in the shower — a 10-second habit prevents all smell.
Dry thoroughly after showering — moisture is the #1 factor in bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
Avoid heavy lotions or creams in the navel — they feed bacteria.
Wear breathable fabrics to reduce moisture around the midsection.
If you have a piercing, clean it regularly with saline solution.
The Belly Button Microbiome
A 2012 study from North Carolina State University (the Belly Button Biodiversity Project) found that human navels harbor an average of 67 bacterial species per person, with some hosting over 100. The most common species were Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, and Micrococcus.
Brevibacterium is particularly interesting — it's the same species used as a ripening agent in washed-rind cheeses like Limburger, Munster, and Epoisses. It produces isovaleric acid, which has that distinctive 'cheesy feet' smell. So when your belly button smells like cheese, it's literally making cheese — the same biological process, just on your skin.
The study also found that each person's navel microbiome is unique, like a fingerprint. Two people's belly buttons share only about 10% of their bacterial species. This means everyone's belly button smells slightly different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — some smell is completely normal, especially if you have a deep 'innie' navel. It's just bacteria doing their job. Regular cleaning keeps it under control.
Brevibacterium — the same bacteria used to make Limburger cheese — lives in belly buttons and produces isovaleric acid, the compound that gives aged cheese its distinctive smell.
Daily, during your regular shower. A quick 10-second swipe with a soapy finger is all it takes. Deep cleaning with a cotton swab weekly keeps buildup from forming.
Yes. Piercings create an additional surface for bacteria and can trap debris. Clean piercings with saline solution daily. If the smell accompanies redness or discharge, the piercing may be infected.
A belly button stone — a hardened mass of dead skin, lint, sebum, and bacteria that forms over months to years in deep navels. They can grow to surprising sizes and produce a strong odor when disturbed. Softening with oil and gentle removal is the treatment.
Only if cleaning doesn't resolve it, or if you have pain, redness, swelling, or unusual discharge. Normal belly button smell responds to improved hygiene within days.