Most Likely Causes (Ranked)
Most people let water run over their belly button in the shower but never actually clean inside it. Dead skin, sweat, lint, and soap residue accumulate and feed bacteria that produce a cheesy or musty odor.
The warm, moist, dark belly button is ideal for yeast (Candida) overgrowth. This produces a more pungent smell than bacteria alone and may cause redness, itching, or a white discharge.
Epidermoid cysts can form in or near the belly button and become infected. Belly button piercings are prone to bacterial infection, especially during healing.
The urachus is a structure that connected the bladder to the umbilical cord before birth. Rarely, a remnant persists and can become infected or leak, causing persistent wetness and odor from the belly button.
How to Fix It
Clean It Properly
$0Fixes most belly button odor immediately.
- 1In the shower, apply soap to your finger or a cotton swab and gently clean inside the belly button.
- 2Rinse thoroughly — trapped soap residue itself feeds bacteria.
- 3Dry the belly button after showering — dab inside with a towel or cotton swab.
- 4Do this daily as part of your regular shower routine.
Treat Yeast or Bacterial Overgrowth
$5-15If smell persists despite regular cleaning.
- 1Apply over-the-counter antifungal cream (clotrimazole/Lotrimin) if yeast is suspected (redness, itching, yeasty smell).
- 2Dab with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide once daily for 3-5 days to reduce bacteria.
- 3Keep the area dry — moisture is the enemy.
- 4If it doesn't improve in a week, see a doctor.
See a Doctor
$50-150For persistent odor, discharge, or infection signs.
- 1Infected cysts may need drainage or antibiotics.
- 2Persistent wetness/discharge may require imaging to check for urachal remnant.
- 3Infected piercings may need the jewelry removed and antibiotics.
When to Call a Professional
Yellow or green discharge — likely bacterial infection needing antibiotics.
Persistent wetness that won't stop — possible urachal remnant or cyst.
Red, swollen, warm, or painful — active infection.
Fever with belly button symptoms — infection may be spreading.
How to Prevent It
Clean inside your belly button daily in the shower.
Dry it thoroughly after bathing.
Avoid leaving soap residue inside.
Wear breathable fabrics against the waist.
Keep piercing clean per aftercare instructions.
Your Belly Button Has 67 Species of Bacteria
The Belly Button Biodiversity Project found that the average belly button hosts 67 species of bacteria, and that belly button microbiomes are as unique as fingerprints. Some species found in belly buttons had previously only been found in ocean thermal vents and polar ice caps.
This microbial diversity is normal and mostly harmless. The smell becomes a problem only when conditions (moisture, dead skin, no cleaning) allow certain species to overgrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Daily, during your regular shower. Just apply soap, clean inside with your finger or a cotton swab, rinse, and dry. Takes 10 seconds.
Occasionally is fine for a deep clean, but daily use can dry and irritate the skin. Soap and water daily with occasional alcohol or hydrogen peroxide if smell persists.
The "cheesy" smell is from the same bacteria (Brevibacterium) that creates the smell of aged cheese. It thrives in warm, moist skin folds. Regular cleaning eliminates it.
Small amounts of dead skin and lint are normal. Wet discharge (especially colored or foul-smelling) is not normal and may indicate infection or a cyst.