What It Really Means When Your Fingernails Smell

Have you ever prepared a meal, then washed your hands, only to discover that the smell of the ingredients seems to linger on your fingers? This isn't uncommon when dealing with foods with a particularly pungent aroma. Think: onions, garlic, or hot peppers. The smell may be especially strong if during the cooking process traces of these items may have gotten lodged up under your fingernails (via Livestrong). If you've noticed that your fingernails have begun to give off an aroma that's unrelated to cooking, the answer may be surprisingly simple.

Experts at Livestrong explain that our nails can sometimes emit a sulfur-like smell after having been cut. The keratin proteins in our nails contain sulfur compounds, and once cut, that smell can be released. Additionally, when trimming our nails, we literally cut short the nail growth process by damaging the proteinase enzyme (via Traction Beauty). In response, nail growth springs into action. If this occurs too quickly, friction from the nails rubbing together can also produce a sulfur odor.

If the cause of your nail smell is a fresh trimming, experts explain that the odor will generally subside following the trimming (via Livestrong). If fingernail odor persists, it could be due instead to a health condition.