by
Geniece
Have you ever been at a restaurant with family or friends who urge you to try an exotic dish? They describe the taste, texture, maybe even health benefits of the dish in such great detail that by the time you finally place your order, you’re practically salivating. Finally the waiter places a dish before you that looks and maybe even smells like something that was forgotten in the back of somebody’s fridge for six months. This is probably the best comparison to the experiences I’ve had with a few natural hair treatments. Some of which harbored such an odor that it made me the center of attention and not in a good way. Below are a few products I have tried and even loved that gave off an unexpected odor which left me reconsidering if the benefits outweighed the smelly drawbacks.
I remember the day I walked into the Indian grocery store in Cambridge, MA eagerly looking for the oil some women raved about on hair boards. Finally, I found a bottle and although it contained mineral oil, a product I had stopped using for months, I was set on using it in my next pre-poo treatment. On some of the reviews I read about the product some users described it as having a robust, exotic and spicy smell. Either I purchased the wrong stuff or those users were living in the land of lies, fairytales and fantasies. The stuff stank! It wasn’t the strong, noxious type of smell that turns your stomach. Rather, it had a strange “after smell”. A quick sniff of the oil didn’t predict how it would smell after an hour of letting it sit on my hair. The best way to describe the scent was this: the distant, faint fragrance of urine you smell when you enter a New York City subway station downtown. After that first use, I was positive that I could only use Amla oil (at least the thick, heavy kind I purchased at the Indian grocers), if I was going to wash it out of my hair within the hour.
So, you may wonder: Was it worth it? For me, the benefits outweighed the smelly negatives. The oil provided great slip and after a year of use my hair was a dark, shiny black (Amla oil darkens the hair over time). While I no longer use Amla oil because I now only use a slippery conditioner to detangle, I’d be willing to bear the acidic smell because it faded immediately after washing my hair.
Sulfur
About 6 months into my hair journey I decided that I would no longer consider taking supplements for the sole purpose of increasing my rate of hair growth. My breakout from Biotin and the migraines and bizarre dreams I experienced from taking MSM was an unpleasant experience to say the least! Around that time I began to read articles on forums and watch hair vlogs that described the benefits of sulfur on hair growth. I saw before and after hair shots that made me truly believe that I could exceed my 6 inch a year hair growth goal. Needless to say I eagerly ordered a bottle of an oil mix containing sulfur and applied it to my hair. In fairness to the manufacturer of the product, it was clear they used a variety of essential oils in an attempt to mask the smell of the product. Nevertheless my hair smelled like a cross between fruity oils and rotting eggs. I can laugh about it now and I do think the oil helped the dryness of my scalp (not so much with hair growth), but it was embarrassing to have someone question the source of a smell only to realize it was your hair. Unlike Amla oil I would not use sulfur in the future. I’m fastidious about my hygiene so the thought of using a product that may make others think I don’t wash my hair is simply not worth it. I wish I could say that I don’t care what others think, but when it comes to wearing smelly hair in public, I really do care.
Essential Oils
When it comes to essential oils the saying “everything in moderation” is apropos. If you’ve tinkered with essential oils, then you know that very little goes quite a long way. One of my favorite essential oils is peppermint oil. I have found that helps itchiness on my scalp and skin. However, I didn’t always realize the potency of the product. I recommend using too little rather than too much of this oil because, trust me, your bed linens, clothing and hair will smell like chewing gum for quite some time. The same can be said of other essential oils. You will want to play with proportions before you apply it directly to your hair or your skin.
As an aside, if you ever have the misfortune of having little gray, furry visitors, as I did when I lived in a college dorm, peppermint oil is a harmless way of getting rid of mice. So, not only does it sooth your scalp and skin, but helps with any potential pest problems too. Just be sure to use in moderation.
What are the strangest smelling hair products that you’ve used?
71 Responses
I tried Ghee as a pre-poo treatment… It was great for my hair, but definitely not worth the horrendous smell.
i dilute essential oils in olive oil, seems to work ok
Nothing mentioned here smells as bad as the old GLOVER’S MANGE my momma & many other mommas back in the day used to use on us kids’ hair as well as their own !! Mom used to mix it with baby oil & put it to my scalp.My hair would reeeeek of pine tar, sulphur & other stinky stuff. Schools were segregated back then & you could always tell when some little black girl’s mom had used Glover’s mange on her head. The upshot was that we had long healthy hair down our backs & healthy scalps with no dandruff.
Jamaican Castor Oil….so stinky! But I noticed that my hair didn’t shed/break off as much.
My cousin uses Garlic shampoo & conditioner in her hair. She said it smells terrible, but does wonders for her hair!
Henna, I use it for my scalp because I have dermatitis. It’s the only thing that works, but it will have you walking around smelling like fresh cut grass and curry.
Tea trea oil, to me smells like Pine-Son, I bought a bottle of 100% pure tea tree oil and no matter how much I dilute it with other oils it still smells
If you don’t like amla oil, try the bringharaj oil. It works like amla, and has a smell of brandy with herbs. It will darken your hair though. I found it worked when my hair began to shed. It can be found in Indian grocery stores.
I can’t stand the smell of coconut oil. Luckily, my hair hates it!!!
I use Dax Roots Bergamot Butter mixed with their jojoba oil for an amazing sealing cream. It works well but I am not a fan of the Bergamot Butter smell
Central Sq next to the 7 eleven? I got my henna and coconut juice there.
I’m surprised peppermint oil smells bad to you. I like it
Have to disagree abt the smell of Amla hair oil. Just ordered some last week when I researched the benefits & other user reviews beyond this article. i like the smell just fine..its kinda soft, exotic…nice!so yeah…maybe the writer got a bad batch??
Yea I’m with you. I got Amla Gold though which is the newest one. The smell isn’t bad at all. Just a spicy spirit like smell. Maybe the older versions smell bad but I’ve noticed a lot of people are just overly sensitive to smell they are not used to lol. I thought it will smell like poop with all the reviews.
Same thing they were going on about Jamaican Black Castor Oil smell. It’s not even that serious…lol.
Oh well.
Three things no one else has mentioned all stink to me.
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier contains a chemical that has a faint stink underneath the otherwise pleasant smell. My hair doesn’t seem to take too well to the product in general, so not only will I not repurchase it, I’ll be avoiding any other products in which I smell that scent.
Jojoba oil has a faint stink that dissipates quickly when applied and can be overcome somewhat when mixed with other more strongly scented things. I worked my way through two bottles of it, then, when I went to buy the third, decided to try almond oil mixed with vitamin E instead. Thus ended my use of jojoba oil :-).
It’s been a couple of years since I stopped using henna and allowed the remaining color to fade from my hair, much to the delight of my mother and sister. I’m convinced that the use of bentonite clay on my hair assisted in the color fade. I know I like using it to clarify and deep cleanse my hair and scalp. But the smell–and the sound–when I mix apple cider vinegar into it to make up the paste (and then I have the bad taste to mix EVOO into it, hahahaha) will make a body very happy that all that odor washes down the sink very easily, leaving nothing but clean.
Did I say three? I meant four. I’m sorry, but as strong as henna can be, I learned, in those early days when I first started playing with it, that cassia obovata smells even worse. In addition, it will add a yellow tinge to light colored hair. Ask my self with albinism how I know this! No, thanks, not with that smell! Bring on the henna :-)!
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Restorative Conditioner. They are some of the BEST products I’ve used for my hair but, the smell almost makes me gag :(.
I felt that way at first too, but the scent eventually grew on me. Now when I don’t use those products for a while I actually miss the smell, lol.
For me neem oil was the worst, its suppose to cure dandruff & other scalp issues. It does work but the smell is undescriable lol. It made me have a headache & when I looked up the side effects I was horrified because it can possibly cause brain damage. The first time I used it, I used too much & even after washing my hair twice in the same day, the smell was still there & potent. Of course I was worried about other ppl smelling this & thinking I had bad hygiene or something. So if u buy this please use in moderation, preferably as a pre poo so it can be washed out afterwards. I still have it but lets say I won’t repurchase lol.
YES. Never heard about the brain damage thing though. ????
I use it in my clay washes, so I typically rinse it out immediately (otherwise I wouldn’t be able to bear the smell anyway).
Also wheat germ and grapeseed oils.
I think that the Hairdrenaline Potion smells terrible. I don’t even use it because of the nasty smell. Yuck.
ALL Curl Junkie products…overly floral, like you’ve doused yourself in toilet freshener. Why on earth don’t they offer unscented versions? ;(
You could replace the ammonia in first aid kits with Dr. Miracle’s products. That stuff will wake up anybody.
Nothing beats the smell of plain Greek yogurt ugh! It is amazing on my hair though
What of refrigerated raw Aloe vera juice? After a while, it can almost make one puke.
Ladies… Are we going to sit here and pretend tea tree oil doesn’t smell for days?
It works wonders but leaves SUCH a strong smell!
Certain types of Shea butter for me! The super super raw kind from Ghana reeks like dirt! I’ve heard some people mix it with essential oils but it still smells too earthy for me lol
Apple Cider vinegar. I love using it and it works great, but it smells terrible. Luckily, the smell doesn’t last and once it dries and I apply a leave in, you can no longer smell it.
Love my amla oil. I heard the same thing about the smell but honestly it’s strong but not that bad to me. I have used it as an over nighter and my hair super soft after using it. Yes after awhile it will also darken the hair.
For me, kera care twist and define cream goes top of that list! terrible smell, like an industrial glue or something. But it does a good job!
NEEM OIL! I don’t even know how to describe the smell. I have never used so much essential oils in my life….and the stench did not go away. It did stop my scalp from itching and left me dandruff free, but never again.
Meem oil stinks for sure. Smell like putting peanut butter in your hair. But it works I mask the smell with Ylang Ylang oil.
You beat me to this post. LOL Neem oil is the worst!!! Apple Cider Vinegar is a close second for me. I’m scared to be around people after I use it to rinse my locs. I know it goes away eventually but in the beginning it STINKS!!!
Lol, yep. I still use it because it is effective, but ????
I tried Amla oil once and vowed never to do it again.
Another oil that us a total no-go for me is sesame oil!!!!!!!!!!!!
There must be a lot of younger folks on this board because no one…NO ONE! has mentioned GLOVER’S MANGE! The smell was horrendous…like Sulfur & pine tar ( both of which were ingredients) plus old bacon grease. The closest thing to that smell is MTG which also has sulphur but doesn’t smell as bad. Waaay back in the day, about 100 or so years ago,people used it on their animals that had mange & on themselves for scalp problems. Black people,especially,embraced it & mothers would make concoctions of Glover’s mange mixed with grease or oil & apply it to their kids’ hair. My mom used to mix it with Dixie Peach or baby oil & oil my scalp with it about once a month the night before wash day or maybe massage the undiluted stuff into my hair to sit for an hour or two before shampooing.Hairdressers even recommended it to people with itchy scalps & dandruff. When I was a little kid in my segregated elementary school you could always tell when someone had Glover’s Mange in their hair;it stunk up the room! Despite the smell, it did its job very well & those of us whose moms used it on us had healthy scalps & hair. I used it up until the 70s or so but then it vanished to be replaced by modern Glover’s products.Ask your parents,grandparents or other folks over 40 if they ever heard of it or used it. I’ve also seen it mentioned on some message boards.
I thought for sure Aphogee 2-step protein treatment would be listed! It stopped my breakage dramatically but REEKED like hot pickles left in the sun.
I use amla oil as my Pre poo treatment every 2 weeks. The smell is something that cure any sinus issues but the benefits for my hair out weighs the strong odor. I usually apply the night before my wash day on top of aloe juice/water dampened hair and detangle. I twist in big twists and leave on over night (hair wrapped in plastic cap, grocery bags, and head scarves) so it doesnt get on my pillow cases. In the morning, my hair is super soft, moisturized, and curls poppin! Another benefit is over the long term use of using this, my hair rarely sheds/breaks and it is naturally dark and has a natural shine.
The smell of henna makes me nauseated
Ditto!! This is why I had to stop using it. The long process and the smell of old, wet rotting weeds were too much for me–it just wasn’t worth it!
I’m so glad henna was the first comment here. When I saw this article the first thing I thought was henna. It is the only product smell so far that I really can’t deal with.
Aussie Conditioner! It smells sooooo sweet that I had to put it in a plastic bag AND STILL noticed the smell. I think that’s because it had a pump, so I couldn’t stop the smell from leaving the bottle. It was too much for me, and I think I ended up giving it away. Never again.
Speaking of MSM, does anyone know whether or not it’s safe to take while breastfeeding?
I’m shocked Jamaican black castor oil and the aphogee treatment that you dry onto your hair that used to come in a square bottle didn’t make it on to that list. I used it twice and stopped. I can deal with the castor oil but the smell of that treatment almost made me never use aphogee product again (they dont all smell that way thank god)
The smell of tea tree oil is so strong. It makes me feel like a a walking plant. The upside, though, is that it stopped my scalp and skin problems.
I tell my boo to stay away right after I’ve applied tea tree oil (the real stuff, not the one with additives). It stinks to high heaven until it wears off a few minutes later. The first time he tried to kiss me after I applied it with my facial moisturizer, he leaped back quicker than I ever thought possible. Ha!
I once left a jar of coconut oil in my shower (to apply to my wet skin for softness before I got out) and I swear to god within a week of two of it being in my shower (lid shut tightly), I opened the jar and it smelled like bleu cheese. I threw that mess away so fast lol ugh!
LOL!!!!!! I am cracking up at my desk!
Wow…the same thing happened to me (sort of). I started using unrefined coconut oil as a body oil and within a few hours I would start to smell some kind of burnt cheese-type smell. I realized it was my body chemistry reacting with the oil. Now I save the unrefined stuff for my hair and use the refined stuff for my body.
On natural hair products smelling terrible: I’m a stickler for that kind of thing; I’m known for opening bottles and jars in the store and putting them right back if I don’t like the smell.
On another note: I haven’t come across too many conditioners with the kind of slip I’ve found in HE None of Your Frizzness. Plus I like the smell…the problem is the smell is WAY too strong. My eyes were watering when I used it!
Has anyone else used amla oil? I want to know more about it and the best way to use it.
I’ve used two different brands of Amla hair oil:One was by “Tara” and the other was by “Dabur”. The one that was by Tara was light green in colour, lightweight, had a very faint smell which was kinda nice( i liked it ) and the oil was very light in consistency or feel. I had to seal my hair with a thicker product after using it but i liked it overall. The one by Dabur( which i currently use now ) is dark green in colour, heavy and thick in consistency and feel. It also has a strong smell which “stays with you” for a long time. It’s not a nice smell and i don’t like it. The smell is strange, strong and kinda unpleasant. But let me tell you that my hair feels awesome whenever i use it. I think that it gives even more benefits than the lighter Amla hair oil by Tara. Though i only use it to prepoo because of the smell and very thick consistency which made my scalp feel uncomfortable. Yes it has a lot of slip, shine and gives hair a feel of being nourished. It also gave me a little tingling sensation which was nice. You can use it in any way that it works for you depending on the brand, quality and texture. In my experience, the one by Tara was great for use after washing my hair, gave easy detangling benefits, slip and shine but was too light and needed a thicker product used after or along with it. The one by Dabur was too thick and had a strong odour but gave ample shine, slip and nourishment to my hair( It was very noticeable ) but because i don’t like the very thick consistency, i only use it to prepoo, You can use it in other ways too if it works for you. Hope this helps, bye.
see…i love the smell of sulfur!!!
Ghee! Gave me the softest hair ever after a deep condition, but it broke out my back and it made me smell like I hadn’t bathed even after I washed it out of my hair. Bacne and BO do not equal sexy.
On a side note, has anybody actually tried treating their scalp with garlic and or onion? I’m curious because I’ve heard they reduce shedding and promote growth, but those are not smells I’d like to carry with me.
DO NOT USE Garlic. I did it and my hair smelled like garlic for weeks. NEVER AGAIN!
Vatika Coconut oil. I stopped using it, bought extra virgin coconut oil instead. Whenever I used it it would stink up my whole room!
If something works wonders for my hair, I don’t give a hoot about the smell.
Been holding off buying Amla oil due to pricing but will be getting it soon. 🙂
#SoLongAsItWorksDon’tCurr
LOL
Olive Oil has recently come under questioning for me. A friend said it smells like new crayons. Coconut oil it is for this gal.
Raw Yellow African Butter, Ghee, Olive Oil !
Yes stuff with sulfur does not have a pleasant smell. Also Tropical Isle castor oil doesn’t always have the greatest smell.
I was hoping someone mentioned black castor oil…it smells disgusting! Funny story about my experience here: http://www.lillian-mae.com/natural-hair-essentials/my-jamaican-black-castor-oil-experience/
I can’t stand the smell of JBCO nor raw Shea Butter. But both work well, so I suck it up (in small doses).
LOLing at the pest control tip because I saw a tiny mouse in my room once and immediately mopped the floors with wayyyy too much peppermint oil. I felt like I was living in a candy cane castle. Windows were left open for days. My room mates were less than pleased by I didn’t see a nan ‘nother mouse.
I use peppermint oil under the kitchen sink & in back of the drawers to keep mice away. They never come out in the open because I have TWO CATS !
I love the snell of peppermint oil. I hate the smell of Aubrey honeysuckle & rose conditioner.
Ha! All Aubrey Organics conditioners smell like something old and moldy or poopish…I can’t really place the scent, but I thought it was just me that couldn’t stand it.
I do want to try amla oil though. I’d love for my hair to become darker without having to deal with roots.
I can tolerate all the AO condishes except Rose Mosqueta. Literally so nauseating that I couldn’t bring myself to finish the bottle, even though it worked well on my hair.
I also bought Alikay Naturals Lemongrass leave-in because people raved about it (including the fragrance). I opened the bottle, took one whiff, and never used it once. I gave it to my niece, who loves the scent…maybe it’s just me.
Carols daughter healthy hair butter! Smells like vapor rub lol
I HATE the smell of Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobob Thickening Growth Milk. It works wonders for my hair but the smell is horrible IMO. I always have to mask it with something or mix it with some oil, water, and condish to keep from getting a headache.
When I first saw the title of the article, I immediately thought of sulfur. That stuff definitely has a burnt smell.
I’ve only used mayo once – and never again! I was supposed to leave it on 45 min; I could only endure 10, my tummy was turning so bad. It did leave my hair the softest it’s ever been, with great curls – but I can’t take smelling like a sandwich.
Girl, I did that mess back in ’93 thinking I was doing something. Then I had to go to work that hot August day. Never again!
Lol!! I can’t even imagine…
EVOO when I’m using Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Conditioner. The two together make a smelly, sweaty smelling combo.