Strange Odors in Septum Piercing: Common Reasons and Solutions | Piercing Aftercare 101

A septum piercing can have its drawbacks for some people. They can be a bit painful and sore in the days after the piercing. It’s also very important to provide proper aftercare to the piercing to ensure it doesn’t get infected as it heals.

One of the common complaints from people with septum piercings is the smell that sometimes comes with it. We’ll look at why your septum may smell and what you can do to fix it.

Sticking to a consistent cleaning schedule is the best way to get rid of and prevent that funky septum piercing smell.

You also need to do these tips to clean your septum piercing:

1. While your septum piercing is still healing, you’ll want to regularly wash the affected area with warm water and a clear glycerin soap. 

2. Add a small amount of sea salt to your warm, soapy water solution to help fight off any sort of infection which can lead to an unpleasant smell - or you can use Base Labs Piercing Aftercare Spray

3. To clean the jewelry itself, use a q-tip or cotton swab - Base Labs Piercing Aftercare Swabs  with warm soap and water. Do not take your jewelry out if the septum piercing has not healed yet.

4. If you still can’t get the smell to go away and your septum piercing is completely healed, then remove the jewelry and soak it in soap and water after giving it a scrub. To really get at the odor, consider purchasing a jewelry cleaner that is compatible with your piercing’s material.

Don’t panic if your septum piercing smells for an extended period of time. The smell by itself is not a sign of an infection and is completely normal. Similarly, don’t panic if your septic piercing didn’t smell for the first month but starts to smell in the second, or vice versa.

Septum funk can come and go throughout the healing process. This is completely normal!