Bones themselves, in their fully mineralized state, don't possess a distinct odor. However, the smell often associated with bones stems from the presence of decaying organic matter.
The Source of the Smell
The characteristic smell people associate with bones is not inherent to the bone mineral itself, but rather to the decomposition of soft tissues and other organic materials attached to or within the bone. This includes:
- Flesh: Remaining muscle tissue decomposes rapidly, producing a foul odor.
- Grease: Fat and marrow within the bone break down, contributing to the unpleasant smell.
- Cartilage: Decomposing cartilage adds to the overall odor profile.
- Other organic matter: Various other substances, like blood residues, can also contribute to the smell.
As stated in a blog post from JonsBones: Osteology Education (https://www.jonsbones.com/blog/why-dont-human-bones-smell), "While bone is living it has flesh, grease, cartilage, and matter attached to its calcium structure. Human remains with any amount of soft tissue will have an odor, due to the process of rotting." This rotting process is the primary reason why bones might smell.
Another user on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/bonecollecting/comments/154ej5d/bone_smell/) noted that shiny yellow spots on bone often indicate the presence of fat, which will continue to rot and leach, contributing to the smell.
Different Smells, Different Stages
The specific odor can vary depending on the stage of decomposition and the specific tissues involved. Some have described the smell of freshly cut bone as akin to corn or corn chips, while fully decayed bones will have a significantly more unpleasant aroma.
Bone Dust and Smell
Even bone dust can have a recognizable, and often unpleasant, smell. This likely results from the microscopic remnants of organic material still present within the dust. As described in https://psarahjohnson.com/the-smell-of-bone/, "Bone dust has a very distinct and instantly recognizable smell. Especially when it happens to be your own."
