Just opened my Omega-3s—expiration date is fine, but why do the capsules smell so fishy?

I have an open bottle of Omega-3 capsules with a valid expiration date through late 2026, but ever since I opened it, the whole thing smells like straight fish
oil....😛
The reason is I started taking them nine months ago, then
stopped, and now there's still quite a lot left in the bottle.
Have these capsules maintained their quality, considering that this
smell is so noticeable? Also, will they cause any issues or just leave me with
fishy breath all day long? 🙂
😁

Well, Omega-3 fatty acids come from fish! What else would you expect them to smell like? Lavender? 😁 You might not have noticed how strong they can be before, or maybe the capsules have just started to break down a bit, which makes the scent way more intense... It’s kind of weird, though—when you crack open a fresh bottle, they usually have that heavy fishy odor (especially if it's Nature's Bounty), but after sitting out for a bit, it kind of "airs out"... It's strange that yours are doing the exact opposite...

At the end of the day—they shouldn't really smell like anything at all. If they start giving you an upset stomach or making you feel off—just toss them and grab a fresh batch. 😉

dustycanyon6 said:Well, Omega-3 fatty acids come from fish! What did you expect them to smell like? Lavender? 😁

Yeah, true—but I mean, what else would you expect besides fish oil? 😕

I've been using an Omega-3 that has this new "anti-reflux" feature—it pretty much gets rid of that gross fishy aftertaste while you're taking it and later during digestion. They did it by adding essential oils like thyme, peppermint, and clove.
Honestly, you can't even tell there's fish oil in it, which is pretty great. 👍

dustycanyon6 said:Look, Omega-3 fatty acids come from fish. What did you expect them to smell like? Lavender? 😁 Maybe you just didn't notice the scent before, or perhaps the capsules have degraded and the odor is stronger now... It is strange, though—when you open a fresh bottle, the fishy smell is intense (especially with Nature's Bounty), but it usually settles down after some airing out... It’s odd that your experience is the exact opposite...

Ultimately, they shouldn't smell like anything at all. If they cause stomach issues or discomfort, toss them and grab a fresh batch. 😉

A few days ago, I picked up some Omega-3 from Walmart, from that Wellness Plus brand or something similar. 😁

To me, these seem perfectly fine, and they are significantly cheaper than Nature's Way—these are $9.00 for 90 "pearls."

Each one is individually wrapped, so there is absolutely no odor. My only observation is that if I take them on a relatively empty stomach, I get that unpleasant fishy aftertaste. 😢

But if I eat something beforehand, everything is fine.

Thanks for all the input, everyone 👋

I suspect that smell from the pearls/capsules might have gotten stronger because they were just sitting there too long.
I didn't dare take them, fearing I'd spend
the whole day with that fish oil taste lingering in my mouth and throat. 🙂

I'll try taking the Omega-3 pearl during a meal instead—
right alongside some food.

Mine are from Nature's Bounty. And by the way, Angela Rodriguez2, which Omega Pearl are you talking about
that contains essential oils?

silvermason16 said:and by the way, Calimero, what kind of Omega Pearls are we talking about
with essential oils?

I can't really say here—don't want anyone thinking I'm pitching something—so just shoot me a private message and I'll get back to you. 👋

Karen Green said:Honestly, these look pretty solid to me—plus they're way cheaper than Nature's Way. These are $9.00 90 "pearls" for $90.

Sorry, but at that price point, you might as well be buying margarine instead of Omega-3—at least not if you want the good stuff. 😎

Angela Rodriguez2 said:Look, for that kind of money, you might as well buy margarine instead of Omega-3. At least then you'd be getting something useful. 😎

I assume you're pitching this as the gold standard for price and quality—maybe some Herbalife Omega? How transparent of you. 🤣 😛

Angela Rodriguez2 said:I can't say here because people will think I'm just advertising; send me a private message with your email and I'll get back to you. 👋

Thanks, Enivey. Basically, I started taking my Omega-3 with food and they seem fine. Just one a day. No real noticeable effect yet.🙄

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated, which basically means they oxidize and go bad super easily... That's why they're always shoved into capsules with an antioxidant, usually Vitamin E—check the label for "tocopherol" or Vit E if you want to be sure.
Don't even bother taking them if they're past their expiration date.

Maybe try some actual fish instead? 😕

I mean, it’s just fish oil anyway...

straight from shark liver and whale testicles👍 🙂 Just kidding.

dustycanyon6 said:What kind of scent are we even talking about here? Like lavender or something? 😁

Seriously! 🤣 😂

shadowgardener12 said:Maybe try eating actual fish instead? 😕

Look, you can't just eat fish several times a day. It's not realistic.

A few times a week is plenty... 😉
And you don't even need those capsules or whatever...

shadowgardener12 said:A few times a week is plenty... 😉
and you don't really need all those fancy little capsules or whatever.

All this "capsule this, capsule that" stuff is just fish oil.
My mom was given fish oil by spoonfuls back in the day—which tastes absolutely revolting—even though she grew up in a coastal town where her dad was a fisherman.

It’s the exact same thing, just tucked away in gelatin spheres so you don't have to deal with the taste.
I remember being fed those little fish oil pills when I was a kid, too.

Sandra Hayes88 said:Those "whatever-they-are" capsules? They're just fish oil.
My mother was given fish oil by her grandparents on a spoon—it tasted absolutely revolting—even though she grew up in a coastal town where her grandfather was a commercial fisherman.
It’s essentially the same fish oil, just encapsulated in gelatin softgels to mask the aftertaste.
My parents used to give me those Omega-3 softgels back when I was a kid.

And now you’re big, healthy, and happy. 🙂

silvermason16 said:so now you're big, healthy, and happy 🙂

🙂

A smiley face wasn't cutting it, so here we go...

Look, if the smell of fish oil Omega-3 is really getting to you, just switch over to an Omega-3 from flaxseed oil. Honestly, it’s just as effective as the fishy stuff, and you won't have to deal with that gross aftertaste or constant burping afterward. Just try taking them right in the middle of your meal instead.

redcrane5 said:If that fishy smell from your Omega-3 supplements is truly driving you crazy, why not just switch over to an Omega-3 sourced from flaxseed oil instead? It’s just as effective as the fishy stuff, and you won't have to deal with that disgusting aftertaste if you simply take it while you're eating a meal.

That is actually exactly what I am planning to buy!👍 Do you have any specific brands you'd recommend? 😬