Gold has been used for coins, jewelry, and other decorative items for thousands of years. Gold has a number of unique properties, including its resistance to corrosion and its ability to conduct electricity. People have also used gold for medical purposes.
Yet one of the most interesting properties of gold is its smell. What does gold smell like? Pure gold has no smell. However, when gold is mixed with other metals, it can develop a smell. Here’s everything explained in detail.
What Does Gold Smell Like?
Although pure gold has no smell, you might be wondering what does gold smell like because you’ve encountered gold pieces that appeared to have a scent. Gold doesn’t have a scent all on its own, but when it’s combined with other elements, it takes on distinctive smells depending on the metal it has been combined with.
There are many reasons that gold is combined with other metals for different applications.
In jewelry, pure gold is too soft to be used on its own, so it is combined with other metals to create alloys that have different properties, such as increased strength or resistance to corrosion. In coins, gold is usually alloyed with copper to make it harder and more durable. In computers and other electronic devices, gold is used as a conductive element in electrical connectors.
Gold combined with cadmium may smell like honey. Combined with mercury, it reportedly smells like cinnabar. Alloyed with copper, it might smell like pennies or a metallic type of smell. If gold is alloyed with zinc, it might smell like vinegar or nail polish remover. If gold is alloyed with lead, it might smell like garlic or sulfur. If gold is combined with iron, it might smell slightly metallic. When gold is combined with sulfur, for example, it can produce a faint “rotten egg” smell.
Gold can also pick up smells from the things around it. If you keep your gold jewelry in a drawer with your perfume, for example, your gold might start to smell like your perfume. Or, if you have body lotion or make up with distinct smells, it could rub off on your gold jewelry.
Here’s a table that shows the smell of gold when it interacts with other metals more comprehensively.
| Metal | Smell with Gold |
|---|---|
| Iron | Metallic |
| Zinc | Vinegar |
| Copper | Metallic |
| Sulfur | Rotten egg |
Why Does My Gold Jewelry Smell?
The purity of your gold jewelry will affect how likely it is to develop a smell. The purer the gold in your jewelry, the less likely it is to smell.
As pure 24K gold is too soft and has to be mixed with other metals to give gold jewelry its strength and durability, these metals have different reactions with external factors causing your gold jewelry to develop a scent.
For example, 18K gold is made with 75% pure gold and 25% other metals, while 14K gold is made with 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% other metals. As a result, 14K gold jewelry is more likely to not just tarnish but to develop a scent than 18K gold jewelry.
Outside factors also determine the smell of your gold jewelry.
If you wear your gold jewelry often, it can come into contact with oils from your skin, which can cause it to develop a mild scent. If you don’t clean your gold jewelry regularly, it can also start to smell as a result of built-up dirt and grime. In some cases, gold jewelry may also develop a smell if it’s stored in an area with poor ventilation, such as a damp basement or closet.
This is because exposure to humidity and moisture can cause gold jewelry to tarnish and develop a black patina that smells like vinegar.
How to Prevent Your Gold Jewelry from Smelling
It’s best to change perfumes and lotions if you don’t like the smell that permeates into your jewelry. Also, store your jewelry properly in a well ventilated jewelry box.
Most importantly, you’ll need to clean your gold jewelry. Here’s how:
Soap and water
The simplest way to clean gold jewelry is to mix a small amount of gentle dish soap with warm water and soak your jewelry for about 15 minutes. Afterward, use a soft toothbrush or cloth to wipe away any dirt or grime that’s still clinging to the surface. Once you’re finished, rinse your jewelry thoroughly under cool running water.
Vinegar and baking soda
If soap and water aren’t enough to remove the scent from your gold jewelry, you can try using vinegar and baking soda. First, make a paste out of equal parts vinegar and baking soda. Next, use a soft toothbrush or cloth to apply the paste to your jewelry. Gently scrub the surface of your jewelry until it’s free of dirt and grime. Once you’re finished, rinse your jewelry thoroughly under cool running water.
Commercial jewelry cleaner
If you want to be sure that your gold jewelry is free of all dirt, grime, and smells, you can use a commercial jewelry cleaner. These cleaners are available at most pharmacies and department stores. Simply follow the directions on the bottle to clean your jewelry. Be sure to rinse your jewelry thoroughly after cleaning it with a commercial jeweler cleaner.
Does Real Gold Turn Black when Burned?
Real gold is non-reactive to oxygen and will not turn black when burned. However, some other metals that are often used in jewelry can discolor when exposed to high temperatures.
For example, sterling silver will turn black when heated, and copper can turn green.
So, if you see a piece of jewelry that turns black when burned, it’s likely not made of pure real gold.
Instead, when you burn real gold, it will get brighter and will have a yellowish color. This is because the metal’s natural color is actually hidden by a thin layer of gold oxide. When the oxide layer is burned away, the metal’s true color is revealed.
Final words
To summarize, pure gold has no smell but as gold is often mixed with other metals for different applications, it can acquire a variety of smells. These smells are generally not pleasant and are often described as being metallic or industrial. However, some people may find the smell of gold their gold jewelry to be appealing or even intoxicating. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what they think gold smells like. If you’re in the former group, you can get rid of the smell with soap and water, vinegar, or a commercial cleaning solution.
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