What makes urine smell?
For the most part, urine carries very little odor. The reason why is simple: It’

about 95% water. The remainder amounts mostly to waste products — calcium, nitrogen, potassium and more — filtered by your kidneys.

Now if you’re dehydrated, the percentage of water in your pee drops and the filtered waste takes a more prominent role. That creates a stronger smell, notes Dr. Bajic. (Dehydration also turns your urine a darker color, but that’s a different discussion.)

It’s not just drinking, though. What you eat can affect the scent of your bladder output, too.

Asparagus is infamous for giving urine a pretty stinky sulfur smell, for instance. Fast fact: Your body converts an acid in asparagus into sulfur-containing compounds, which creates that pungent result.

Coffee drinkers also may recognize a certain brewed aroma during a bathroom break. Brussels sprouts, onions and garlic also can add a certain zest to urine.

In addition, various medications and supplements can contribute a specific scent to pee.

What urine odors might mean
Not every unique urine odor can be explained simply by diet, though. Sometimes, that malodourous stream serves as a warning sign of an underlying health issue that deserves attention, says Dr. Bajic.

For instance:

Pee that smells like ammonia
If you detect a hint of ammonia in your urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. The odor suggests that bacteria may be swimming around in your urinary system, most likely in your urethra, kidneys or bladder.

Urine showing signs of a UTI also may be cloudy or even a bit bloody. Peeing may also become painful — a symptom made even worse by the fact that you may feel the need to urinate more often. A fever and mental confusion are other tell-tale accompanying signs.

If you have multiple symptoms, schedule a visit with your healthcare provider.

UTIs are pretty common, sending approximately 10 million Americans to the doctor every year for antibiotic treatment, says Dr. Bajic. Women and older adults are more prone to getting the infection.

Other potential causes of urine that carry the whiff of ammonia include:
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