What do cockroaches smell like?

I keep getting a musty smell in my kitchen. Google says it could be cockroaches – what do roaches smell like?

Cockroaches produce a distinctive musty, oily odor that comes partly from pheromones – chemical signals they use to communicate and mark trails to food and water. The smell is often described as damp, greasy, or faintly sweet, and it tends to linger on surfaces and in enclosed spaces, such as cabinets, under sinks, and behind appliances.

With just a few roaches, the smell may be faint or easy to dismiss, but as numbers grow, it becomes harder to ignore. 

So roaches do have a distinctive smell. But the odor isn't from one single source. It builds up from a combination of:

• Pheromones — released constantly to attract other roaches and mark routes to food and water
• Droppings — feces accumulate in areas of high activity and add to the overall smell
• Dead roaches — decaying cockroaches release oleic acid, which has a sharp, unpleasant odor
• Body secretions — oily residue from their bodies coats surfaces over time

In a large infestation, the combined effect can be strong enough to hit you as soon as you walk into a room, but cockroach odor can also be mistaken for mold, dampness, or even certain foods. If you suspect roaches, get in touch with our cockroach control experts to arrange an inspection.