Does Chlorine Have a Smell?

You know that sharp odor of chlorine from the swimming pool you can recall from earliest childhood? It turns out it's not just chlorine, but a potent brew of chemicals that form when chlorine meets sweat, body oils, and urine.

Does chlorine actually smell?

That smell actually results when chlorine reacts with something in your pool. What you're smelling are chemicals called chloramines, particularly one called trichloramine. They're formed when the chlorine disinfectants in a pool react with nitrogen-based compounds in swimmers' sweat, urine, hair, or skin.

Is chlorine odorless?

Chlorine gas can be recognized by its pungent, irritating odor, which is like the odor of bleach. The strong smell may provide adequate warning to people that they are exposed. Chlorine gas appears to be yellow-green in color.