The smell comes from the yellow-ish liquid (called aloe latex) that exists between the skin and the gel of the leaf. Before using the leaf, peel the skin off and rinse off the gel as much as possible to get rid of the latex. It shouldn’t smell after that. (If it does, try a younger leaf.)
Additionally, use caution when ingesting aloe vera. The gel is OK to ingest in small amounts, but the latex can cause intestinal upset if too much is consumed. Rinse the gel thoroughly and use sparingly.
The smell comes from the yellow-ish liquid (called aloe latex) that exists between the skin and the gel of the leaf. Before using the leaf, peel the skin off and rinse off the gel as much as possible to get rid of the latex. It shouldn’t smell after that. (If it does, try a younger leaf.)
Additionally, use caution when ingesting aloe vera. The gel is OK to ingest in small amounts, but the latex can cause intestinal upset if too much is consumed. Rinse the gel thoroughly and use sparingly.