Aloe Vera Gel Smell . Slice off an outer leaf of an aloe plant. Creams and gels with aloe vera vary in dosage. Aloe Vera Foot Cream from www.urtekrambeauty.com If the soil is damp or soggy, you might be smelling root rot. Aloe vera plants often give off an odor that has been described as similar to rotten onion or garlic. If you check your plant and find that only the small base leaves are affected, you may be able to remove these and save the rest of the plant.