Hi Amy, I'm not sure if your kit involved reviving an established starter or creating a starter from scratch. If you were creating a sourdough starter from scratch, it's not uncommon to notice some unpleasant odors during the early days, and you may also see an early rise (which is likely to be caused by bacteria rather than yeast). Ultimately what you're looking for is that the starter is rising and doubling consistently after a feeding, and has a pleasant aroma. These are good signs that your starter is ready to bake with. 

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