I am 100% positive that I did not touch the bulb, even with the latex gloves that I was wearing. I have replaced 3000w Osram mercury lamps at my job and have a lot of experience with them. Since Sylvannia is owned by Osram, I figured I couldn't go wrong at $25.00 a piece. Anyways, the smudge is on the reflector housing, not the bulb.