How to reduce body odor

Aromatic appeal is, to some extent, subjective. The sense of smell is primal, mysterious, and deeply personal. Compared to that of most other mammals, our olfactory perception is dull. Yet, it remains important for survival. It helps us detect smoke, identify whether food has gone bad, and determine whether we or our clothes need washing.

Odor receptors in the nose connect swiftly to deep and ancient parts of the brain, including those involved in strong emotions and memory formation and retrieval. Mothers and babies of all mammalian species recognize one another by scent. Scent figures in our choice of a mate. In fact, body odors provide subconscious information about a potential mate’s genetic compatibility, social status, and reproductive vigor. Fluctuations in female hormones temper a woman’s olfactory sensitivity.

What creates a person’s signature aroma? A lot of things: diet, overall state of health, age, emotional state, levels of certain hormones, hygiene, and some medications. Some diseases create characteristic chemicals detectable on skin and in breath. Examples of illnesses that alter skin smells include infectious diseases (for example, tuberculosis and scarlet fever), scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), and schizophrenia.

Americans tend to be particularly preoccupied with body odor. The armpits are the usual source. Armpit sweat, which is richer in proteins and fats than secretions from the sweat glands covering most of your skin, doesn’t stink until bacteria that normally colonize your skin break down chemicals in sweat into acids. What can you do? • Bathe regularly, paying special attention to your armpits and bottom. You don’t need to use harsh antibacterial soaps. In fact, some of the antibacterial chemicals (e.g., triclosan) aren’t good for you or the environment. Use a mild soap with a natural (plant-derived) fragrance.
• Wear natural fabrics. These allow your sweat to evaporate freely. It’s when your armpits are hot, sweaty, and lacking in oxygen that odorcausing bacteria thrive. In winter, you can’t beat wool for warm and wicking action.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Vegetarians are said to smell sweeter than people who eat a lot of meat.
• Harness the antibacterial and aromatic properties of plant essential oils.

Recipes to reduce body odor

Take a Powder
Using just two pantry ingredients, this recipe is quick, easy, and effective. Essential oils add sweetness to this natural remedy. ¼ cup (55 g) baking soda ¼ cup (32 g) cornstarch
Preparation and use:
Mix the baking soda and cornstarch together in a small glass dish. Apply to underarms with a clean makeup pad. Apply to feet and the insides of shoes to sop up foot odors.
Yield: multiple applications
Recipe Variation:
Add 10 to 12 drops of lavender or another favorite essential oil per ½ cup (87 g) of the mixture. Drop the oil into a bowl, pour the powder mixture into a sieve, and shake it into the oil, gradually mixing the two to blend.
How it works:
Baking soda is a natural odor eliminator. Cornstarch absorbs excess moisture. Warning: Be careful not to inhale the particles.

Coconut Tea Tree Deodorizer
This recipe, used with permission from Rachel Hoff of Dog Island Farm, an urban farm northeast of San Francisco, is easy to make and safe for you and the environment. 2 tablespoons (28 g) virgin coconut oil 1 tablespoon (14 g) grated beeswax 8 drops tea tree essential oil 2 tablespoons (28 g) baking soda 2 tablespoons (16 g) cornstarch
Preparation and use:
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and beeswax. (Alternatively, you can use the double-boiler method to make sure you don’t burn the oil.) Once melted, remove from the heat. Immediately add the essential oil, baking soda, and cornstarch and stir to combine. (If you wait, the cooling beeswax will harden the oil, making it difficult to mix in the dr y ingredients.) Pour the mixture into a clean, dry, empty push-style deodorant container (recycle a used one). Use a spatula or butter knife to pack in the mixture and smooth over the top.
Yield: enough for 1 medium-size deodorant container
How it works:
Virgin coconut oil is antibacterial and an emollient. Tea tree oil is antimicrobial. Beeswax holds the mixture together, smells pleasant, and soothes irritated skin. Note: Alternatively, buy beeswax pastilles (pellet-size pieces of beeswax). If you bought a 1-ounce (28 g) piece of beeswax, simply cut it in half. Save the other half for later.

Lavender-Apple Cider Vinegar Wash
A refreshing spray of this underarm elixir has postshower power. ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar 6 drops lavender essential oil
Preparation and use:
Place the ingredients in a small, clean spray bottle, cap, and shake. Spritz on underarms after a shower or bath.
Yield: multiple applications
How it works:
Apple cider vinegar lowers the pH level of the skin (that is, makes the skin more acidic), discouraging bacteria that turn body sweat into body odor. Lavender discourages bacterial growth and adds a scent-ual lift.

Lifestyle Tip 
If you don’t do so already, consider shaving your underarms. hair holds the bacteria that mix with sweat to create body odor. however, we recommend that if you use aluminum-containing antiperspirants, you shave at night and hold off on using the antiperspirant till morning, giving your body overnight to heal tiny nicks. underarm shaving is a cultural matter and personal decision. more important is to shower at least once a day to wash away bacteria that collect on your skin, as well as on pubic and underarm hair.

When to call the Doctor 
If you are staying clean, practicing good hygiene, eating well, and still experiencing body odor, make an appointment with your doctor. Some medical conditions and medications alter body smells. Also, a condition called hyperhidrosis leads to excessive sweating. Prescription antiperspirants are one possible remedy. Also see your doctor if you notice unusual vaginal odors or discharge. Refrain from using commercially sold vaginal sprays and douches. These products can upset the acid-base balance and kill resident microbes that defend against infection-causing microbes. Plus, if you do have an infection, the pressure of douching can cause the “bad” microbes to ascend into your pelvic organs.