Have you heard the saying, ‘guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days’? I’ve always found it funny and wonder whether those house guests who overstay their welcome have ever heard it. Anyways, this post is not about guests, wanted or unwanted 😉 Ever since our healthy tips aired on cable TV, I have received lots of questions by viewers about the causes and prevention of body odour. And so, I have decided to treat this topic today.

Are you a fan of Fresh Prince of Bel Air? I love it…but it did take me a while to figure out that in the opening sequence when he leaves the taxi holding on to his nose, he was saying ‘smell you later!’ as opposed to ‘see you later’….not as smart as I love to think, aye 😉 And so I have liberally borrowed that line for my title 😀

Have you ever walked into a roomful of people and find yourself looking for the nearest exit or a spot right in front of the fan or air conditioner? The problem? The smell in the room…and yet the occupants appear not to sense any problem in the atmosphere. Have you even been in this same room of ‘smells’ with an air freshener…perhaps the one that automatically dispenses lovely perfume into the atmosphere and notice how the air just becomes worse as the nice and the horrible smells mix? This last situation must take the price for the worst assault on the human nose….ever!

But guess what? Quite a number of people with body odour, either have no idea that they smell or have no idea why they smell. Did you know that sweat on its own is odourless? And so, if we were to potentially, put a bucket of sweat in any place, no odour or smell will emanate from it. Did you also know that there are bacteria that live naturally on the skin? I can almost hear your, ‘seriously?’ 😀 Yes, seriously. These bacteria include Staphylococcus, the same organism that the alternative medicine practitioners have convinced us is a clear and present danger to us all! These bacteria generally mind their business on your skin until there is a breach in the integrity of your skin (which in everyday English means, a cut, bruise or any injury to the skin. I couldn’t resist the doctor-speak :D) and then they become troublesome and problematic! Back to our sweat discourse, it is when sweat mixes with these bacteria that the stench of sweat is produced.

So how can we prevent this public health menace? And yes, it isn’t quite so obvious…otherwise we would not be discussing it! 😉

First a good bath in the mornings and evenings is always a good way to start and end the day. During this activity, focus should be laid on the ‘potentially smelly’ areas like underarms and private areas. The former should be scrubbed and the latter gently rinsed out with water….nothing more than that is needed really. Do not forget to also brush your teeth (at least twice a day), brush your tongue, use mouthwash and floss daily.

Then, use a deodorant or antiperspirant. This does not prevent the formation of sweat but deodorants mask the smell of sweat on the body and antiperspirants reduce the production of sweat. It is thought that using antiperspirants in the evening after a bath gives it enough opportunity to work while the body is ‘asleep’ before you wake up and start working up a sweat! Be sure to shave your underarm and groin area hairs frequently as they trap sweat and encourage smells.

Change undergarments frequently. Honestly, panties and underpants should be changed whenever you take a bath. And please remember to wash the discarded ones when you change.

The clothes to wear on this newly and nicely scrubbed body should be spanking clean too…dontcha think? So, clothes that have been worn and sweated on with the smell of dried and caked sweat will most definitely encourage a body odour. Change your gym clothes after every work out and wash them. Tennis shoes should be cleaned and aired.

If you are a guy, please change your socks often too. You know that smell of a dead rat that people perceive when some people take off their shoes? Well, wearing those socks again and again would certainly make you one of these guys and does nothing to improve your smell rating 😀

If you are a lady, your monthly period is a smelly time :D…..but it doesn’t have to be so! Change your sanitary towel often and ensure that you take a bath as often as is needed to remain fresh every day. If after a change, a bath is not possible but you really feel you need one, you could use a moistened cloth or paper towel to wipe down your privates and surrounding areas. Even outside of your period, panty liners are a good way of ensuring your body’s natural secretions do not make you smelly.

If you use the gym or engage in physical activity that make you particularly sweaty, a visit to friends immediately afterwards is not a good idea as you would seriously stink 😉

Eating garlic and onion meals may also contribute to a smell around you. As a result of the fact that they contain some very active nutrients needed in the body, we may not be suggesting that you stop eating them 😀 Try something minty after these meals. It has also been suggested that perhaps eating some more veggies like carrots or taking lemon juice may neutralize the smell. Be sure to also scrub the smell off your hands too.

Let me know how these work out and remember that a positive self-esteem also smells absolutely amazing!

Here’s to a healthier you!