Sweating, in general, is actually the body’s natural way to regulate its temperature. However, the body odor that comes with it can be a major turn off.
Deodorants are one of the best-known ways to combat body odor. But of late, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the chemicals used in deodorants and their cumulative effect on the human body. Therefore, many people are looking for safer and natural alternatives to deal with the issue. Read on to know about the natural remedies that can help you get rid of body odor.
But first, let’s look at the causes.
What Causes Body Odor?
Body odor is produced when the bacteria that live on our skin break down the proteins in our sweat into different acids. Some people tend to think that it is the growth of bacteria on the skin that produces body odor, but in reality, it is this process that produces the unpleasant odor (1).
Every individual has a unique odor, which is influenced by parameters like age, diet, health, and gender (2).
The bacterial breakdown of the proteins in our sweat results in two acids – propionic acid and isovaleric acid.
Propionic acid is produced when propionibacteria break down amino acids. It has a pungent smell and is often associated with vinegar (3).
Isovaleric acid is also found in many kinds of cheese. It is produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria (4).
The human body also has two types of sweat glands that are present all over our body. They are:
Though body odor is a natural phenomenon, it can affect our confidence and personality. Given below are 18 home remedies to get rid of this pesky problem.
Home Remedies For Body Odor
1. Oils
Some oils are known to have various properties that help combat body odor (7). A combination of these oils is also often used to address this issue. The best oils for body odor include:
a. Coconut Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
This can be done daily.
Why This Works
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is known to eliminate the bacteria present in our body, thus helping in getting rid of body odor.
b. Tea Tree Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Follow this regimen daily for best results.
Why This Works
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and is also well known for its antibacterial properties (8). Being an antiseptic, tea tree oil can help in warding off the bacteria and fungus present on the skin, which, in turn, prevents the occurrence of foul odor.
c. Lavender Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
This is a natural deodorant powder and can be used daily.
Why This Works
Lavender essential oil inhibits the growth of the odor-causing bacteria (9). And the floral essence it emanates is a bonus! Cornstarch and baking soda keep the skin dry, thereby preventing the accumulation of bacteria.
d. Peppermint Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
This mixture can be applied on a daily basis.
Why This Works
Peppermint has antibacterial properties and can, therefore, be used as an alternative to store-bought deodorants (10). Coconut oil is also antibacterial and helps in killing the bacteria present on the skin. Cornstarch and baking soda keep the skin dry and sweat free.
e. Tamanu Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
Apply a few drops of tamanu oil directly to the problem area or mix it with any of the essential oils mentioned above and apply on your skin.
How Often You Need To Do This
This oil is safe for daily application and can be used as per your requirement.
Why This Works
Tamanu oil has a deep scent and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties that can help combat body odor (11).
f. Sage Oil
You Will Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
This remedy can be used on a regular basis.
Why This Works
The antibacterial nature of sage helps to combat the bacteria present on the skin while leaving a pleasant fragrance behind (12).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
As this is a natural alternative to store-bought deodorants, it can be used on a regular basis as per one’s requirement.
Why This Works
Being acidic in nature, apple cider vinegar is known for its ability to kill and prevent bacterial formation, which can, in turn, prevent the occurrence of foul body odor (13).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
You can try this treatment 3 times a week for best results.
Why This Works
Epsom salt is an antioxidant and is known to detoxify our body. It also helps our body produce a hormone called serotonin, which helps it to relax. These properties of Epsom salt relieve stress and this, in turn, decreases sweat production, thereby eliminating foul odor from our body.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
You can continue drinking this every morning to detoxify your body.
Why This Works
Being an antioxidant, fenugreek flushes out all the toxins from our body. It also possesses antibacterial properties and inhibits any bacterial infection from spreading further (14). Fenugreek tea is thus believed to fight body odor naturally by treating its root cause.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Consume it every morning until you get the desired result.
Why This Works
Some of the components present in fennel seeds are stimulants and promote the secretion of digestive and gastric juices in the stomach. They are also known to act as laxatives and can prevent body odor (15).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Apply this mixture on alternate days as daily application could be too drying for some skin types.
Why This Works
The antioxidants and tannic acid in green tea help combat body odor from within (16). While the external application of green tea helps to keep the skin dry and keeps the bacteria in check, daily intake of green tea helps to flush all the toxins out of the body.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this at least thrice a week.
Why This Works
The tannins present in tea keep the skin dry, thereby preventing sweat formation (17).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this daily for a few weeks.
Why This Works
Baking soda absorbs moisture, and hence, it prevents the formation of sweat. It not only kills the bacteria on the skin but also alkalizes the body and neutralizes the pungent odor that our body gives off (18).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
You can do this daily.
Why This Works
The acidic nature of lemon lowers the pH of our body, making it difficult for the bacteria to survive on our skin (19).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
You can follow this procedure 3 to 4 times a week.
Why This Works
The acidic nature of tomatoes kills the bacteria present on the skin while its astringent properties minimize the pores and reduce sweat production (20).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this every morning or night on a regular basis.
Why This Works
Milk of magnesia is actually magnesium hydroxide suspended in water. Being an antacid, it is known to counteract the production of acid, and hence, it can help combat body odor (21). Milk of magnesia is also known to leave the skin relatively dry and odor free right from the first application.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Apply this daily for best results.
Why This Works
As rose water is an astringent, it reduces the size of the pores present on the skin, and this decreases sweat production (22). It also leaves behind a floral fragrance.
What You Have To Do
Take some drops of rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad and apply it to your underarms.
How Often You Need To Do This
This can be used on your underarms and other less sensitive body parts daily.
Why This Works
The antibacterial properties of rubbing alcohol eliminate all the surface bacteria present on the skin, and this prevents body odor (23).
What You Have To Do
Take a few drops of witch hazel on a cotton ball and dab it on your underarms and other sweat-prone areas of your body.
How Often You Need To Do This
You can use this on a daily basis as a substitute for your deodorant.
Why This Works
The astringent properties of witch hazel minimize the size of the pores on our skin, reducing the production of sweat to a great extent. Also, its acidic nature lowers the pH of the skin and makes the survival of the odor-causing bacteria impossible (24).
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Daily use is recommended for best results.
Why This Works
The antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties of neem help it to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria (25). It also removes all the toxins from within the body, eradicating the root cause of body odor.
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Arrowroot powder can be used on a daily basis.
Why This Works
Arrowroot is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is a commonly used herb to treat rashes in babies (26). It keeps the skin dry, which, in turn, keeps the bacterial formation at bay.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
Drink parsley water regularly for best results.
Why This Works
Parsley leaves have been known to possess anti-odor properties since ages. The presence of chlorophyll in these leaves is said to eliminate body odor and bad breath internally (27).
What You Have To Do
How Often You Need To Do This
You can use this daily as a natural alternative to your deodorant.
Why This Works
The antibacterial properties of cornstarch help to keep the bacteria in check. Cornstarch also helps in keeping the skin dry, thereby decreasing the production of sweat (28).
In addition to these remedies, maintaining basic hygiene and bathing daily, shaving the hair in the sweat-prone areas, wearing cotton clothes, and eating a healthy diet will help combat body odor at a faster pace. Here are a few tips to guide you.
Tips To Reduce Body Odor
Foul body odor is not only embarrassing but can also turn out to be a mentally and socially disturbing phenomenon for many out there. For such individuals, the store-bought deodorants and antiperspirants could do more harm than good. Hence, the use of natural antiperspirants is highly recommended. Now that you know how to get rid of body odor naturally, what are you waiting for? Try these home remedies and let us know how they worked for you.
Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions
What are the best foods that eliminate body odor?
Some of the best foods that help in the elimination of body odor are parsley leaves, wheatgrass, fenugreek seeds, and green tea.
What foods cause body odor?
Sulfur-containing foods like cabbage, broccoli, garlic, and onions can cause body odor (29).
What diseases can cause body odor?
Diabetes is often associated with a fruity body odor. In addition, liver and kidney failure may also result in foul-smelling body odor (30).
Is bad body odor genetic?
About one-third of the people who reported body odor issues were found to have a hereditary gene responsible for their condition. Trimethylaminuria is the genetic condition that produces foul body odor in affected individuals (31). However, altering one’s diet can help combat this condition.
How can you get body odor out of clothes?
In some cases, it becomes next to impossible to get rid of the foul body odor from the person’s clothes. No matter what you do, the stubborn odor just refuses to leave your clothing! In such situations, the following steps will help you easily overcome this issue.
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