What Causes Body Odor?
There are some instances when you see a person who sweats a lot but doesn't smell like onions, or someone who smells stinky but doesn't sweat a lot. If you've been wondering what causes onion body odor, or catching yourself thinking "why do my armpits smell like onions," good news! You've come to the right place!
Skin bacteria consume the rich protein in our apocrine sweat glands and, as a result, emit sulfuric compounds, which are responsible for that bad onion smell. Yeah, there's a whole ecosystem going on with how the environment interacts with our body. Since it's natural, there are harmless ways to approach it.
5 Reasons that Cause Foul Smell (Other than Bacteria)
Diet
There's a saying, you are what you eat. And part of that is true. Sulfur-rich foods like onion and garlic enter the bloodstream and get released through your pores, sweat, and glands. You can guess what happens when those compounds come out. This is actually one of the biggest reasons armpits smell like onions in the first place, since what you eat shows up in your sweat hours later.
Hormones
As we grow, each phase changes our body, specifically we're talking about changes in our hormones. Things like puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can cause odor by altering the composition of sweat and producing more protein for bacteria to thrive on.
Genetics
We have some unfortunate news. You'll likely deal with this because your great-great-great-grandfather did too. You might be proud of your eyes, nose, or eyebrows, but buckle up, the composition of your sweat is hereditary too.
Poor Hygiene
By letting grime sit on your skin, you're letting bacteria multiply rapidly. Moist areas fuel the bacteria even more, and you won't have a good time. Consider wearing fresh, clean clothes, opting for breathable fabrics, and changing out of sweaty gear as soon as you can.
Medical Conditions
Bad odor can be an underlying symptom of a bigger problem. Conditions like bromhidrosis (excessive body odor) and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) are two of the most common culprits, and both can affect your confidence just as much as your comfort. If deodorant and lifestyle changes aren't cutting it, it might be worth looking into. Please consult your doctor for medical advice.
How to Stop Body Odor
Shower & Exfoliate
Bacteria thrive off of grime, so keeping good hygiene is a natural first step. Just be careful with cleansers that use harsh surfactants. You might want to check out our Natural Organic Savons and Detox Scrub, they're great for rubbing off residue and detoxing pores in stinky areas. Wink wink.
Dry Completely
Where there's water, there's bacteria. Trapped moisture is basically an invitation for it to thrive, so make sure to dry off thoroughly with a towel, especially in those hard-to-reach, moisture-prone areas like underarms, feet, and skin folds.
Antiperspirant and Deodorant
The difference between antiperspirant and deodorant is that antiperspirant blocks pores using aluminum compounds, while deodorant only masks or neutralizes the odor.
Some people are sensitive to aluminum. If that's you, there's an alternative: our Natural Deodorant uses bentonite clay and baking soda instead.
Changing Diet
You may want to think twice about some of your favorite foods. Spicy foods, garlic, onions, and other strong ingredients can make you sweat more, and those compounds don't just disappear, they can work their way out through your pores, affecting how you smell hours later.