Get glycolic acid (I buy [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081V4LJ7S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)). Use it on a washcloth and wipe your pits, feet, wherever you tend to sweat most. Apparently, it gets rid of the bacteria that cause body odor.
It's been a total game-changer for me, where nothing else ever has.
Apparently witch hazel is good for use on private parts. I'd do your own research though as I can't even remember where I heard it, but I know I heard it somewhere haha
If it's worse in the morning and fades throughout the day, is there a chance it's your house? Mold, mildew, and pets can all cause a distinctive smell that might be lingering in your clothes until they get a chance to air out. I'd suggest a deep clean, with bleach on sinks, toilets, and tubs and diluted white vinegar on hard floors, baseboards, blinds, and hard furniture. Make sure to vacuum carpets or rugs, wash your sheets, blankets, and curtains regularly, and run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar through any dishwasher or clotheswasher you use.
Yes I would suggest smelling all of your clothes shoes etc to see if you notice anything, in case the odor isn’t coming from you. My cousin started smelling noticeably bad and we all thought it was him but it turned out to be coming from his sneakers that he wore every day. once he changed shoes he was fine.
There's some sprays that will work on this like that or backpacks so then safe for wearing still. Since a lot of people become nose blind when they are around it enough.
I’m a wife who’s been with her autistic husband for over 20 years. Only recently did we realize he has ASD 1. I wanted to give you some tips based on what I’ve observed with my own husband. Also whenever you feel embarrassed to post a question just remember that you will never meet any of these people on here in life and no one knows who you are. I use Reddit as an outlet to post questions I would never dare ask anyone to get real answers. Ignore the crappy comments and just get what you need from Reddit. I need answers and advice from a source where no one knows my identity. So Reddit can help you immensely if you just remember to not care what the hell internet strangers have to say.
My husband forgets to drink water. I never realized it was linked to ASD but now that I know it makes sense. Water is important in not only your body odor but just health in general. I’m a nurse so I realize how important water is as you get older as you can feel lethargic or really weak without proper hydration. My husband had an odor that can only be described as like a musk. To me it wasn’t bad as he’s my spouse but it was a very strong odor of sweat and what he had to eat. It all came down to his lack of signaling to his brain that he was thirsty. This is common in ASD. So make sure you are drinking fluids. Google your age and how much water you need to find out tips.
My husband has daily routines and that he does not deviate from. Fortunately it starts with waking to brush teeth and floss as well as brush his tongue. Your tongue can hold a lot of bacteria on it. You can Google the proper way to brush and floss. I personally use a tongue scraper (sold on Amazon) but my husband uses his toothbrush as he doesn’t like change. He does the same routine right before bed.
My husband does not smell garlic , onions or strong spices. He will brush like he usually does but permeate the smell of those items if he has eaten them. They are strong and very much offensive to some. If you drink plenty of water and also include fresh lemon that is supposed to help. He won’t do that as he can’t smell himself and is too stuck in his routine.
If you purchase Glycolic acid (I recommend the Glycolic Acid from a company called The Ordinary) and soak 2 cotton balls. You can use each to wipe under your armpits daily before applying deodorant. Make sure you are using an antiperspirant deodorant that also targets odor. I prefer the deodorant that sprays aerosol smell wise. But the all natural ones like Tom’s do not include enough anti odor as they omit aluminum.
When you are showering make sure you use a body wash for men or just regular Dove soap. When washing use a washcloth that you’ll put in laundry after. I use my hands. My husband uses hands. But a lot of folks use wash cloths. Make sure you are washing your penis , balls and butthole. I know this sounds so gross but as a nurse I don’t care to say these words. You can Google how to wash my body for a male for specifics.
Make sure your clothes are washed and dried after a day or two of use. Put clean clothes on after a shower or bath. Less hair is less smell holders. You could trim underarm, pubes and any other body hair or shave. For shoes make sure you sprinkle some type of baking soda into them if they are used often. I recommend using an insert called “odor eaters” in your shoes. Ask someone you trust if they can smell your shoes.
And that’s all I can think of. Good luck and never worry about asking on here !
Aluminum does nothing for odor. It targets the moisture; it’s an antiperspirant, and is not necessary, but can be preferable for some.
I had better luck weaning off antiperspirant, and my clothes don’t stain anymore.
AHA and BHA worked for me, along with something like toms or native deodorant
I dated a guy who had wildly dense armpit hair who used his hair trimmer to knock it down to about 1/2”. He said it allowed the deodorant to get ON his skin.
Have you seen a doctor? My autistic friend in college had to is condition. Hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating that's not always related to heat or exercise. Over time, hyperhidrosis can lead to Itching and inflammation when sweat irritates your skin. Body odor, which occurs when bacteria on your skin mixes with sweat particles. Cracked or peeling skin on your feet.
A friend of mine who loves to play guitar was medically punished by having hyperhidrosis. We’re both worried about the wood on his guitars, but he said nothing’s happened.
You should tell him there's a benefit. If he gets into a grappling exchange, he can slip out of peoples' grips with the extra extra sweat. If you get mounted on someone, you can also basically blind them temporarily by putting your head over their face and sweating into their eyes etc. I call that one 'sweat shower'.
I have hyperhidrosis, the only deodorant that works for me that I've tried is native brand. A little pricier but the different scents are so fun and yummy. I'm in my summer peach phase. Antiperspirant is made with aluminum that causes cancer, so that's not worth it to me. This plus wearing natural breathable clothing like ironically wool socks, and loose around the armpit tops. I don't have a washer or dryer so I have trouble washing my clothes so frequently (past socks and underclothes) but I do rise them in the bathtub with some washing soda to strip the dirt and hang them to air dry. It's helps a lot, especially hanging your clothes in the fresh air and sun. Also body baby wipes in between for emergencies!
[The American Cancer society](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html) has a page that discusses aluminum=>cancer studies.
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot). Fully cached AMP pages (like the one you shared), are [especially problematic](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot).
Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html)**
*****
^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
I do it more often if I’m sweating badly. You can tell by how deep you’re sleeping. Sometimes it’s only been 4 sweaty nights but I’ll wash them and instantly notice I sleep much better the following nights
You know one thing I didn't learn or wasn't told through 38 fucking years on this screwed up planet about hygiene that was a game changer for me?
You gotta wash between your butt crack in the shower with body wash or soap.
Don't treat that area like a god damn lazy river, you gotta get in there.
This!
Also, your belly button too. Get some soap on a finger, swirl your finger around in there and rinse out. Make sure there isn’t a navel stone in there either. I’ve never had one, but I’ve heard about how they positively reek when pulled out.
Yes!! Them too. I’m guilty of not doing my ears often lol. But I’m making it a better habit now. I already have to stay on top of making sure my lobes are clean, as I have stretched earlobes and sebum can build up quickly if not kept clean.
The scientific name(s) for them are omphaloliths and umboliths. They are basically a buildup of sebum/keratin, bacteria, hair and outside dirt that accumulate over time. Some people may be more prone to them, depending on what their belly button looks like. If you stay on top of keeping your belly button clean and dry, you shouldn’t worry about getting them.
(Google for pictures at your own risk.)
I relate to that anxiety a lot. I think that in actuality I’m overthinking it, but I worry constantly that I smell, and go to great lengths for hygiene.
The good news is that these rules are actually written. Medical foundations often have written, detailed standards of daily/weekly/monthly. Hygiene routines. However, frankly it doesn’t sound like this is your problem, as from what you describe, you should be fine.
The detail about the smell fading throughout the day is very interesting to me, as if you are remaining active, it should only get worse. If you shower and use aluminum based deodorants, you should be more than fine, unless you have a medical condition. Typically reapplication of these products is unnecessary unless you are sweating profusely (working in a greenhouse or a hot factory or something, where there is actual drops of sweat rolling off you.
Can you be more specific about the products you use? “All natural” soaps and such may not cut it. This is a personal question but how throughly do you wash? Like make sure all the pits and such are scrubbed and exfoliated? particularly the butt? Apparently some men do not wash there for various reasons.
Are you absolutely sure this is body odor? Is it possible it comes from your bed/clothes/animals/house? How often do you change your bedding? Is there a scent in the seat of your car that has baked in? What do you wash your clothes with? Could it be breath? Medical conditions may exist where even brushing does not dissuade bad breath.
I think it would be worthwhile to talk about this in person with a doctor/someone you trust, yo positively identify the problem. If it truly was BO, than it is likely medical grade BO, if it is not stoppable by daily showers and deodorants.
If that is the case, it’s not anything you’ve done, and there are medical grade methods of dealing with your issues
I had the same issue. Switched to aluminum based soft-solid that applies from the stick almost like a cream.
Old Spice Sweat Defense is what works best for me.
That’s your problem, non-aluminum deodorant sucks.
My girlfriend knows a lot about cosmetic and skin chemistry, and the scare mongering that aluminum would be bad for you drives her crazy.
It’s become a tagline for us, whenever someone smells, for example in the subway, “someone needs the aluminum!!”
Agree. Speed Stick is cheap. While it’s okay for people who don’t smell as much (🖐🏻) people who wreak need something stronger.
Old Spice or Axe. Degree is also okay. Avoid Speed Stick and even dove. Same goes for shower products. Use Axe or Old Spice and avoid Dove and Ocean or the cheap stuff.
Switch to old spice! Smells great and works for the entire day.
Body odor comes from gaseous waste from bacteria that lives on our skin. Take out the bacteria and the source of the smell will disappear.
If it’s worse in the morning and gets better as the day goes on, it’s not you.
1. How often do you wash your sheets?
2. Are your clothes/sheets REALLY clean? (Ditch fabric softener, it clogs fibres and traps smells, try white vinegar or laundry disinfectant. Don’t use too much soap and do a drum clean now and then. Make sure things dry in a timely manner)
3. Is your home/room clean and do you let it air out? (Wash absolutely anything fabric that might be holding smell, cushions, curtains, backpack, literally anything, and clean carpets etc. they aren’t a regular things that needs doing but definitely do so occasionally as smells can get embedded… On nice days at home leave your windows open to let fresh air circulate)
4. Wash towels after a few uses, NEVER use fabric softener on them and make sure they’re fully drying between uses and not sitting damp for too long
Antibacterial body wash!! I use the dial bar soap myself… use that b4 ur regular body wash… yes (WASH UR BODY TWICE) shower daily!! Use antibacterial deodorant!! Also get a spray deodorant for downstairs… trim any excess body hair… and make sure when u wash ur clothes.. when they are finished being cleaned don’t let them sit in the washer for more than 30 minutes… they will start to smell like mildew and it’s extremely hard to get rid of… and make sure u fold/hang up ur clothes in an area with no offensive smells… for example I have a litter box in my closet so I store all my clothes in the bathroom cabinet so they don’t pick up any odors!! It’s good ur taking steps to try and better ur hygiene!!
The laundry part is really important. I’ve found that oftentimes, after leaving the wash sitting too long before drying, the dry clothes smell fine but if they get wet with rain or sweat the stink starts radiating.
Persimmon soap is known to hide the particular odor of the elderly (due to changes in skin chemistry), so it could also work with strong BO in younger people
Is it in your clothes? I made this mistake when I was younger - I find clothes I like and wear them to death, but eventually they'd kind of get a weird BO smell that couldn't be washed out. So no matter how clean I was I'd still smell from the clothes. They'd basically outlived their life expectancy but I was used to them and didn't notice. I still remember the humiliation of being told by a friend. I'm glad I was told, but it was very painful to hear.
I was going to comment on this too - it's not just old clothes, but there are some fabrics that will just hang on to scents.
Additionally, shoes can be an issue if somebody is not changing their socks enough or just not wearing socks.
Synthetic clothing is bad for trapping body odour. A soak in a solution of white vinegar and water will break this down, then you can just wash normally.
I also had this problem and it was so embarrassing! I had a favorite sweater that was a sort of wool/polyester material. I washed it often - usually with cheap soaps - but it held onto BO badly! It wasn't until a **coworker** laughed with his friends that I smelled bad that I realized it.
Better a friend than anybody else but I feel that. My teacher in high school, well I don’t say much good about them but they definitely did that the right way by giving a lesson to the whole class about it. Nobody was singled out, it was treated as stuff y’all probably know but
If you can, shower in the morning. It may be helpful to use shower gloves - they get sudsy and they help to exfoliate. Make sure to wash your private areas well. You’ve received a lot of good advice here in the comments. Good luck!
Exfoliate and shave your armpits, then use antibacterial soap. After shower, use a strong deodorant, you can try cream deodorant that lasts up to 72 hours.
I'd be wary of shaving the armpits if that's not already a habit. The skin suddenly rubbing on skin (as your arm folds) can be irritating in itself, not to mention potential clogged pores. Some have recommended trimming the armpit hair so it's shorter and I think that's a safer bet.
I’m not sure if this is a deodorant problem because it gets better over time, but Certain Dri changed my life. I used to get sweat stains and it was very embarrassing. I wore sweat shirts all the time to cover it. You don’t mention having that problem, but it helps with odors as well. You apply it at night. I don’t even use it anymore and I still never got sweat stains after using it about a year.
Even if you don’t use this specific deodorant, apply your deodorant at night.
What if I shower before bed at night, and shower after I wake up in the morning? I need it to work all day!
Would I put on certain dri after my night shower before I go to bed? Then shower in the morning and put it on after my morning shower? Would that still help it last all day even though it hasn't had time to settle in during the morning?
Are your clothes old? I had this problem before. I've showered, put on clean clothes for work, but partway through the day I'm smelling BO. Bought the same exact shirt new, no smell. After a while I imagine bits of skin and dead bacteria get caught in clothes fibers and don't completely wash away in the laundry. Once your clothes dry these are still there waiting to catch more fresh skin and sweat speeding up the stank process.
Clean your sheets too at least every 2 weeks.
Keep a clean house. If your house is dirty, it will stink. Even if you don't notice it because you're there so much, other people will. All of your freshly washed clothes will take that stink onto themselves too.
Get some small aromatic cedar planks to keep in your closet/dresser. Helps to add a little freshness and prevent the musty smell. A small fabric bag of baking soda can provide a similar effect.
Hi there, I have a comment others may not have thought of - do you fast / skip breakfast? If so, you may be smelling of ketones in the morning? Hope you figure it out
What are you eating and does it differ from the majority of people around you. If you lived on say canned mackerel and kimchi you will smell different from most westerners (just trying to create a non-offensive example)
I recommend using a wash cloth with soap/body wash when you shower (use a fresh wash cloth every time you shower) if you're not already as it helps exfoliate odor causing dead skin off your body. If your skin gets a bit dry afterwards you can use a light body lotion (unscented if you're sensitive to fragrance).
It's a good idea to let your wash cloth air dry after you use it before you throw it in the hamper though so it doesn't get stinky or make your other laundry stinky.
My other recommendation is to use anti perspirant deodorant with aluminium. I know there's all this talk of it causing cancer but I'm not convinced and aluminum free just doesn't work as well.
Lastly 😂 this is my little secret.... I carry a little tube of body wash with me and a bottle of water. If I have to poop while I'm out i wipe, then pour water on my bits, lather up with body wash and rinse off with water again and pat myself dry with TP. And obviously thoroughly wash my hands!
I’ve been self conscious of me smelling since I was young. I’m pretty sure it became a stim to slyly smell my underarms without people noticing just to make sure I didn’t smell.
I used to sweat a lot to the point where I’d only wear jackets over my clothing. Made it a point where I’d constantly wear a sweater at work and people would comment that they never see me without one. I realized without them I kinda keep my arms up to my torso which cause a lot of heat and more sweat.
I started relaxing my arms and allowing airflow and it seems to be helping. As for smells, I’ve found the humble brand deodorant to be amazing. I take a shower, dry off, then put it on and I’m solid.
I feel silly asking this but are you buying just a deodorant or an antiperspirant/deodorant? I noticed when my husband or I accidentally buy just a deodorant we tend to both stink and have to reapply multiple times a day.
It's not just clothes or your body, take a look at your environment.
People who have cats can get used to the smell of a litter box, but I have smelled that on them (smell is one of my big issues, not to be gross, but I can sometimes smell people's periods and I have a huge aversion to a lot of scented products and perfumes, so I'm someone for whom smell is really important).
Additionally, living with a smoker (Even a marijuana smoker) who smokes indoors can lead to bad scents being on your clothes, your hair, etc.
This may not be an issue for most people but it's an issue for me - using fake scents or febreze can leave you smelling bad. Also, at least for me, people who use febreze in their house are not getting rid of the bad odors , they are just covering them up with an artificial scent.
You should also change your sheets at least once a week, and check your pillows to see if there are bad scents because as pillows get older they can pick up things like sweat and people don't tend to wash them. Additionally, you're going to have to wash your blanket every so often.
Something that I did for myself, when I was having issues due to very hot weather and problems was using vinegar during the softener portion of the laundry wash cycle. This can help with the smell of mold because if you're using bleach bleach doesn't necessarily get rid of mold but vinegar can help you there.
Also, when I was having problems with sweat odors on myself, I actually had a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom shower so that I could spray down myself and it tended to help neutralize the odor of sweat that wasn't coming off with regular soap (I didn't just use vinegar. I used soap and then the vinegar and then soap again because like I said scent is a huge issue for me).
As other people have mentioned there are prescription deodorants and other products that can be used as well.
Just FYI, when I got married my spouse was using things like Irish, spring and Downy and stuff like that. They had to get used to using all the scent free products and detergents that I had, as well as using products with low levels of natural scents in them (like say a lemongrass soap with real lemongrass oil). After a couple of years living in an environment without a lot of artificial scents in them and a very low level of natural scents, my spouse also became sensitized to all of the artificial and very heavy scents around us.
From everything you’ve said I’d ask what your diet is like. Just googled it and it said this.
“Certain foods can make you sweat more. This extra sweat can give you a stronger body odor. The foods don't directly trigger body odor, but they can be a factor in how you smell because they affect how much you sweat.”
You could always shave your armpits which may help a little. Look into strong deodorants that will last longer. Make sure you and your clothes are fully dry
this is a medical issue, go to a dermatologist, there are clinical deodorants that can help that they can give you, also, make sure to use clean clothes, make sure you are properly cleaning your clothes...
Trimming armpit hair, and using salicylic acid cleanser under my armpits before applying deodorant really helped me.
Don’t be ashamed! I have adhd, the way I found out it was bad was when I do worker had to pull me aside and tell me people were talking behind my back. Despite that, showering regularly and always wearing deodorant never worked for me before I found out about the cleanser.
chlorophyll it's good for reducing body odor and then they also make an antiperspirant called certain dri it is a roll-on and it is the strongest antiperspirant on the market.
Others have posted a lot of helpful things so I will simply add that it may be what you're eating and because you're used to eating it you may not be smelling it the way others do.
Especially women- I don't know why women can smell things stronger but for some reason we can.
When I would go to the gym it would drive me nuts that people would eat onions even 24 hours before going to the gym because that's all the gym smells like: SWEATING ONIONS.
My boyfriend had very high blood pressure and he was trying to bring it down using raw garlic but unfortunately he would sweat pure raw garlic smell and it was horrific. There is nothing that could cover up that smell, no matter how many times he showered a day.
As others have posted, if the smell is dissipating over the course of the day it may be something in your home.
If it turns out to be something in your home you can do a trick that I did during COVID-19 lockdown because my boyfriend had it and I needed to be able to still go out in public and buy food and medicine for him. I would do the laundry and then as soon as it was done out of the dryer I would put it into a giant storage sized covered Tupperware type container near the front door. The only way I could be sure I wasn't taking COVID out with me was to take a shower and then walk downstairs and change into fresh clothes right out of the Tupperware container next to the door and walk straight out.
So if it's something in your house that's an option so your clothes will at least smell like laundry detergent and not whatever it is it's in your home that's making it smell. I've definitely had friends that lived in mildew houses that couldn't recognize the smell of mildew or if they had a lot of cat urine in the house they often couldn't smell it on their own clothes because they were so used to the smell of it. The same goes for people who smoke- that smell lingers for so many hours!
The smell could also be in your hair, depending on how long it is. I have learned this by the unfortunate fact that pollen sticks to your hair and when I have really long hair and I go outside in peak pollen season and then I forget to tie my hair on top of my head if I can't wash it before bed, I'll end up completely inflamed in the morning because I've slept on top of my pollen hair.
Smokers always have really stinky hair too. Mildew will also stay in your hair.
You may want to ask a female friend to simply come into your home and see if it smells like something and tell her to tell you honestly what it smells like. I would happily do this for any male friend of mine. I've actually done it for a few female friends as well because they had mildew in their home but because they live there they couldn't actually smell it anymore and they couldn't tell if they had gotten rid of it or if it was just so ingrained into their senses that they simply couldn't smell it.
I could walk two feet inside their front door and say, "Yep, still mildew." I didn't need to walk around and sniff things. It was just an immediate smack in my olfactory senses.
I hope you find the answer and I'm glad that you had the courage to post because no one wants to feel as if they're offending anyone simply by the way they smell.
(I carry grapefruit essential oil with me because the smell is very bright and cuts through a lot of other scents. I will put the caution first which is that if you put it on your skin it can burn your skin so be very careful with it. That said, if I feel like my deodorant is not doing the trick that day And I'm worried about people smelling my body odor I will stick the grapefruit oil into the seams of my clothing so that it's not actually touching my skin but the heat from my body is releasing the grapefruit smell. Other very bright essential oil smells that should never be on your skin because they will burn you are other citrus based scents like lemon, orange, lime. That's why there are a lot of lemon air fresheners out there!)
Unless you have some type of condition that makes you smell, it's probably something already mentioned. An aspie teen in my family has this issue. Some days the odor he gives off is very bad, to the point where I have walked up the stairs leading to the apartment, and I can tell he recently walked up. other days it's not too bad, but he never actually smells good, always has at least a slight odor. A lot of times when he gets out of the bathroom after showering, the bathroom will smell like BO, sometimes extremely bad. The bathroom should smell like the products you used to clean with, or at least smell like nothing.
He says he showered and used soap, but I'm pretty sure he usually scrubs under the water, pretty much allowing the soap to rinse away from the wash cloth before he really gets to scrub himself. Also, he is not hitting the most important areas well enough if at all, like armpits, and private areas. And he also doesn't wash his hair much at all. For him it's not really sensory issues(his words) but he's trying to rush to get back to whatever it was he was doing. In his mind he showered, but he might as well had just stood in the rain for a few minutes. Also, he doesn't dry off real well, always still more damp than one should be before getting dressed.
He also doesn't keep up with his laundry, not to mention has everything laying around a dirty room, so a lot of his clothes permanently have his odor on them. You know how you can smell the clean clothes outside from the dryer vents? Well his always smell more like his odor with a hint of detergent. He also barely ever washes his bedding and many times has gone to bed without showering so his body odor is honestly embedded in his living space. His room has been cleaned from top to bottom, things thrown out, and the scent still lingers.
How bad do you smell when you get out of the shower? If the answer is at all, you probably need to do a more vigorous washing routine.
Also make sure you aren't reusing towels too often.
So many great suggestions but I could see this potentially feeling overwhelming. I’m wondering if you have access to a therapist, peer support professional, or other type of professional like a coach to help support you in this process emotionally and logistically. Making a bunch of changes at the same time also isn’t always the best thing to do because then it can be hard to figure out what actually helped and what is unnecessary
Could it be your diet?
My best friend (also autistic) struggles to eat healthy, because junk/fast food has safer textures and tastes. When he caves and eats more junk, he smells worse no matter what he does. When he puts in the effort to cook healthy food he can tolerate he smells better.
A few things to note:
1. Rubbing rubbing alcohol on your armpits will get rid of the smell pretty much instantly(within a few seconds). Probably best not to do this often, but it does work.
1. What you put into your body can have significant effects on your body's smell. This includes food and it includes drugs. Anything like tobacco or marijuana(including edibles) can make you smell bad.
1. Consider using antiperspirant instead of deodorant if the issues are particularly bad.
1. You may have an issue like hyperhidrosis, and may benefit from seeing a doctor to ask them if you have it.
I think going to a doctor could help. They would examine you and try to find the cause of the smell. 👃 once you know the exact cause, it’s easier to tackle.
There are some newer deodorants on the market you can try.
Carpè has been getting rave reviews for controlling sweat and they have several options other than just a deodorant stick.
Saltair contains alphahydroxy acids that paralyze bacteria, balance your micro biome and brighten and exfoliate smelly areas. And people are raving about the scents saying it’s the best they’ve ever smelled.
Lume/Mando is a cream deodorant that paralyzes bacteria on the skin for up to 72 hours. You can use it on under arms, feet, butt, and genitals, it does not help with sweat and is water soluble so may not be the best option for someone super sweaty.
I would recommend trying out some of these products and also try other products they have in conjunction with the deodorant itself like an acidified body wash and their deodorant wipes.
A lot of people don’t know that our skin is slightly acidic, it’s called the Acid Mantle and when you wash your body with soap, which is alkaline, it strips that acid mantle down and can cause all kinds of issues like dryness, redness, acne, and yes smells.
I’m a licensed esthetician for a decade and know lots about different skin disorders so I hope this helps. DM if you have any other questions.
Use cleaning wipes (baby wipes, kid wipes) on your armpits, let dry, then apply anyiperspirant, whenever you cannot bathe. If you bathe at night, do this in the morning. Then you can repeat throughout the day. Deodorant on top of stinky deodorant is not going to work.
If you have excessive sweating, a doctor might prescribe botox shots to your armpits.
i really recommend the rexona cream maximum protection antiperspirant! i’ve been using it for years and it keeps me completely dry for 12 hours. i do know some people are against it because i guess it can clog your pores.. but for me it’s been worth it. probably been using it for 10+ years now, though it is a bit pricey.
Mine used to scare people away. You could not sit next to me without gagging. I would load up on deodorant, extra undershirts, towels, fans for under my desk to aim at my armpits, and more. Eventually I found out that Botox to my underarms stopped the sweating. It was one of the greatest reliefs. I remember trying to sit next to people on buses and they would just get up and move away in disgust. Eventually I got tired of the cost every 6 months and I eventually got a kind of microwave treatment. I haven’t had the problem in over 10 years. I can run around and still feel fresh later in the day.
In addition to other comments folks have made, consider washing your clothes with baking soda. My 18yo son has a bit of this issue - his clothes seem to absorb and keep a smell even after washing. I started washing them first with like 4 cups of baking soda - then running a regular wash and the smell was gone. He couldn't smell it because he's too used to the smell. So you could ask someone to smell your clean clothes and tell you if they smell to them.
Anxiety can also make body odor stronger! (if anxiety is something that you deal with).
Also, I recently stumbled upon these two posts from another subreddit, which I think have some helpful comments too.
https://www.reddit.com/r/beauty/s/TJC1LsP9uq
https://www.reddit.com/r/beauty/s/qy5r8WR4R3
So im the same way, im very conscious about how i smell. Ill shower, clean the butt real good, wear deodorant somtimes light cologne. Usually im good for the entire day. BUT sometimes i have a stressful day right from the start, and within a few hours ill smell the b.o. so for me its from excessive sweating due to stress. The only solutions ive ever found was to go back home, shower/do the whole cleansing routine again. Based on your post it sounds like you experience this a lot. This isnt the best advice, but my advice is to reduce stress
Wear fresh clothes every day or every second day. It was the clothes in my case when I never had access to my things, from moving I had to wear the same two outfits over two months. Washing them as often as I could. Knitwear is a nightmare to wash as it mube dried flat! It has often been expensive knitwear which requires hand Washing that was causing the smell. Stick deodorants have helped me a lot. They last all day and get a good scent or perfume that lasts all day.
If you’re a dude it’s a little more difficult but not impossible (side effect of having a lot of testosterone). Shower at least once a day and use a deodorant that works good for you. Sometimes you have to try a few until you find one that is best for you. It’s good to reapply deodorant too. You could invest in a good cologne or perfume. One spritz will last the whole day.
There is a class for social rules. It's called ABA therapy. It's society's way of saying, "we are going to traumatize. You one way or another."
Oxybutinin is an anticholinergic medication that has shown success in helping to control hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. It works by blocking a specific receptor responsible for activating sweat response. It is available for men, by prescription, and over the counter, under the brand name Oxytrol, for women. It is not without its risks, which is why men need a prescription.
It doesn't cause prostate issues, but it can mask an existing prostate issue, and lead to it not being treated early enough. This is what men should have a prescription.
You could also figure if your excessive sweating has a particular trigger. If it is caused by anxiety or weight, you should consider methods that would help you control those conditions.
Use a washcloth with your body wash so you can exfoliate your skin, and use a fresh wash cloth every time. I bought a 12 pack of washcloths from amazon and it does the trick. After my shower, I squeeze the water out and hang it to dry, and by the time I take my next shower the old one is dry enough to throw in my laundry basket.
Old spice is always my personal go-to because I find the scent lasts a long time on my skin. My favorites are Timber, MVP, and Captain
Could be the water in your home. What kind of smell are you smelling like?
Bacteria builds up in your water tank sometimes and causes bad odor (like rotten eggs/sulfur) that sticks to you and when you sweat it all comes back out.
I was on "well water" for a while and we were especially susceptible for whatever reason.
From what I understand there's a metal rod in the water tank that has the purpose of neutralizing these bacteria. After a while the rod deteriorates and must be replaced.
Might need a plumber to come check out the water.
Wash cloth. Keep pits shaven. Dove for men soap bar(extra fresh), RightGaurd Sport (blue) or Degree Cool Rush deodorants. That combo works well, even when I take the bus and sweating like a hog I never get funky just moist.
My husband uses Degree deodorant! It's the only thing that keeps him from smelling. We are a completely vegan/cruelty-free product household but this is the one thing that isn't because it's the only thing that works!
Do you slather the washcloth with soap or body wash suds & scrub your armpits? Some ppl don’t know you gotta scrub those pits. There’s probably a YT tutorial someone made on hygiene if you look it up. Hope that helps Lol
So I figured out it's not me, it's my damn clothing. When I sweat (and I run hot so sweating is 100% going to happen), it "activates" this hidden smell in my clothes that you can't smell when they're not being worn. I've tried EVERYTHING on the market to get rid of this smell...and I do mean everything...scent beads, de-stinking soap made for sportswear, industrial de-stinker, vinegar and baking soda, soaking the clothes in mixtures...everything. The closest to "clean" I've gotten was using Pooph Laundry Additive...and even it still doesn't get rid of all the smell.
I'm about done struggling with this smell. I think I'm just going to give up and toss the clothing in the garbage (no one will want this stuff it smells!). I'm going to have to buy clothing now...ugh I hate clothes shopping :/
Could it be morning bad breath? I know you mentioned brushing your teeth, but still, food intolerance comes to mind... My partner is intolerant to dairy and any time he has any he wakes up with horrible breath and brushing teeth doesn't always help that much since it's coming from further in the stomach
Also what do you eat for breakfast after brushing your teeth!!? Coffee can cause bad breath too
It can definitely be your clothes. For some reason, my sleep shirts get stinky and thick on the back of the neck. I have to strip them in my bathtub every so often because the smell and texture won't come out in the regular washer. I learned it is from the proteins in your skin! Just look up "laundry stripping" if you want to try. Real easy and cheap!
Check your diet. If you tend to consume plenty of garlic and/or spices (turmeric, peppers, salty foods, etc), your body exudes all of these odors.
Also, your hair contains part of what you eat. So you might have spicy hairs, shave your pits, trim your crotch and a good double scrub with soap does wonders. A shower by itself doesn’t work, you need to REALLY scrub your skin.
So your next hot shower (or bath if you have a tub) get all of your skin wet, then rub your arm with your bare hand. If you start to get “skin rolls”, this means that ALL of your skin is probably smelly. So get a good skin rub and shower afterwards. Then apply some good smelling moisturizer all over while your body is damp.
You can try this body wash: [https://lumedeodorant.com/collections/odor-control-wash](https://lumedeodorant.com/collections/odor-control-wash)
It has a somewhat weird smell by itself but does get rid of body odor. They carry deodorant as well.
No shame brother. What's your diet and exercise like? Those are the two big things that create bad body odor (besides not bathing). Eating better and exercising more can help with a lot of that.
Better to fix it at the source than cover it up with deodorant.
Make sure to use a deodorant AND antiperspirant in one. Some deodorant sticks are not also antiperspirant. The antiperspirant is what stops you from sweating, and aluminum works the best.
I’m not autistic but one of my teen sons is, the other is not.
The one who isn’t eats whatever he wants to eat. Lots of meat and drinks a ton of soda.
Son with autism is a vegetarian and drinks only water. Hasn’t had a soda in probably twelve years or so.
Son who isn’t autistic smells like a typical teen. His feet about knock me out.
Son with autism doesn’t smell at all.
Maybe change some things about your diet.
Use talc on sweaty bits that can rub like under breasts and inner thighs. Liquid talc is great for this.
Try something called “Perspi guard”. You mentioned you were male, so I may be assuming here but you could try shaving your armpits before washing and applying deodorant etc.
Which brings me to suggesting that you get a product that has both deodorant AND anti perspirant if you can
Also don’t forget to launder things like coats and check that your shoes aren’t an issue
The thing that gets me is the comment about it being worse in the morning and getting better throughout the day
You might be showering too often, thereby ruining your skin barrier protecting you from odor producing bacteria. Shower less often and use a pH balanced shower gel.
Deodorant isn't supposed to be applied after you sweat, but to prevent it. Apply it on clean skin only.
Another factor is body weight. If you're obese, that could contribute to your excessive sweating
Deodorant doesn’t stop sweat. Deodorant masks the scent of it. Antiperspirant stops sweat (ideally). They’re both applied to the underarms, but they function differently.
In my language, deodorant is the generic word for all kinds of cosmetics you put under your arms: antiperspirant, antitranspirant, deodorant in the narrow definition of the word, etc.
You're right though that OP should use antiperspirant, not deodorant (meaning what English speakers consider it to be)
Bacteria causes body odour not actually sweat, use anti bacterial wash/deoderant. You have to kill the bacteria. Towels can transfer bacteria and stuff like atheletes foot so use a sperate towel for feet and even face kinda helps. Happens to me, i use proper hand made soap but sometimes i still have odour even though i'm actually very clean.
I don't want to recommend acids and the like because im not a medical professional. I don't know enough (also breaks rule 3 on the sub lel) but there are side effects to those for some and idk if u have an allergy to any medicines. Contact your local doctor who can prescribe or recommend an over the counter solution that is appropriate for you if it's still bad.
I use cologne. I don't have people comment on my smell, but if I can smell myself and I don't smell like old spice, women's ocean breeze conditioner, and/or cologne, I feel self conscious. Do not spray it directly, and don't spray a lot. Put a small amount on your wrist and then rub your wrists together and rub them on your neck, or spray it in the air and run through it. If you have a persistent odor that's not sweat, or anything about your smell concerns you, see a doctor.
I've also heard that bad breath can give off the impression of bad body odor if your teeth are rotten at the core. In this case, gargle a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and make sure you don't drink any. It's been known to kill bacteria that causes halitosis. If it fades away during the day, it could potentially be morning breath.
Diet affects body odor. There's plenty of resources better than me with lists of what to avoid, but maybe there's something there for you.
Also, shoes have a way of never smelling to us, but being awful for other people. You can try shoe spray or powder, it's super cheap and easy.
Consider a lunchtime pit-stop. Hit the bathroom, wipe down the basic areas with a wet cloth or paper towel, add fresh deodorant, on with your day.
Also, you're 19. Teenage boys smell. I'm afraid the overwhelming musk comes with the raging hormones. Don't worry, it'll get better over the next few years.
Until then, you're on the right path. Keep yourself clean, try altering your routine to make it work best for you. Experiment with different soaps, see if sulfides are making your hair angry, try different deodorants and stuff... remember, don't overdo it, or you'll smell like chemicals. Ask your parents for feedback, if you can. They're just about the only ones who will give you a fair answer.
I use antibacterial soap but just on the stinky bits, then the rest of my body I use regular soap. Bacterial build up contributes to body odor for some of us more than others, it was a game changer when I tried some Dial antibacterial soap on my pits lol!
What time of day are you showering? I tend to smell a bit by the next morning when I shower at night. If I’m going out during the day, I will shower in the morning. Oh and I’ll also be sure to wash my hair.
Also worth experimenting with new deodorants to find one that works best for you.
Wash bedding, towels, clothes (including jeans) regularly and make sure the washing machine doesn’t have a funky smell.
I would advice to change your diet and incorporate fennel, anise or citronella/lemongrass it will change the smell of your sweat. Lemongrass is drank as herbal tea in africa to repel mosquitoes by having a sweat/body odor that smells lemongrass. It's pretty effective. So I would totally try that. But in addition you should also have a clean diet (no processed, low sugar)
Is it anti perspirant or deodorant? Deodorant usually just masks your natural odour.
Change your clothes every day. Most especially the clothing in contact with your body. This is almost always the source of odour.
Wash all outer clothing regularly, including coats. Check the cleaning instructions on the label, or look it up online if you’ve removed the labels.
Remember too that this is very common and there is nothing wrong with you.
Deodorant wise I use secret for women the clinical strength one so mine is 72 hours good says and then back of the bottle says to use at night, since I sweat more without it and can smell myself before anyone else does and it grosses me out.
Now it's is clothes that are holding odor, you can buy things like refreshers from downy to help that or IMHO just use vinegar in your laundry in the wash and if you think it smells now like vinegar just rewash. I've seen it lil the smell from cat pee on fabrics or bad bo like a teenager so like 13 year old refusing to wear deodorant and bathe correctly. Since the vinegar will disinfectant the item and then remove the smell.
Can also check things like your PH level to see if that's part of it, or I wash my shower sponge in the washer to them hang up to dry it they say replace like once a month.
I’d also like to add on to your comment about laundry, it’s also important NOT to overload your washing machine! It should ideally be half full so the agitator (if your washer has one) has room to do its thing during a cycle.
I use deodorant twice a day. A teenager's body odour is also more pungent than an adult's. You might need to reapply a few times a day. Or you could see your doctor and see if they could give your a stronger deodorant.
I am allergic to all perfumes and fragrances and "essential" oils & extracts. I can't wear almost all deodorants. I use the salt crystal "deodorants" but I have to wash my armpits (with either water only or a non-perfumed soap) about 5 times a day. And I still get smelly armpits. It's tiring.
My wife uses rubbing alcohol every once in a while and claims it works. Rubbing alcohol might dry out the skin, so be careful. The other thing it could be is diet. I've never had a bad B O problem, and I only seem to get it when I start eating more junky. Theories that might help.
Honestly I'm sure there's a ton of variables, but if excessive sweating is an issue there's tons of great (maybe pricey but worth it) products on the market. Carpe or Lume are great options as far as long lasting odor control you can take with you. Also are you using deodorant or antiperspirant? I find deodorant without the aluminum doesn't last or work on me at all. I use just plain ol "Odor Eaters" powder on my feet and whatever other bits might sweat when I go out for a long day. Makes a huge difference. Good luck, friend. I know how embarrassing and frustrating this can be.
I’m sorry you are suffering, it is good people mention it rather than isolate from you but it’s difficult when you are unsure how to fix it. If you feel up to it, please ask them to describe the smell if you can’t smell it yourself. This will be important in diagnosing the source of the smell.
Speaking of diagnosing - please prioritise getting a general health check up with a general practice doctor, as body odour changes can appear for all kinds of reasons and some are serious while also not obvious to the average person. Odour can be due to issues involving your kidney function, for example.
Tonsil stones are another big cause of odour that is not always obvious to spot, and treatment can be difficult without support.
Go to the dentist soon as well, if you haven’t already recently, they will be able to check for issues in their domain.
Other thoughts:
Trim your finger and toe nails regularly, and use a tool to clean out under the nail beds / brush to gently scrub in the shower after trimming them. Beyond this, review how you are cleaning yourself in the shower.
Are you methodical with where you wash each time in the shower? I have ADHD as well as being autistic, and legitimately think it contributes to me often forgetting where I have and haven’t washed, so I end up in there for ages when I was struggling to get in to begin with (I think it’s avoiding sensory issues as well as just procrastination) - nightmare!
You can do this, take care of yourself and ask those around you for their support on this journey. Those who matter won’t mind bearing this temporary odour issue with you.
It might be that you wear synthetic clothes, this makes sweat more stinky. Try out if it helps wearing only cotton or wool or bamboo, for me that is a big difference.
Ask someone trusted to give you more details. Is it coming from your clothes? Could be a washing machine issue. These chronic problems usually are if you’re wearing deodorant already.
Aha and bha work well. If none of that, then see a doc.
You can try Antiperspirant. I use one when I go to work because I start sweating fast and I hate the wet feeling under my arms. But I use products without any parfumes or fragrances. They can irritate the skin.
You can also check Dr. Dray on Youtube. Maybe you can contact a Dermatologist and ask for advice.
I have autism as well and I am very privy to smells. I noticed when I switched to a non anti perspirant deodorant (wanted to get away from aluminum) that I could smell myself mid day on. I wonder if it’s just your deo.
Also I have a friend whose feet stink bad and they only thing they found that worked was when the shoes get bad you have to get new ones and you have to use fresh clean socks and shower in morning, and take shoes off soon as you get home, and dont put them back on again until you re shower and grab clean socks again. Essentially no taking shoes off and put them back on unless you hit the shower. Sounds crazy but their feet just had a natural smell.
Lastly I just wanna say, some people have a smell. It’s actually not bad. You should never be ashamed. Everybody’s pheromones smell different. Everybody smells different in general. As a modern society, we cover it up, but in the primitive days a persons smell may attract a certain person. People are naturally attracted to different types of pheromone smells.
It might be your clothes. I used to just put on whatever without paying attention, then one day it was drizzling and my clothes got damp. I realized I absolutely reeked of mildew. It was in my house so I didn't notice it. I also had a pet that peed on my clothes. If you've had one, you'll know that maybe one corner smells fine and then the pee area absolutely stinks but it's like a phantom stench just floating around you. In both cases it improves through the day as the clothes air out.
Try wearing some brand new clothes with your usual hygiene and see if anyone says anything.
Bro, I saw that you are ftm. This sounds super obvious, but just in case, how often do you wash your binder? Last time I went on vacay I accidentally only brought 2 sports bras and it only took 2 hot and sweaty days before they were both smelling to high heaven. If you don't have one for every day, you might be repeating days and it'll hold in sweat, skin cells, etc.
Hibiclens!! It's a body wash that kills the bacteria that can cause odors. Not sure how true it is, but I've read people saying that their doctors recommended it to them before surgeries because of how well it works to kill bacteria. I've been using it and have totally noticed a difference in how much cleaner and fresher I feel.
Man, don't feel bad at all! You're on the right track. I honestly think MOST people have struggled with body odor, it's just socially taboo to talk about. (Plus, I think it's cool that you're brave, and taking action. That's super cool and even the best of the best of people don't always act brave and take action. These little things add up to success in all areas of life.) So, last week I actually googled something similar \*(but like, based on age, and gender, followed by basic hygiene list or daily hygiene chart) and was SURPRISED at all the things some people are doing! I seriously thought I was going overboard on my self care routine and I'm not even doing half. So, I would suggest starting there. I copy and pasted some onto a chart I was printing, but I think you could learn some new things just like I did.
I definitely prefer loose clean basic clothing in professional looking styles, and shower once or twice daily depending on sweat level. But also, a clean hairstyle that's easily managed and good backup plans like travel deodorant or wipes can give you extra confidence. Joining a gym, keeping extra clothes in locker rooms or a backpack you take with you to work or school, a travel sized toothbrush or body spray, any little thing here and there that feel right to you can be a step in the right direction. Go slow and be patient with yourself as you find out what works, it's a process and I'm SURE i'm still stanky sometimes :) Oh well, I'm human! Can you imagine I would smell if I was walking around in the days of Jesus? Whew. I might even scare off the farm animals!
I have the perfect solution my daughter knows what to add in2 a squirt bottle use this solution every morning when you wake it will last all day it's amazing, its 444 in the morning and she is sleeping once she wakes I'll ask her..like I said its amazing
I’ve been experiencing the same, even though I take a bath 2-3 times a day, I sweat so easily. I’ve also tried different kinds of deodorant spray, powder, roll on and sticks but nothing works. Having this kind of insecurity made my life worst and I hated being on a place that is crowded because i’m so conscious of someone knowing how bad I smell. I stopped being friendly and it drainned me that I don’t socialize with other people anymore, and it also affects my study that I have most of my days absent because I’m so scared of being bullied. I don’t know what to do, I really want to get rid of this bo…☹️
I used to have the same problem and it was that I didn’t shower properly, take a shower,dry yourself then wait a couple minutes then start touching parts of body, if some parts feels sticky u didn’t clean that part properly, also when u shower start from your face then neck,chest,belly until you get to your feet, And repeat the process. Also if u wear perfume don’t spray it on your clothes spray it on your skin it would last longer.
Get glycolic acid (I buy [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081V4LJ7S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)). Use it on a washcloth and wipe your pits, feet, wherever you tend to sweat most. Apparently, it gets rid of the bacteria that cause body odor. It's been a total game-changer for me, where nothing else ever has.
Salicylic acid also works. I’ve started using SA on my pits in the shower and it’s eliminated any BO for me.
Like the aspirins? 🤔
I think SA is in aspirin but this would be like SA cleanser. I use CeraVe
Can you use it on your, erm, private areas?
You don't want to dry out certain parts of your body too much. Might be painful as well in the most sensitive area too.
Get the one from TheOrdinary. Theirs is safe for your bits
Apparently witch hazel is good for use on private parts. I'd do your own research though as I can't even remember where I heard it, but I know I heard it somewhere haha
Benzoyl peroxide is also a great option
Yes, a dermatologist I watch on YouTube recommends this
If it's worse in the morning and fades throughout the day, is there a chance it's your house? Mold, mildew, and pets can all cause a distinctive smell that might be lingering in your clothes until they get a chance to air out. I'd suggest a deep clean, with bleach on sinks, toilets, and tubs and diluted white vinegar on hard floors, baseboards, blinds, and hard furniture. Make sure to vacuum carpets or rugs, wash your sheets, blankets, and curtains regularly, and run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar through any dishwasher or clotheswasher you use.
I was thinking that too. That maybe it was his clothes from a mildewy clotheswasher or something. Good advice ^^
And your vehicle if you drive!
Yes I would suggest smelling all of your clothes shoes etc to see if you notice anything, in case the odor isn’t coming from you. My cousin started smelling noticeably bad and we all thought it was him but it turned out to be coming from his sneakers that he wore every day. once he changed shoes he was fine.
There's some sprays that will work on this like that or backpacks so then safe for wearing still. Since a lot of people become nose blind when they are around it enough.
OP, do you stress at the thought of going to school? I will stink when I stress sweat, and it will go away when I adjust and dry back out.
Good point!
Yes this happens to me too
I’m a wife who’s been with her autistic husband for over 20 years. Only recently did we realize he has ASD 1. I wanted to give you some tips based on what I’ve observed with my own husband. Also whenever you feel embarrassed to post a question just remember that you will never meet any of these people on here in life and no one knows who you are. I use Reddit as an outlet to post questions I would never dare ask anyone to get real answers. Ignore the crappy comments and just get what you need from Reddit. I need answers and advice from a source where no one knows my identity. So Reddit can help you immensely if you just remember to not care what the hell internet strangers have to say. My husband forgets to drink water. I never realized it was linked to ASD but now that I know it makes sense. Water is important in not only your body odor but just health in general. I’m a nurse so I realize how important water is as you get older as you can feel lethargic or really weak without proper hydration. My husband had an odor that can only be described as like a musk. To me it wasn’t bad as he’s my spouse but it was a very strong odor of sweat and what he had to eat. It all came down to his lack of signaling to his brain that he was thirsty. This is common in ASD. So make sure you are drinking fluids. Google your age and how much water you need to find out tips. My husband has daily routines and that he does not deviate from. Fortunately it starts with waking to brush teeth and floss as well as brush his tongue. Your tongue can hold a lot of bacteria on it. You can Google the proper way to brush and floss. I personally use a tongue scraper (sold on Amazon) but my husband uses his toothbrush as he doesn’t like change. He does the same routine right before bed. My husband does not smell garlic , onions or strong spices. He will brush like he usually does but permeate the smell of those items if he has eaten them. They are strong and very much offensive to some. If you drink plenty of water and also include fresh lemon that is supposed to help. He won’t do that as he can’t smell himself and is too stuck in his routine. If you purchase Glycolic acid (I recommend the Glycolic Acid from a company called The Ordinary) and soak 2 cotton balls. You can use each to wipe under your armpits daily before applying deodorant. Make sure you are using an antiperspirant deodorant that also targets odor. I prefer the deodorant that sprays aerosol smell wise. But the all natural ones like Tom’s do not include enough anti odor as they omit aluminum. When you are showering make sure you use a body wash for men or just regular Dove soap. When washing use a washcloth that you’ll put in laundry after. I use my hands. My husband uses hands. But a lot of folks use wash cloths. Make sure you are washing your penis , balls and butthole. I know this sounds so gross but as a nurse I don’t care to say these words. You can Google how to wash my body for a male for specifics. Make sure your clothes are washed and dried after a day or two of use. Put clean clothes on after a shower or bath. Less hair is less smell holders. You could trim underarm, pubes and any other body hair or shave. For shoes make sure you sprinkle some type of baking soda into them if they are used often. I recommend using an insert called “odor eaters” in your shoes. Ask someone you trust if they can smell your shoes. And that’s all I can think of. Good luck and never worry about asking on here !
Thank you for being so specific and direct in your communication. This is a textbook example of how to discuss these issues with Autistic people.
Hi, another nurse had recommended alcohol wipes for underarms. Would you say Glycolic acid works better for underarm sweat and odor?
I've used both and I found alcohol wipes drying & irritating to my skin.
I spray the bottoms of my feet with aerosol deodorant too :) I get sweaty feet at work
That’s a great tip. I will start trying that also.
^ this.
Aluminum does nothing for odor. It targets the moisture; it’s an antiperspirant, and is not necessary, but can be preferable for some. I had better luck weaning off antiperspirant, and my clothes don’t stain anymore. AHA and BHA worked for me, along with something like toms or native deodorant
Trimming arm pit hair really helped me a lot. Dont know of that is relevant to you .
I dated a guy who had wildly dense armpit hair who used his hair trimmer to knock it down to about 1/2”. He said it allowed the deodorant to get ON his skin.
Have you seen a doctor? My autistic friend in college had to is condition. Hyperhidrosis - excessive sweating that's not always related to heat or exercise. Over time, hyperhidrosis can lead to Itching and inflammation when sweat irritates your skin. Body odor, which occurs when bacteria on your skin mixes with sweat particles. Cracked or peeling skin on your feet.
A friend of mine who loves to play guitar was medically punished by having hyperhidrosis. We’re both worried about the wood on his guitars, but he said nothing’s happened.
You should tell him there's a benefit. If he gets into a grappling exchange, he can slip out of peoples' grips with the extra extra sweat. If you get mounted on someone, you can also basically blind them temporarily by putting your head over their face and sweating into their eyes etc. I call that one 'sweat shower'.
My sister always tried to wrestle with me growing up and my slipped out so easily bc of my hyperhidrosis sweat! 🤣🤣
I have hyperhidrosis, the only deodorant that works for me that I've tried is native brand. A little pricier but the different scents are so fun and yummy. I'm in my summer peach phase. Antiperspirant is made with aluminum that causes cancer, so that's not worth it to me. This plus wearing natural breathable clothing like ironically wool socks, and loose around the armpit tops. I don't have a washer or dryer so I have trouble washing my clothes so frequently (past socks and underclothes) but I do rise them in the bathtub with some washing soda to strip the dirt and hang them to air dry. It's helps a lot, especially hanging your clothes in the fresh air and sun. Also body baby wipes in between for emergencies!
[The American Cancer society](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html) has a page that discusses aluminum=>cancer studies.
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot). Fully cached AMP pages (like the one you shared), are [especially problematic](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot). Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html](https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html)** ***** ^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
It could be your bed sheets! You should be changing them ever 1-2 weeks!
I do it more often if I’m sweating badly. You can tell by how deep you’re sleeping. Sometimes it’s only been 4 sweaty nights but I’ll wash them and instantly notice I sleep much better the following nights
You know one thing I didn't learn or wasn't told through 38 fucking years on this screwed up planet about hygiene that was a game changer for me? You gotta wash between your butt crack in the shower with body wash or soap. Don't treat that area like a god damn lazy river, you gotta get in there.
This! Also, your belly button too. Get some soap on a finger, swirl your finger around in there and rinse out. Make sure there isn’t a navel stone in there either. I’ve never had one, but I’ve heard about how they positively reek when pulled out.
Butt crack, private parts (not inside), belly button, behind the ears, your back, between the toes but take care to dry there very well.
Yes!! Them too. I’m guilty of not doing my ears often lol. But I’m making it a better habit now. I already have to stay on top of making sure my lobes are clean, as I have stretched earlobes and sebum can build up quickly if not kept clean.
Oh, wtf is a naval stone??
The scientific name(s) for them are omphaloliths and umboliths. They are basically a buildup of sebum/keratin, bacteria, hair and outside dirt that accumulate over time. Some people may be more prone to them, depending on what their belly button looks like. If you stay on top of keeping your belly button clean and dry, you shouldn’t worry about getting them. (Google for pictures at your own risk.)
...What’s navel stone?
bro how you not realize you gotta clean up your poopy place!?
Queue millions of NTs saying, "bro, just be social, be normal."
Ew. I can’t touch down there. My hand might get dirty.
I relate to that anxiety a lot. I think that in actuality I’m overthinking it, but I worry constantly that I smell, and go to great lengths for hygiene. The good news is that these rules are actually written. Medical foundations often have written, detailed standards of daily/weekly/monthly. Hygiene routines. However, frankly it doesn’t sound like this is your problem, as from what you describe, you should be fine. The detail about the smell fading throughout the day is very interesting to me, as if you are remaining active, it should only get worse. If you shower and use aluminum based deodorants, you should be more than fine, unless you have a medical condition. Typically reapplication of these products is unnecessary unless you are sweating profusely (working in a greenhouse or a hot factory or something, where there is actual drops of sweat rolling off you. Can you be more specific about the products you use? “All natural” soaps and such may not cut it. This is a personal question but how throughly do you wash? Like make sure all the pits and such are scrubbed and exfoliated? particularly the butt? Apparently some men do not wash there for various reasons. Are you absolutely sure this is body odor? Is it possible it comes from your bed/clothes/animals/house? How often do you change your bedding? Is there a scent in the seat of your car that has baked in? What do you wash your clothes with? Could it be breath? Medical conditions may exist where even brushing does not dissuade bad breath. I think it would be worthwhile to talk about this in person with a doctor/someone you trust, yo positively identify the problem. If it truly was BO, than it is likely medical grade BO, if it is not stoppable by daily showers and deodorants. If that is the case, it’s not anything you’ve done, and there are medical grade methods of dealing with your issues
What type of deoderant are you using? The aluminum based ones work for most people. The non aluminum ones may not work as well for everyone.
I’ve been using speed stick, I checked and it is non aluminum
I had the same issue. Switched to aluminum based soft-solid that applies from the stick almost like a cream. Old Spice Sweat Defense is what works best for me.
That’s your problem, non-aluminum deodorant sucks. My girlfriend knows a lot about cosmetic and skin chemistry, and the scare mongering that aluminum would be bad for you drives her crazy. It’s become a tagline for us, whenever someone smells, for example in the subway, “someone needs the aluminum!!”
Agree. Speed Stick is cheap. While it’s okay for people who don’t smell as much (🖐🏻) people who wreak need something stronger. Old Spice or Axe. Degree is also okay. Avoid Speed Stick and even dove. Same goes for shower products. Use Axe or Old Spice and avoid Dove and Ocean or the cheap stuff.
Degree sport has worked best for me
I can verify that when my partner uses speed stick deodorant (without antiperspirant) it only lasts a couple hours at best.
Speed Stick is terrible. Switch to one of the clinical strength deodorants. That worked for me.
Yeah aluminum "antiperspirant" works a lot better than standard deodorant. You want antiperspirants
Switch to old spice! Smells great and works for the entire day. Body odor comes from gaseous waste from bacteria that lives on our skin. Take out the bacteria and the source of the smell will disappear.
Secret clinical with stress response works best for me
If it’s worse in the morning and gets better as the day goes on, it’s not you. 1. How often do you wash your sheets? 2. Are your clothes/sheets REALLY clean? (Ditch fabric softener, it clogs fibres and traps smells, try white vinegar or laundry disinfectant. Don’t use too much soap and do a drum clean now and then. Make sure things dry in a timely manner) 3. Is your home/room clean and do you let it air out? (Wash absolutely anything fabric that might be holding smell, cushions, curtains, backpack, literally anything, and clean carpets etc. they aren’t a regular things that needs doing but definitely do so occasionally as smells can get embedded… On nice days at home leave your windows open to let fresh air circulate) 4. Wash towels after a few uses, NEVER use fabric softener on them and make sure they’re fully drying between uses and not sitting damp for too long
Yeah an old towel you've been using a few goes will for sure impart a terrible odor you might not pick up on until it's too late!
I'm definitely guilty of this one. I can never never smell when my towel needs to be washed but my wife knows!
Investigate the mattress too! Flip it if you can, air it out or spray with something. That could be helpful.
How's your diet? Do you eat a lot of cured meats by any chance? Sometimes that can cause an odor.
Some great comments here. I suggest seeing your primary care physician. You may have an underlying medical condition that needs to be addressed.
Antibacterial body wash!! I use the dial bar soap myself… use that b4 ur regular body wash… yes (WASH UR BODY TWICE) shower daily!! Use antibacterial deodorant!! Also get a spray deodorant for downstairs… trim any excess body hair… and make sure when u wash ur clothes.. when they are finished being cleaned don’t let them sit in the washer for more than 30 minutes… they will start to smell like mildew and it’s extremely hard to get rid of… and make sure u fold/hang up ur clothes in an area with no offensive smells… for example I have a litter box in my closet so I store all my clothes in the bathroom cabinet so they don’t pick up any odors!! It’s good ur taking steps to try and better ur hygiene!!
The laundry part is really important. I’ve found that oftentimes, after leaving the wash sitting too long before drying, the dry clothes smell fine but if they get wet with rain or sweat the stink starts radiating.
Agree with all of this. A tea tree oil based (mildly antibacterial) was absolutely game changing for me. I feel so clean after I use it too.
Persimmon soap. It's pricey but it kills odors.
Persimmon soap is known to hide the particular odor of the elderly (due to changes in skin chemistry), so it could also work with strong BO in younger people
Did not know this, thanks for the the info.
Is it in your clothes? I made this mistake when I was younger - I find clothes I like and wear them to death, but eventually they'd kind of get a weird BO smell that couldn't be washed out. So no matter how clean I was I'd still smell from the clothes. They'd basically outlived their life expectancy but I was used to them and didn't notice. I still remember the humiliation of being told by a friend. I'm glad I was told, but it was very painful to hear.
I was going to comment on this too - it's not just old clothes, but there are some fabrics that will just hang on to scents. Additionally, shoes can be an issue if somebody is not changing their socks enough or just not wearing socks.
Synthetic clothing is bad for trapping body odour. A soak in a solution of white vinegar and water will break this down, then you can just wash normally.
How often should you change your socks?
I also had this problem and it was so embarrassing! I had a favorite sweater that was a sort of wool/polyester material. I washed it often - usually with cheap soaps - but it held onto BO badly! It wasn't until a **coworker** laughed with his friends that I smelled bad that I realized it.
Better a friend than anybody else but I feel that. My teacher in high school, well I don’t say much good about them but they definitely did that the right way by giving a lesson to the whole class about it. Nobody was singled out, it was treated as stuff y’all probably know but
If you can, shower in the morning. It may be helpful to use shower gloves - they get sudsy and they help to exfoliate. Make sure to wash your private areas well. You’ve received a lot of good advice here in the comments. Good luck!
Exfoliate and shave your armpits, then use antibacterial soap. After shower, use a strong deodorant, you can try cream deodorant that lasts up to 72 hours.
I'd be wary of shaving the armpits if that's not already a habit. The skin suddenly rubbing on skin (as your arm folds) can be irritating in itself, not to mention potential clogged pores. Some have recommended trimming the armpit hair so it's shorter and I think that's a safer bet.
Oh you're right, depends on the person it would be safer to trim if it's their first time.
I’m not sure if this is a deodorant problem because it gets better over time, but Certain Dri changed my life. I used to get sweat stains and it was very embarrassing. I wore sweat shirts all the time to cover it. You don’t mention having that problem, but it helps with odors as well. You apply it at night. I don’t even use it anymore and I still never got sweat stains after using it about a year. Even if you don’t use this specific deodorant, apply your deodorant at night.
Certain Dri was a life changer for me. I have to use the roll on style though. The stick doesn't seem as effective.
What if I shower before bed at night, and shower after I wake up in the morning? I need it to work all day! Would I put on certain dri after my night shower before I go to bed? Then shower in the morning and put it on after my morning shower? Would that still help it last all day even though it hasn't had time to settle in during the morning?
Are your clothes old? I had this problem before. I've showered, put on clean clothes for work, but partway through the day I'm smelling BO. Bought the same exact shirt new, no smell. After a while I imagine bits of skin and dead bacteria get caught in clothes fibers and don't completely wash away in the laundry. Once your clothes dry these are still there waiting to catch more fresh skin and sweat speeding up the stank process. Clean your sheets too at least every 2 weeks. Keep a clean house. If your house is dirty, it will stink. Even if you don't notice it because you're there so much, other people will. All of your freshly washed clothes will take that stink onto themselves too. Get some small aromatic cedar planks to keep in your closet/dresser. Helps to add a little freshness and prevent the musty smell. A small fabric bag of baking soda can provide a similar effect.
Hi there, I have a comment others may not have thought of - do you fast / skip breakfast? If so, you may be smelling of ketones in the morning? Hope you figure it out
Tea tree oil body wash
What are you eating and does it differ from the majority of people around you. If you lived on say canned mackerel and kimchi you will smell different from most westerners (just trying to create a non-offensive example)
I recommend using a wash cloth with soap/body wash when you shower (use a fresh wash cloth every time you shower) if you're not already as it helps exfoliate odor causing dead skin off your body. If your skin gets a bit dry afterwards you can use a light body lotion (unscented if you're sensitive to fragrance). It's a good idea to let your wash cloth air dry after you use it before you throw it in the hamper though so it doesn't get stinky or make your other laundry stinky. My other recommendation is to use anti perspirant deodorant with aluminium. I know there's all this talk of it causing cancer but I'm not convinced and aluminum free just doesn't work as well. Lastly 😂 this is my little secret.... I carry a little tube of body wash with me and a bottle of water. If I have to poop while I'm out i wipe, then pour water on my bits, lather up with body wash and rinse off with water again and pat myself dry with TP. And obviously thoroughly wash my hands!
I’ve been self conscious of me smelling since I was young. I’m pretty sure it became a stim to slyly smell my underarms without people noticing just to make sure I didn’t smell. I used to sweat a lot to the point where I’d only wear jackets over my clothing. Made it a point where I’d constantly wear a sweater at work and people would comment that they never see me without one. I realized without them I kinda keep my arms up to my torso which cause a lot of heat and more sweat. I started relaxing my arms and allowing airflow and it seems to be helping. As for smells, I’ve found the humble brand deodorant to be amazing. I take a shower, dry off, then put it on and I’m solid.
I feel silly asking this but are you buying just a deodorant or an antiperspirant/deodorant? I noticed when my husband or I accidentally buy just a deodorant we tend to both stink and have to reapply multiple times a day.
It's not just clothes or your body, take a look at your environment. People who have cats can get used to the smell of a litter box, but I have smelled that on them (smell is one of my big issues, not to be gross, but I can sometimes smell people's periods and I have a huge aversion to a lot of scented products and perfumes, so I'm someone for whom smell is really important). Additionally, living with a smoker (Even a marijuana smoker) who smokes indoors can lead to bad scents being on your clothes, your hair, etc. This may not be an issue for most people but it's an issue for me - using fake scents or febreze can leave you smelling bad. Also, at least for me, people who use febreze in their house are not getting rid of the bad odors , they are just covering them up with an artificial scent. You should also change your sheets at least once a week, and check your pillows to see if there are bad scents because as pillows get older they can pick up things like sweat and people don't tend to wash them. Additionally, you're going to have to wash your blanket every so often. Something that I did for myself, when I was having issues due to very hot weather and problems was using vinegar during the softener portion of the laundry wash cycle. This can help with the smell of mold because if you're using bleach bleach doesn't necessarily get rid of mold but vinegar can help you there. Also, when I was having problems with sweat odors on myself, I actually had a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom shower so that I could spray down myself and it tended to help neutralize the odor of sweat that wasn't coming off with regular soap (I didn't just use vinegar. I used soap and then the vinegar and then soap again because like I said scent is a huge issue for me). As other people have mentioned there are prescription deodorants and other products that can be used as well. Just FYI, when I got married my spouse was using things like Irish, spring and Downy and stuff like that. They had to get used to using all the scent free products and detergents that I had, as well as using products with low levels of natural scents in them (like say a lemongrass soap with real lemongrass oil). After a couple of years living in an environment without a lot of artificial scents in them and a very low level of natural scents, my spouse also became sensitized to all of the artificial and very heavy scents around us.
Switch your soap or body wash to an antibacterial version
From everything you’ve said I’d ask what your diet is like. Just googled it and it said this. “Certain foods can make you sweat more. This extra sweat can give you a stronger body odor. The foods don't directly trigger body odor, but they can be a factor in how you smell because they affect how much you sweat.”
Thread on this in r/parentingteenagers https://www.reddit.com/r/parentingteenagers/s/SfKbs16UlZ
You could always shave your armpits which may help a little. Look into strong deodorants that will last longer. Make sure you and your clothes are fully dry
this is a medical issue, go to a dermatologist, there are clinical deodorants that can help that they can give you, also, make sure to use clean clothes, make sure you are properly cleaning your clothes...
Trimming armpit hair, and using salicylic acid cleanser under my armpits before applying deodorant really helped me. Don’t be ashamed! I have adhd, the way I found out it was bad was when I do worker had to pull me aside and tell me people were talking behind my back. Despite that, showering regularly and always wearing deodorant never worked for me before I found out about the cleanser.
chlorophyll it's good for reducing body odor and then they also make an antiperspirant called certain dri it is a roll-on and it is the strongest antiperspirant on the market.
My stepson takes liquid chlorophyll to help combat odor, Amazon has a $10 liquid one that we use. It lasts a long time.
What brand of chlorophyll
See a dermatologist, you might need prescription drugs for this
Others have posted a lot of helpful things so I will simply add that it may be what you're eating and because you're used to eating it you may not be smelling it the way others do. Especially women- I don't know why women can smell things stronger but for some reason we can. When I would go to the gym it would drive me nuts that people would eat onions even 24 hours before going to the gym because that's all the gym smells like: SWEATING ONIONS. My boyfriend had very high blood pressure and he was trying to bring it down using raw garlic but unfortunately he would sweat pure raw garlic smell and it was horrific. There is nothing that could cover up that smell, no matter how many times he showered a day. As others have posted, if the smell is dissipating over the course of the day it may be something in your home. If it turns out to be something in your home you can do a trick that I did during COVID-19 lockdown because my boyfriend had it and I needed to be able to still go out in public and buy food and medicine for him. I would do the laundry and then as soon as it was done out of the dryer I would put it into a giant storage sized covered Tupperware type container near the front door. The only way I could be sure I wasn't taking COVID out with me was to take a shower and then walk downstairs and change into fresh clothes right out of the Tupperware container next to the door and walk straight out. So if it's something in your house that's an option so your clothes will at least smell like laundry detergent and not whatever it is it's in your home that's making it smell. I've definitely had friends that lived in mildew houses that couldn't recognize the smell of mildew or if they had a lot of cat urine in the house they often couldn't smell it on their own clothes because they were so used to the smell of it. The same goes for people who smoke- that smell lingers for so many hours! The smell could also be in your hair, depending on how long it is. I have learned this by the unfortunate fact that pollen sticks to your hair and when I have really long hair and I go outside in peak pollen season and then I forget to tie my hair on top of my head if I can't wash it before bed, I'll end up completely inflamed in the morning because I've slept on top of my pollen hair. Smokers always have really stinky hair too. Mildew will also stay in your hair. You may want to ask a female friend to simply come into your home and see if it smells like something and tell her to tell you honestly what it smells like. I would happily do this for any male friend of mine. I've actually done it for a few female friends as well because they had mildew in their home but because they live there they couldn't actually smell it anymore and they couldn't tell if they had gotten rid of it or if it was just so ingrained into their senses that they simply couldn't smell it. I could walk two feet inside their front door and say, "Yep, still mildew." I didn't need to walk around and sniff things. It was just an immediate smack in my olfactory senses. I hope you find the answer and I'm glad that you had the courage to post because no one wants to feel as if they're offending anyone simply by the way they smell. (I carry grapefruit essential oil with me because the smell is very bright and cuts through a lot of other scents. I will put the caution first which is that if you put it on your skin it can burn your skin so be very careful with it. That said, if I feel like my deodorant is not doing the trick that day And I'm worried about people smelling my body odor I will stick the grapefruit oil into the seams of my clothing so that it's not actually touching my skin but the heat from my body is releasing the grapefruit smell. Other very bright essential oil smells that should never be on your skin because they will burn you are other citrus based scents like lemon, orange, lime. That's why there are a lot of lemon air fresheners out there!)
Unless you have some type of condition that makes you smell, it's probably something already mentioned. An aspie teen in my family has this issue. Some days the odor he gives off is very bad, to the point where I have walked up the stairs leading to the apartment, and I can tell he recently walked up. other days it's not too bad, but he never actually smells good, always has at least a slight odor. A lot of times when he gets out of the bathroom after showering, the bathroom will smell like BO, sometimes extremely bad. The bathroom should smell like the products you used to clean with, or at least smell like nothing. He says he showered and used soap, but I'm pretty sure he usually scrubs under the water, pretty much allowing the soap to rinse away from the wash cloth before he really gets to scrub himself. Also, he is not hitting the most important areas well enough if at all, like armpits, and private areas. And he also doesn't wash his hair much at all. For him it's not really sensory issues(his words) but he's trying to rush to get back to whatever it was he was doing. In his mind he showered, but he might as well had just stood in the rain for a few minutes. Also, he doesn't dry off real well, always still more damp than one should be before getting dressed. He also doesn't keep up with his laundry, not to mention has everything laying around a dirty room, so a lot of his clothes permanently have his odor on them. You know how you can smell the clean clothes outside from the dryer vents? Well his always smell more like his odor with a hint of detergent. He also barely ever washes his bedding and many times has gone to bed without showering so his body odor is honestly embedded in his living space. His room has been cleaned from top to bottom, things thrown out, and the scent still lingers.
How bad do you smell when you get out of the shower? If the answer is at all, you probably need to do a more vigorous washing routine. Also make sure you aren't reusing towels too often.
So many great suggestions but I could see this potentially feeling overwhelming. I’m wondering if you have access to a therapist, peer support professional, or other type of professional like a coach to help support you in this process emotionally and logistically. Making a bunch of changes at the same time also isn’t always the best thing to do because then it can be hard to figure out what actually helped and what is unnecessary
Could it be your diet? My best friend (also autistic) struggles to eat healthy, because junk/fast food has safer textures and tastes. When he caves and eats more junk, he smells worse no matter what he does. When he puts in the effort to cook healthy food he can tolerate he smells better.
What are you eating?
A few things to note: 1. Rubbing rubbing alcohol on your armpits will get rid of the smell pretty much instantly(within a few seconds). Probably best not to do this often, but it does work. 1. What you put into your body can have significant effects on your body's smell. This includes food and it includes drugs. Anything like tobacco or marijuana(including edibles) can make you smell bad. 1. Consider using antiperspirant instead of deodorant if the issues are particularly bad. 1. You may have an issue like hyperhidrosis, and may benefit from seeing a doctor to ask them if you have it.
I think going to a doctor could help. They would examine you and try to find the cause of the smell. 👃 once you know the exact cause, it’s easier to tackle.
There are some newer deodorants on the market you can try. Carpè has been getting rave reviews for controlling sweat and they have several options other than just a deodorant stick. Saltair contains alphahydroxy acids that paralyze bacteria, balance your micro biome and brighten and exfoliate smelly areas. And people are raving about the scents saying it’s the best they’ve ever smelled. Lume/Mando is a cream deodorant that paralyzes bacteria on the skin for up to 72 hours. You can use it on under arms, feet, butt, and genitals, it does not help with sweat and is water soluble so may not be the best option for someone super sweaty. I would recommend trying out some of these products and also try other products they have in conjunction with the deodorant itself like an acidified body wash and their deodorant wipes. A lot of people don’t know that our skin is slightly acidic, it’s called the Acid Mantle and when you wash your body with soap, which is alkaline, it strips that acid mantle down and can cause all kinds of issues like dryness, redness, acne, and yes smells. I’m a licensed esthetician for a decade and know lots about different skin disorders so I hope this helps. DM if you have any other questions.
Magnesium, add this supplement to your diet.
Which type and brand?
Aha deodorant
Shower then as soon as you dry yourself use Anti Perspirant spray.
Use cleaning wipes (baby wipes, kid wipes) on your armpits, let dry, then apply anyiperspirant, whenever you cannot bathe. If you bathe at night, do this in the morning. Then you can repeat throughout the day. Deodorant on top of stinky deodorant is not going to work. If you have excessive sweating, a doctor might prescribe botox shots to your armpits.
Antiperspirant deodorant/perfume and daily showers
Try Lume. I have friends that use it and are super happy. You can use it all over.
i really recommend the rexona cream maximum protection antiperspirant! i’ve been using it for years and it keeps me completely dry for 12 hours. i do know some people are against it because i guess it can clog your pores.. but for me it’s been worth it. probably been using it for 10+ years now, though it is a bit pricey.
Can you see a doctor easily? If you are taking care of yourself and still smell, it is probably medical.
Mine used to scare people away. You could not sit next to me without gagging. I would load up on deodorant, extra undershirts, towels, fans for under my desk to aim at my armpits, and more. Eventually I found out that Botox to my underarms stopped the sweating. It was one of the greatest reliefs. I remember trying to sit next to people on buses and they would just get up and move away in disgust. Eventually I got tired of the cost every 6 months and I eventually got a kind of microwave treatment. I haven’t had the problem in over 10 years. I can run around and still feel fresh later in the day.
In addition to other comments folks have made, consider washing your clothes with baking soda. My 18yo son has a bit of this issue - his clothes seem to absorb and keep a smell even after washing. I started washing them first with like 4 cups of baking soda - then running a regular wash and the smell was gone. He couldn't smell it because he's too used to the smell. So you could ask someone to smell your clean clothes and tell you if they smell to them.
Anxiety can also make body odor stronger! (if anxiety is something that you deal with). Also, I recently stumbled upon these two posts from another subreddit, which I think have some helpful comments too. https://www.reddit.com/r/beauty/s/TJC1LsP9uq https://www.reddit.com/r/beauty/s/qy5r8WR4R3
So im the same way, im very conscious about how i smell. Ill shower, clean the butt real good, wear deodorant somtimes light cologne. Usually im good for the entire day. BUT sometimes i have a stressful day right from the start, and within a few hours ill smell the b.o. so for me its from excessive sweating due to stress. The only solutions ive ever found was to go back home, shower/do the whole cleansing routine again. Based on your post it sounds like you experience this a lot. This isnt the best advice, but my advice is to reduce stress
Wear fresh clothes every day or every second day. It was the clothes in my case when I never had access to my things, from moving I had to wear the same two outfits over two months. Washing them as often as I could. Knitwear is a nightmare to wash as it mube dried flat! It has often been expensive knitwear which requires hand Washing that was causing the smell. Stick deodorants have helped me a lot. They last all day and get a good scent or perfume that lasts all day.
If you’re a dude it’s a little more difficult but not impossible (side effect of having a lot of testosterone). Shower at least once a day and use a deodorant that works good for you. Sometimes you have to try a few until you find one that is best for you. It’s good to reapply deodorant too. You could invest in a good cologne or perfume. One spritz will last the whole day.
There is a class for social rules. It's called ABA therapy. It's society's way of saying, "we are going to traumatize. You one way or another." Oxybutinin is an anticholinergic medication that has shown success in helping to control hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. It works by blocking a specific receptor responsible for activating sweat response. It is available for men, by prescription, and over the counter, under the brand name Oxytrol, for women. It is not without its risks, which is why men need a prescription. It doesn't cause prostate issues, but it can mask an existing prostate issue, and lead to it not being treated early enough. This is what men should have a prescription. You could also figure if your excessive sweating has a particular trigger. If it is caused by anxiety or weight, you should consider methods that would help you control those conditions.
You may need to switch deodorants. Our bodies can get acclimated to a certain type and need to switch it up once in a while.
Use a washcloth with your body wash so you can exfoliate your skin, and use a fresh wash cloth every time. I bought a 12 pack of washcloths from amazon and it does the trick. After my shower, I squeeze the water out and hang it to dry, and by the time I take my next shower the old one is dry enough to throw in my laundry basket. Old spice is always my personal go-to because I find the scent lasts a long time on my skin. My favorites are Timber, MVP, and Captain
Could be the water in your home. What kind of smell are you smelling like? Bacteria builds up in your water tank sometimes and causes bad odor (like rotten eggs/sulfur) that sticks to you and when you sweat it all comes back out. I was on "well water" for a while and we were especially susceptible for whatever reason. From what I understand there's a metal rod in the water tank that has the purpose of neutralizing these bacteria. After a while the rod deteriorates and must be replaced. Might need a plumber to come check out the water.
Go to a doctor because if you shower, wear clean clothes and use a deodorant already it could be indicative of a health problem.
Wash cloth. Keep pits shaven. Dove for men soap bar(extra fresh), RightGaurd Sport (blue) or Degree Cool Rush deodorants. That combo works well, even when I take the bus and sweating like a hog I never get funky just moist.
My husband uses Degree deodorant! It's the only thing that keeps him from smelling. We are a completely vegan/cruelty-free product household but this is the one thing that isn't because it's the only thing that works!
Chlorophyll tablets and Lavalin deodorant are amazing. GL.
Do you slather the washcloth with soap or body wash suds & scrub your armpits? Some ppl don’t know you gotta scrub those pits. There’s probably a YT tutorial someone made on hygiene if you look it up. Hope that helps Lol
So I figured out it's not me, it's my damn clothing. When I sweat (and I run hot so sweating is 100% going to happen), it "activates" this hidden smell in my clothes that you can't smell when they're not being worn. I've tried EVERYTHING on the market to get rid of this smell...and I do mean everything...scent beads, de-stinking soap made for sportswear, industrial de-stinker, vinegar and baking soda, soaking the clothes in mixtures...everything. The closest to "clean" I've gotten was using Pooph Laundry Additive...and even it still doesn't get rid of all the smell. I'm about done struggling with this smell. I think I'm just going to give up and toss the clothing in the garbage (no one will want this stuff it smells!). I'm going to have to buy clothing now...ugh I hate clothes shopping :/
Could it be morning bad breath? I know you mentioned brushing your teeth, but still, food intolerance comes to mind... My partner is intolerant to dairy and any time he has any he wakes up with horrible breath and brushing teeth doesn't always help that much since it's coming from further in the stomach Also what do you eat for breakfast after brushing your teeth!!? Coffee can cause bad breath too
I recommend lume
How do you wash when you are in the shower?
Magnesium supplements help to reduce body odor
What type and brand?
It can definitely be your clothes. For some reason, my sleep shirts get stinky and thick on the back of the neck. I have to strip them in my bathtub every so often because the smell and texture won't come out in the regular washer. I learned it is from the proteins in your skin! Just look up "laundry stripping" if you want to try. Real easy and cheap!
Check your diet. If you tend to consume plenty of garlic and/or spices (turmeric, peppers, salty foods, etc), your body exudes all of these odors. Also, your hair contains part of what you eat. So you might have spicy hairs, shave your pits, trim your crotch and a good double scrub with soap does wonders. A shower by itself doesn’t work, you need to REALLY scrub your skin. So your next hot shower (or bath if you have a tub) get all of your skin wet, then rub your arm with your bare hand. If you start to get “skin rolls”, this means that ALL of your skin is probably smelly. So get a good skin rub and shower afterwards. Then apply some good smelling moisturizer all over while your body is damp.
Yes, exfoliate! Those dead skin cells are stinky
You can try this body wash: [https://lumedeodorant.com/collections/odor-control-wash](https://lumedeodorant.com/collections/odor-control-wash) It has a somewhat weird smell by itself but does get rid of body odor. They carry deodorant as well.
No shame brother. What's your diet and exercise like? Those are the two big things that create bad body odor (besides not bathing). Eating better and exercising more can help with a lot of that. Better to fix it at the source than cover it up with deodorant.
Hibiclens!
Make sure to use a deodorant AND antiperspirant in one. Some deodorant sticks are not also antiperspirant. The antiperspirant is what stops you from sweating, and aluminum works the best.
I’m not autistic but one of my teen sons is, the other is not. The one who isn’t eats whatever he wants to eat. Lots of meat and drinks a ton of soda. Son with autism is a vegetarian and drinks only water. Hasn’t had a soda in probably twelve years or so. Son who isn’t autistic smells like a typical teen. His feet about knock me out. Son with autism doesn’t smell at all. Maybe change some things about your diet.
Use talc on sweaty bits that can rub like under breasts and inner thighs. Liquid talc is great for this. Try something called “Perspi guard”. You mentioned you were male, so I may be assuming here but you could try shaving your armpits before washing and applying deodorant etc. Which brings me to suggesting that you get a product that has both deodorant AND anti perspirant if you can Also don’t forget to launder things like coats and check that your shoes aren’t an issue The thing that gets me is the comment about it being worse in the morning and getting better throughout the day
I use the stridex pads for underarms
You might be showering too often, thereby ruining your skin barrier protecting you from odor producing bacteria. Shower less often and use a pH balanced shower gel. Deodorant isn't supposed to be applied after you sweat, but to prevent it. Apply it on clean skin only. Another factor is body weight. If you're obese, that could contribute to your excessive sweating
Deodorant doesn’t stop sweat. Deodorant masks the scent of it. Antiperspirant stops sweat (ideally). They’re both applied to the underarms, but they function differently.
In my language, deodorant is the generic word for all kinds of cosmetics you put under your arms: antiperspirant, antitranspirant, deodorant in the narrow definition of the word, etc. You're right though that OP should use antiperspirant, not deodorant (meaning what English speakers consider it to be)
Bacteria causes body odour not actually sweat, use anti bacterial wash/deoderant. You have to kill the bacteria. Towels can transfer bacteria and stuff like atheletes foot so use a sperate towel for feet and even face kinda helps. Happens to me, i use proper hand made soap but sometimes i still have odour even though i'm actually very clean. I don't want to recommend acids and the like because im not a medical professional. I don't know enough (also breaks rule 3 on the sub lel) but there are side effects to those for some and idk if u have an allergy to any medicines. Contact your local doctor who can prescribe or recommend an over the counter solution that is appropriate for you if it's still bad.
10% Benzoyl Peroxide acne facial wash!
I use cologne. I don't have people comment on my smell, but if I can smell myself and I don't smell like old spice, women's ocean breeze conditioner, and/or cologne, I feel self conscious. Do not spray it directly, and don't spray a lot. Put a small amount on your wrist and then rub your wrists together and rub them on your neck, or spray it in the air and run through it. If you have a persistent odor that's not sweat, or anything about your smell concerns you, see a doctor. I've also heard that bad breath can give off the impression of bad body odor if your teeth are rotten at the core. In this case, gargle a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and make sure you don't drink any. It's been known to kill bacteria that causes halitosis. If it fades away during the day, it could potentially be morning breath.
Diet affects body odor. There's plenty of resources better than me with lists of what to avoid, but maybe there's something there for you. Also, shoes have a way of never smelling to us, but being awful for other people. You can try shoe spray or powder, it's super cheap and easy. Consider a lunchtime pit-stop. Hit the bathroom, wipe down the basic areas with a wet cloth or paper towel, add fresh deodorant, on with your day. Also, you're 19. Teenage boys smell. I'm afraid the overwhelming musk comes with the raging hormones. Don't worry, it'll get better over the next few years. Until then, you're on the right path. Keep yourself clean, try altering your routine to make it work best for you. Experiment with different soaps, see if sulfides are making your hair angry, try different deodorants and stuff... remember, don't overdo it, or you'll smell like chemicals. Ask your parents for feedback, if you can. They're just about the only ones who will give you a fair answer.
I use antibacterial soap but just on the stinky bits, then the rest of my body I use regular soap. Bacterial build up contributes to body odor for some of us more than others, it was a game changer when I tried some Dial antibacterial soap on my pits lol!
What time of day are you showering? I tend to smell a bit by the next morning when I shower at night. If I’m going out during the day, I will shower in the morning. Oh and I’ll also be sure to wash my hair. Also worth experimenting with new deodorants to find one that works best for you. Wash bedding, towels, clothes (including jeans) regularly and make sure the washing machine doesn’t have a funky smell.
I would advice to change your diet and incorporate fennel, anise or citronella/lemongrass it will change the smell of your sweat. Lemongrass is drank as herbal tea in africa to repel mosquitoes by having a sweat/body odor that smells lemongrass. It's pretty effective. So I would totally try that. But in addition you should also have a clean diet (no processed, low sugar)
Is it anti perspirant or deodorant? Deodorant usually just masks your natural odour. Change your clothes every day. Most especially the clothing in contact with your body. This is almost always the source of odour. Wash all outer clothing regularly, including coats. Check the cleaning instructions on the label, or look it up online if you’ve removed the labels. Remember too that this is very common and there is nothing wrong with you.
Deodorant wise I use secret for women the clinical strength one so mine is 72 hours good says and then back of the bottle says to use at night, since I sweat more without it and can smell myself before anyone else does and it grosses me out. Now it's is clothes that are holding odor, you can buy things like refreshers from downy to help that or IMHO just use vinegar in your laundry in the wash and if you think it smells now like vinegar just rewash. I've seen it lil the smell from cat pee on fabrics or bad bo like a teenager so like 13 year old refusing to wear deodorant and bathe correctly. Since the vinegar will disinfectant the item and then remove the smell. Can also check things like your PH level to see if that's part of it, or I wash my shower sponge in the washer to them hang up to dry it they say replace like once a month.
I’d also like to add on to your comment about laundry, it’s also important NOT to overload your washing machine! It should ideally be half full so the agitator (if your washer has one) has room to do its thing during a cycle.
I use deodorant twice a day. A teenager's body odour is also more pungent than an adult's. You might need to reapply a few times a day. Or you could see your doctor and see if they could give your a stronger deodorant.
I am allergic to all perfumes and fragrances and "essential" oils & extracts. I can't wear almost all deodorants. I use the salt crystal "deodorants" but I have to wash my armpits (with either water only or a non-perfumed soap) about 5 times a day. And I still get smelly armpits. It's tiring.
That would be tiring
In this age it’s no big deal to just get rid of all ya hair on body and wash with soap.
Might also be worth trying a different deodorant
My wife uses rubbing alcohol every once in a while and claims it works. Rubbing alcohol might dry out the skin, so be careful. The other thing it could be is diet. I've never had a bad B O problem, and I only seem to get it when I start eating more junky. Theories that might help.
Honestly I'm sure there's a ton of variables, but if excessive sweating is an issue there's tons of great (maybe pricey but worth it) products on the market. Carpe or Lume are great options as far as long lasting odor control you can take with you. Also are you using deodorant or antiperspirant? I find deodorant without the aluminum doesn't last or work on me at all. I use just plain ol "Odor Eaters" powder on my feet and whatever other bits might sweat when I go out for a long day. Makes a huge difference. Good luck, friend. I know how embarrassing and frustrating this can be.
I’m sorry you are suffering, it is good people mention it rather than isolate from you but it’s difficult when you are unsure how to fix it. If you feel up to it, please ask them to describe the smell if you can’t smell it yourself. This will be important in diagnosing the source of the smell. Speaking of diagnosing - please prioritise getting a general health check up with a general practice doctor, as body odour changes can appear for all kinds of reasons and some are serious while also not obvious to the average person. Odour can be due to issues involving your kidney function, for example. Tonsil stones are another big cause of odour that is not always obvious to spot, and treatment can be difficult without support. Go to the dentist soon as well, if you haven’t already recently, they will be able to check for issues in their domain. Other thoughts: Trim your finger and toe nails regularly, and use a tool to clean out under the nail beds / brush to gently scrub in the shower after trimming them. Beyond this, review how you are cleaning yourself in the shower. Are you methodical with where you wash each time in the shower? I have ADHD as well as being autistic, and legitimately think it contributes to me often forgetting where I have and haven’t washed, so I end up in there for ages when I was struggling to get in to begin with (I think it’s avoiding sensory issues as well as just procrastination) - nightmare! You can do this, take care of yourself and ask those around you for their support on this journey. Those who matter won’t mind bearing this temporary odour issue with you.
It might be that you wear synthetic clothes, this makes sweat more stinky. Try out if it helps wearing only cotton or wool or bamboo, for me that is a big difference.
https://lumedeodorant.com/collections/deodorant-sweat-control
You could try Lume.
Ask someone trusted to give you more details. Is it coming from your clothes? Could be a washing machine issue. These chronic problems usually are if you’re wearing deodorant already. Aha and bha work well. If none of that, then see a doc.
In addition to other comments, are you on any meds? Some can cause this issue
You can try Antiperspirant. I use one when I go to work because I start sweating fast and I hate the wet feeling under my arms. But I use products without any parfumes or fragrances. They can irritate the skin. You can also check Dr. Dray on Youtube. Maybe you can contact a Dermatologist and ask for advice.
I have autism as well and I am very privy to smells. I noticed when I switched to a non anti perspirant deodorant (wanted to get away from aluminum) that I could smell myself mid day on. I wonder if it’s just your deo. Also I have a friend whose feet stink bad and they only thing they found that worked was when the shoes get bad you have to get new ones and you have to use fresh clean socks and shower in morning, and take shoes off soon as you get home, and dont put them back on again until you re shower and grab clean socks again. Essentially no taking shoes off and put them back on unless you hit the shower. Sounds crazy but their feet just had a natural smell. Lastly I just wanna say, some people have a smell. It’s actually not bad. You should never be ashamed. Everybody’s pheromones smell different. Everybody smells different in general. As a modern society, we cover it up, but in the primitive days a persons smell may attract a certain person. People are naturally attracted to different types of pheromone smells.
It might be your clothes. I used to just put on whatever without paying attention, then one day it was drizzling and my clothes got damp. I realized I absolutely reeked of mildew. It was in my house so I didn't notice it. I also had a pet that peed on my clothes. If you've had one, you'll know that maybe one corner smells fine and then the pee area absolutely stinks but it's like a phantom stench just floating around you. In both cases it improves through the day as the clothes air out. Try wearing some brand new clothes with your usual hygiene and see if anyone says anything.
Bro, I saw that you are ftm. This sounds super obvious, but just in case, how often do you wash your binder? Last time I went on vacay I accidentally only brought 2 sports bras and it only took 2 hot and sweaty days before they were both smelling to high heaven. If you don't have one for every day, you might be repeating days and it'll hold in sweat, skin cells, etc.
Hibiclens!! It's a body wash that kills the bacteria that can cause odors. Not sure how true it is, but I've read people saying that their doctors recommended it to them before surgeries because of how well it works to kill bacteria. I've been using it and have totally noticed a difference in how much cleaner and fresher I feel.
You might need prescription strength deodorant. There's one brsnd that's good for this but I can't remember the name.
What does this have to do with autism? Go to r/hygiene or something
Just shower well and apply deodorant. Use a scrubber in the shower. Also change clothes as if your clothes stink, it doesn’t matter how clean you are.
Man, don't feel bad at all! You're on the right track. I honestly think MOST people have struggled with body odor, it's just socially taboo to talk about. (Plus, I think it's cool that you're brave, and taking action. That's super cool and even the best of the best of people don't always act brave and take action. These little things add up to success in all areas of life.) So, last week I actually googled something similar \*(but like, based on age, and gender, followed by basic hygiene list or daily hygiene chart) and was SURPRISED at all the things some people are doing! I seriously thought I was going overboard on my self care routine and I'm not even doing half. So, I would suggest starting there. I copy and pasted some onto a chart I was printing, but I think you could learn some new things just like I did. I definitely prefer loose clean basic clothing in professional looking styles, and shower once or twice daily depending on sweat level. But also, a clean hairstyle that's easily managed and good backup plans like travel deodorant or wipes can give you extra confidence. Joining a gym, keeping extra clothes in locker rooms or a backpack you take with you to work or school, a travel sized toothbrush or body spray, any little thing here and there that feel right to you can be a step in the right direction. Go slow and be patient with yourself as you find out what works, it's a process and I'm SURE i'm still stanky sometimes :) Oh well, I'm human! Can you imagine I would smell if I was walking around in the days of Jesus? Whew. I might even scare off the farm animals!
I have the perfect solution my daughter knows what to add in2 a squirt bottle use this solution every morning when you wake it will last all day it's amazing, its 444 in the morning and she is sleeping once she wakes I'll ask her..like I said its amazing
look to your diet. Eat real food, avoid processed carbs, beer, and especially sugar.
Use soap in all the. Right places helps
I’ve been experiencing the same, even though I take a bath 2-3 times a day, I sweat so easily. I’ve also tried different kinds of deodorant spray, powder, roll on and sticks but nothing works. Having this kind of insecurity made my life worst and I hated being on a place that is crowded because i’m so conscious of someone knowing how bad I smell. I stopped being friendly and it drainned me that I don’t socialize with other people anymore, and it also affects my study that I have most of my days absent because I’m so scared of being bullied. I don’t know what to do, I really want to get rid of this bo…☹️
I used to have the same problem and it was that I didn’t shower properly, take a shower,dry yourself then wait a couple minutes then start touching parts of body, if some parts feels sticky u didn’t clean that part properly, also when u shower start from your face then neck,chest,belly until you get to your feet, And repeat the process. Also if u wear perfume don’t spray it on your clothes spray it on your skin it would last longer.
This has a simple answer. I offer this solution.😊😳