Help from anyone else whiffy of armpit...

[JessiCake]

Please tell me how you counteract this problem!!

I don't have BO or anything, but I'm tired of being so... MUSTY in the armpit region.

It's only bloody 9.45am, I showered (thoroughly!) at 7am, applied liberal deodorant. I've done nothing more energetic than school drop-off since, and now I'm sitting at my desk sniffing my armpits which are, as usual, distinctly musty and strong-smelling.

They were fresh as a daisy 2 hours ago!!

So what can I do? I use Vaseline Intensive Care deodorant - time for a change? I used to use a v powerful sort of stick one but only for evenings out or when I was wearing posh, hand-wash clothes. I don't really want to use something that strong every day, but there might be something in between that and my (obviously rubbish) Vaseline one?

And shower gel. I use a Korres one, lemony scent, sometimes a jasmine scent. As I say, I am fresh as a daisy from the shower but should I maybe be using something more heavy-duty in the shower?

It's just such a pain, all my clothes end up with musty pits after (barely) one wear. I've got the new trick of using anti-bacterial stuff in the washing machine so things come out fresh even at low temperatures, so my clothes aren't musty when I put them on.

I guess it's posisbly partly the deodorant itself that smells a bit but I don't know what to do about the musty, ever-so-slightly sweaty (though NOT a sour BO!) smell from my armpits themselves.

Very embarrassed and hoping someone can help!

[ChesterFuckingDraws]

Antibacterial soap! I use detol soap (only on my pits) and that really helps with the musty smell.
Mitchum deodorant is also really good but can be a wee bit powdery.

I also stick a wee tiny bit of zoflora in my
Washing machine with my tops as
Sometimes it's the tops that smell a bit whiffy.

[Margomyhero]

I stoppes using anti perspirants as I found they just didn't work well enough. Plus I would get that awful prickling feeling when the sweating begins.

For the past couple of years I have used one of the crystal rock deodorants. So it doesn't stop me perspiring but really does stop me smelling.

I work out regularly so expect to sweat. All over - not just my pits . Of course I shower afterwards and apply more of the stick.

Also I found (from nagging teen DS about his armpits) that a bar of soap can be more effective than shower gel. We have a selection - I like Dove.

Worth a try?

[JessiCake]

Aha!! Dettol soap might be the holy grail. Thank you Chester.

Yep, I cottoned onto the washing machine issue a little while ago too... sadly this morning I am in a brand new top so I know it's not that...

[BeatriceBeaudelaire]

MITCHUM DEO STICK

It is a mighty mighty stick. I can't use soap or s gel because of my skin condition and if I wear my Mitchum I have no waft x

[JessiCake]

Margo, definitely aiming for soap now! In fact I have noticed that it's a bit better when I use a bar of Simple soap which isn't even that strong or scented at all. Definitely going to use Dettol soap on the pits now! And will try others.

I used the crystal deodorants a long time ago but hated them as I felt so smelly... they might have improved tbf. Maybe worth another try. Will see how I go with soap and then go from there.

Thank you!

[Dairymilkmuncher]

Sure cream deodorant is brilliant, it's in a box for about a fiver. The dove one doesn't work as well for me but I get so sweaty and smelly with anything else. Maybe get a ton of Mitchum and use that once a week to give your pots a rest from the cream.

Also give your arm pits a good scrub in the shower, I use the super minty one now as the more gentle ones doesn't get me as fresh feeling.

[notarehearsal]

It's not your body, it's the clothes. Soak the pits of all your clothing in mouthwash ( honestly) and then wash as normal. This will take the problem away for quite some time. It will return but will see you through a few weeks

[JessiCake]

Hm, Beatrice, I think I may have used Mitchum a while ago too... will look it up and see if it's the same one. Is it quite strong for every day or is it OK?

[Llamacorn]

I always have a quick shower (or sink wash if I'm being lazy) and put deodorant on before bed. In the mornings another quick shower and more deodorant seems to really help, I don't know why, but it does.
I don't know if I'm just extra paranoid and dh says I don't smell at all, but I am always conscious about it.
You should change your deodorant to see if you notice a difference, you get the 48hr ones but I don't notice them to be any better than regular ones. I like Mitchum but I get very dry under my arms so I use dove just now.
I also find wearing certain materials makes things seems worse. 100% cotton and I'm fine, but any polyester or synthetic material and j feel I smell worse.
Make sure clothes are washed at a slightly higher temp, sometimes I find clothes smell clean when they first come out of the machine but worn for a couple of hours and they haven't been as fresh as I thought. Washing at 40 instead of 30 helps this.

[JessiCake]

Thrilled by such fast replies! Relieved I'm not the only whiffy one!

notarehearsal, I certainly will try that trick - any mouthwash or do you use a particular one? Is it the alcohol in there? But as I say, this has happened this morning and y'day with brand new tops so I know it's more me than my clothes iyswim.

Lots of reccs for Dove so I will try that.

Thanks all

[ChocolateRaisin]

I used to have this problem. I use double deodorant now, dove stick roll on and sure spray. No more musty pits! I've done this for years now and had no problems.

[JessiCake]

Llama - thank you - yes it's why I always always wear natural fibres, sadly even that doesn't seem to help as I'm still whiffy in pure cotton, wool, linen etc... :(

[Scoleah]

Yes I also use Mitchum.
It's brilliant!

[JessiCake]

OK am off to buy some Dove stick later. And ChocolateRaisin I hadn't thought of doing a roll on AND spray. That sounds genius. Will try it thank you

[Zoloh]

I eventually solved this with a microbiome spray, AO+. The more antibac stuff you do the worse the problems gets as you are clearing off all the friendly bacteria and just leaving vast areas for the BO producing bacteria to colonise. I bought mine in the US -it's crazy expensive to ship that from the US though... IDK if there's a UK supplier of something similar - have a look. It took 2 bottles for my skin/flora to sort itself out.

(I am suddenly repulsed by the words skin flora!)

[TerribleTrent]

I have this problem. Driclor is the only solution for not sweating in the first place and bin for any stinky tops. They might be ok for one or two wears after dettol wash but the stink always comes back. Or wear tight fitting cotton tops underneath that absorb the sweat and don't ruin your nice tops. I feel for you. It is shit.

[GinGeum]

I'm not sure if I should be admitting this, but if I wash with soap, I end up with musty pits, but when I just wash with water, I'm fine

[Amber0685]

Use something that is a deodrant and antiperspiant such as Mitchum.

[Amber0685]

Sorry about the spelling

[MusicToMyEars800]

I swear by Dove, I use the shower cream and then the deodorant, it smells fresh and lasts for ages, I still smell fresh at the end of the day.

[JessiCake]

Music - is that the stick deodorant? Looks like Dove do a cream deodorant too...?

Thank you everyone - looks like I have found my (slightly whiffy) people

[JessiCake]

Sorry, I mean is that a Dove stick or a dove roll on? There isn't a dove cream deo as far as I can see.

Are sticks better (ie more effective) than roll-ons in general, do we find...?

[TheLongRider]

If it is a musty smell, it's possible that you've got a mild fungal infection commonly known as "jock itch".

[UnaPalomaBlanca]

Pardon me for asking, but are you just whiffs or do you sweat a lot too?

[TheLegendOfBeans]

I am sweaty and used to be whiffy.

Dove roll on counters the smellyness but I actually noticed my smellyness cease when I quit smoking and tailed off my drinking...interesting.

I come from a long line of sweaty women 😂 and Mitchum roll on is the "family favourite" for killing both wetness and whiff.