To be miserable about how badly i smell?

I’m not sure if you’ve tried these already but it may be worth washing with an antibacterial agent such as benzoyl peroxide, many healthcare professionals recommend it. Benzoyl peroxide helps kill bacteria and helps break down sweat may stain towels or clothes so may sure you rinse really well. Hibiscrub is antibacterial and honestly amazing, I have a huge one in my bathroom and use it for a variety of things. You can get a smaller one from the pharmacy. I would finish with a deodorant like Perspirex . I would them finish with a g In terms of Botox it’s mainly only used for people who have excesses sweating so I don’t know how effective it would be for you, as from your post it doesn’t seem like you have excesses sweating.

your clothing can also be the culprit, places like boohoo etc almost always used polyester,nylon etc. these fabrics when you sweat leave a musty BO smell. I know this because when I worked in healthcare we had these awful polyester uniforms that would smell even if you sweat jusy a little. My advice would be to look for breathable and natural fabrics. Vinted is always a good place to look 😊

hope this helps

What is your diet like? This seems to have a very significant impact on how we smell. I think meat consumption as well as some spices can really affect the way we smell. I imagine if you were to have a diet mainly consisting of pulses and vegetables and easily digestible foods that this might improve your smell. Worth an experiment…

I had this issue. Have you tried using an anti microbial soap on your underarms? They sell hibiscrub on Amazon. That plus Mitchum roll on, not aerosol, has worked for me.

Try Fussy deodorant. It's a natural deodorant with prebiotics. It doesn't stop you sweating but it does stop any smell. I stress sweat and it's the only thing that has ever worked for me. I've used it for over a year now and never had an issue since.

I haven’t RTFT

My advice:

first stop the GP. You may have an illness that has a smell as a symptom. They should do blood tests. If nothing else, don’t shower that morning so that the doctor can smell your skin. Ask them to smell your skin. As well as blood tests etc.. Also, there are health conditions that cause you to feel you are smelling something that you are not. (For example: With migraine developing - the aura - I’ll smell a particular smell)

You said you’ve replaced all your clothes. Hopefully with clothes of all natural fibres. I get smelly quickly when I don’t wear natural fibres. So many clothes are made from man made fabrics. Or natural fibres mixed with man made ones. Cotton and elastine. Also materials like viscose are supposed to be natural as it’s made from wood fibres or something, but they use chemicals in the process of making it. Cotton, wool, linens, silk are my friends. My only clothing friends. Elastine in cotton tshirts and stretch jeans etc. are the devil when it comes to smell. Some of us often need to shower twice a day but careful how much soap you use. I use goats milk as it’s gentle in my skin.

You need to be wash your hair every 2 days at longest. Don’t stretch it out the extra day. I often wash every day - always in warm weather,

There’s a lady on TIK Tok that’s a bit of a genius when it comes to cleaning house and body etc.. Her name is ‘ Ann Russell She/Her’. People ask her all sorts of things to do with household and personal cleaning. She gives great practical inexpensive advice.

Also, maybe you don’t smell as much as you think you do. Sometimes we can be convinced we smell but no one else can smell us.

No synthetic fabrics (except swimwear obv) here. Cotton only. And although I have tried to wash at 40 in the past, I have to wash DH, DS and my clothes at 60 or they just don't smell right. In the case of tea towels, and bath towels, they actually smell almost immediately if I wash at 40. I haven't changed my drying strategy, I just wash on higher heat now. Problem gone.

It's weird because DM washes her clothes etc at 30 and her things always smell fresh.

Funnily enough o was going to suggest you speak to a GP about this.

Excessive sweating has a name (can't remember it!) so you can be treated for it.

I concur. I use the ordinary but replaced the lid with a spray top so I can evenly distribute it.

Could be your diet.
Could be bacteria or fungal - which may be linked to diet.
Could be the fabrics you wear.
Could be your washing machine, have you cleaned it out recently.
Using too much washing detergent can be an issue, it clogs up clothes making them more likely to hold smells.

I'd do a pretty extreme exclusion diet, wear only cotton, clean out the washing machine and use minimal detergent on a hot wash, dry clothes well with heat not just room temp to ensure they're fully dry too, damp clothing smells musty/mildewy! Add a pre and probiotic and see if that helps.

Is your home damp?

I knew someone who has that musty smell that was really quite intense and she was living in a sort of mobile home on her land whilst extensive renovations were taking place on her home.

There were no obvious signs of damp on the temporary home.

Are you cooking food in a small space with clothes drying in the area?
You need to go to the GP tell them it's affecting your mental health.
Deodorant and washing is only papering over the cracks.
You need to find the root cause x

i think I would try taking a good probiotic so that your improving the balance of good bacteria in your gut. That along with a healthy diet might solve the problem.

Do people complain about the smell ?
Is it something that's ever been brought up in general ?

It will only ever be diet or clothing (bras/t-shirts especially) & once you've replaced them theirs nothing else you can do really

To be fair I always get a bad "smell" about me when I eat onions randomly

You need an action plan.
First go to docs and tell them exactly the issue. It could well be a medical condition and that needs to be addressed or advised on.
If not medical then look at diet. Keep food diary and connect it to when you have worse times
Look at washing and drying clothes as per post on here
Look at showering as per posts on here
Work out how long you are ok and what shortens the times. Stress, exercise, etc
Are you better sometimes, any triggers etc
Be methodical. If it's hormonal etc.
Is it noticeable to others or you focusing in on it. Is it an in built issue for you due to previous experience etc.
Good luck in getting a solution.

Try Soft and Gentle deodorising body powder, works wonders. It’s talc free but looks like talc. Use it on underarms and groin but can be used all over. I cycle and sweat a lot and the difference this has made to the smell is unbelievable.

In terms of deodorant get yourself Perspirex Extra Strength Antiperspirant Roll On. This is a very high strength deodorant and will stop you sweating. You can then determine if it’s solely your armpits causing the problem or something else. I used to sweat buckets….my armpits were like taps and this stopped me sweating completely so I’m sure it will work for you. Please try this instead of the other recommendations. You put this on at night and wash off in morning when it’s dry. Just use a thin layer and make sure to keep arms raised while it’s dry.

Maybe also take some washed but unworn clothes to a friends or families and ask them if they smell ok. That way you’ll have a clue if it’s your washing too. People are right that your washing machine may be dirty. Check all round the seal and clean with mould and mildew spray. I like to squirt bleach all round the inside and wash in the highest temp possible and then wash with powder in the highest temp possible and machine is always fresh after.

In saw someone post on here they use surf powder and the Lenor softener. I use the same combination and like it.

one final thing with clothes. Is you’re home cold / damp? If it is it may not be the washing process but the smell is coming from cold moisture in your home.

My DD smelled terrible for a while. We worked out that she has a painless ear infection. It was awful and we only finally cottoned on when her ear started weeping, gross yucky stuff.

Are you sure your pits are the culprit?

I read this article from a beauty editor before and she recommends using acnecide anti bacterial facewash under arms to kill the germs that make sweat smell.

https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2024/oct/26/everything-learned-beauty-column-best-products-treatments-skincare

Height amd weight? Sometimes if I'm too heavy I notice changes...

Glycolic acid, the ordinary do a good sized bottle for not much money. Under each armpit after you shower. Allow to air dry then deodorant on top.

I understand and we agree on the same end result. If the tips don't work go to the doc.

You didn't offend me. We want the same thing to help the OP.

Soft and gentle roll on with the purple lid is the only deodorant that works for me. Also are you drinking enough water? I find that can change how I smell.

@Notaurewhy I'm sorry if I offended you. Was just trying to help the OP.

When I suffered from hyper hydrosis as a teen I used Anhydrol Forte deodorant - you apply every few days, at night. Worked brilliantly.

www.chemistdirect.co.uk/anhydrol-forte-roll-on-20-w-v-cutaneous-solution/prd-1f

We don't just sweat from the armpits..I once went on medication that made me sweat more than usual and got BO from the pubic area...was so confused about what was going on. I had to shave completely, towel dry, and use spray deodorant on the area (not inside obviously just outside standing up). When I researched it, I found there are specific pubic area deodorants as well that may be more gentle and designed for the area. I would try this. Good luck