To ask how I can smell better?

[Wdissb]

This is really embarrassing but recently I've noticed I've started to smell bad. I used to not need to shower everyday but now I'm aware of an odour part way through the day even after a shower. It's not normal BO - I use a good quality antiperspirant and the smell doesnt seem to come from my armpits.
I cant really work out exactly where the smell comes from, although it is more noticeable when I'm wearing a skirt or dress with tights and does seem worse if I'm hot. No one has commented on it but I'm so aware of it.

Can anyone suggest what I can do to combat it? I shower every morning and as well as antiperspirant I use a body spray/perfume.

Taking fish oil supplements can make a person stink.

I had this for a while and it was my privates. I bought some ActivBalance pessary things from Amazon (name might not be accurate) and it went away. I had no pain, itch or discharge just a weird smell.

Ive also gained weight so find myself to be more whiffy lately which I think is down to that.

@Wdissb

OK forget the pantyliners!

You can get plastic free liners they are definitely more breathable. Disposable ones from Yopi and rewashable ones

Alsooooooo if I let my pubic hair grow too long it all smells more down there. People say it doesnt and you're meant to have it etc, but nah. It does. I notice a big different when it's all shaved.

@BringOnTheOtherWorlders

Taking fish oil supplements can make a person stink.

I’ve started taking cod liver oil for creaky knees, and never thought of that.

Haven't RTFT but wanted to suggest a couple of things that might help. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water. Take Vit B complex, for some reason there are B vits that help with being greasy/smelly. Eating pineapple is suppose to help with nether regions smell? Just things I've heard so you can check them out to see if you think they'd work for you.

If you get sweaty patches undeor boobs, it can be a fungal infection which stinks. Conotrane cream is your friend. I had to take terbenefine for 6 months and it didn't clear, and it started to affect my liver. Only other cream available in France is hydrocortisone which does sod all.
The conotrane is lightly perfumed with geranium oil which, for me, has a nice gentle fragrance which I find relaxing.
For deoderant, I use a rock salt stick which works, but never ever use it under a pouch or boob, it's like using sandpaper on delicate skin.

The Asda liquid talc is good for sweaty under boobs.

Op could it be from under the breasts.

I've always used soap in the shower, find its much better than shower gel and feel much cleaner too. Plus bar of soap lasts much longer too.

Or have you tried halving an apple, tying it with red thread, and burying it on the night of a full moon at a crossroads?

@GoodnightGrandma

The Asda liquid talc is good for sweaty under boobs.

Very true. Also good for my chub rub thighs in summer.

I stopped using perfumed shower gel after it left me smelling, as the op described. Unperfumed soap or shower gel for me now. It took me ages to work out that it was the cause, as I didn’t smell the same as the very lovely (and expensive) shower gel I’d used.

Just posting to echo that peri bought about a host of weird whiffs I had never experienced before. Thanks to HRT and a decent deoderant (sure max) and modibodi period pants (far better and fresher than pant liners) I am far more pleasant to be around!

Get a medical check up. There are many medical conditions, including metabolic disorders, associated with bad smell. Diabetes uncontrolled is one example. I swear by cider vinegar as it dampens down severe psoriasis in the plumbing department for me...totally lacking in evidence, but works for me...couple of tablespoons per day take the swelling down. Cotton underwear, avoid polyester fabric and think about your washing powders (using non-bio etc). Also give a thought to your diet. I always smell better when I haven't been drinking alcohol or eating a lot of junk food.

Only ever use simple soap to wash your genitals as other soap has other Ph levels which can impact.
Have you started taking any nee medication lately? Certain medication can impact how you smell. Book an appointment with your GP for sure x

Hmm hmm.

@A580Hojas

Go to your gp, could be an infection not always Sti but if it's recent and you have good hygiene it could be caused by bacterial infection.

@MobyDicksTinyCanoe

Ive found as Ive got older I get rancid BO under and between my boobs and under my belly flap. So im really careful to apply Mitchum roll on to those areas...... I sound so glamourous

Me too!

I'm kind of glad I'm not alone...

Is it your products? I remember having a shower gel that smelled lovely in the bottle but then I realised that on me the smell changed and was not at all pleasant. Stopped using it and the problem was solved.

Now have visions of all of MN prodding their navels and sniffing their fingers 🤮

If the smell is like whiffy hay or cumin then this is a sign of a food intolerance.

If it's a bit fishy, you need a gynae appointment to check for BV. But you said it's not from nether regions so maybe not

Good luck!

Gosh, I've learned a lot from this thread! Hopefully OP has now found the cause and sorted it - but I would just like to reassure my younger MN friends that getting older doesn't have to mean getting pongier!

I honestly don't recall having issues with that when peri-menopausal (my one obvious symptom was having seriously heavy flooding with my periods, when I'd previously been reasonably light) - but one of the few benefits to the actual menopause that I found was that I am far less smelly!

These days I can easily go two or even three days without showering in cool weather, although I might flannel my bits and my feet etc. But I bet I could go four or five days probably, without being smelly. Completely different to my earlier life pre-menopause! I mean I wouldn't choose, to, and my hair would look rank, but I just don't seem to smell any more....!

(Or maybe my sense of smell has just disappeared along with my eyelashes and tight jawline.....???)

Anyway - just wanted to reassure you young'uns that old doesn't necessarily mean stinky. But I think it does mean saggy and wrinkly and dry down there and hot flushes and jowls and hair loss and brain fug and.......oops sorry!

OK, tea tree essential oil will cure your smelly navels/any slightly over sweaty crevices that may get fungal infections...... There I've said it😳 cures athletes foot too👍

My DH had similar problems. We decided it was coming from his clothing. His clothes smelt clean when he put them on in the morning but my afternoon he smelt stale.

He had been washing his clothes on short 40degree cycles. It just wasn't doing it. He has to wash his clothes at 60 for them to actually get clean it seems. Anyway, done the trick. No longer stale smelling by afternoons. Could try it?