To be miserable about how badly i smell?

[fireworksinthesky3]

Hey

name changed but longtime poster

really hoping this post resonates with someone and I can get some advice or help 🤞

bit of an embarrassing problem but I smell really badly and don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I can possibly think of to fix it and it’s not helped. I’ve heard of things like fish odour syndrome but I don’t think it’s that because I don’t smell of fish- I just smell really musty/BO. It’s genuinely making me so depressed- I’m only 26 and I’m so embarrassed and miserable about it. I’ll post below everything I’ve tried

• I shower every single day without fail, I tried showering twice a day but it made no difference whatsoever. At first I smell fine, then after a few hours I smell musty/BO/as if I haven’t even showered in days

• I’ve tried every single combination of deoderant/antipersperant I could access. Mitchum was highly recommended but wasn’t any help disappointingly, in fact I think I smelled worse with it. Right now I’m using dove stick which is bearable but not great either. As I said above- fine at first, then after a few hours I smell again , badly enough to be noticeable by other people

• I’ve tried every shower gel, scrub, body wash, lotion, soap (bar and liquid), even tried using dettol soap- no difference. I shave every 2nd day.

• i wash my hair every 2-3 days, I change my bedding every week without fail

• i wondered if it was possibly my clothes which smelled rather than me so I got rid of EVERYTHING, and started all over again (new underwear, new pjs, completely new clothes etc) but same problem literally no difference

the only thing I can think of that I haven’t tried is the Driclor range which I’m going to try and I’m praying it works. I’ve always had this problem- I remember being so embarrassed about it as a teenager. It’s definitely not something I’m just paranoid about either- I’ve asked my friends / family to be completely honest with me and they’ve agreed with me. I don’t have any hormonal problems and sweat like a normal person as far as I’m aware but for some reason I just smell so much quicker than the average person

does anyone have any tips or product recommendations I could try (in case driclor doesn’t work)?

sorry for the long post, I’m just so down about it x

I've found at times that my sweat has really stunk when I've been particularly stressed and anxious and rushing about. Like an ammonia/onion smell. It does sound like you're very stressed by this problem.

Looking at this another way @fireworksinthesky3

You say you smell.
Is there any proof of this?

Has anyone said that you smell? Your friends? Partner? Parents?

Or is it only you who thinks that?
Have you asked anyone to do the 'sniff test'?

I'm wondering if you have something similar to body dysmorphia- where someone hates how they look (or could smell) and have a skewed idea that they're ugly (and more.)

Because most people with BO can't smell themselves and don't know they smell.

The way you describe your washing and laundry seems impossible that you smell.

The only other things to try IF you do smell are showering twice a day and wearing natural fabrics like all cotton or wool.

Polyester can trap BO smell and be impossible to get out unless on a hot 40C wash.

Sorry haven't read the whole thread but can recommend Hibi-scrub wash every other day and Salt of the Earth spray deodorant (still lets you sweat but kills the bacteria that cause the smell) Plus use some laundry antibacterial cleanser for a few washes... Good luck

I had to look nonenal up-thought it was a typo!

Could you smell it yourself or did someone tell you?

If you are revisting soap, this one works really well. https://ecobeautyshop.com/collections/bath-and-soaps/products/mild-verbena-and-lemon-soap-100g

I also use Dettol laundry sanitiser in my gym stuff which stops it smelling funky. I also always wash on full programmes, never the quick cycles.

Lastly, I use Biotherm body moisturiser which has citrus extracts (bit of a theme here!).

I struggled a bit when I hit peri and this combo, with Wild deodorant sorted it out.

From a fellow smelly person, a few things to consider.

1. Are you sure you actually smell? Humans do have a natural scent that builds up over the day and shouldn't be seen as bad. Has anyone said anything? Do you have any OCD symptoms that could be contributing to this anxiety?

If no to the above. Things that helped me.

1. Less synthetic clothes and washing at 40 (or higher appropriate temp)

1. Using a nice smelling fabric conditioner

1. Getting washing out of the machine immediately and drying as quickly as possible.

1. Using a deodorant like triple dry applied at night for three nights in a row to reduce sweating.

1. Check food. Garlic makes me smell more.

Poor you. Fwiw, I can’t wear polyester. It makes me stink and the smell gets stuck in the armpit area of the clothes, even after washing.

Driclor is really effective, but be warned, if your skin is on the sensitive side - it’s brutal.

It sounds like you’re doing everything you can, so it must be worth speaking to a GP. Diabetes, menopause and certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause body odour.

Times I’ve experienced this musty smell it comes from one of four areas. (1) washing machine. Our WM broke down and we used the one at H’s work. Despite using our own laundry powder, the clothes always came back with an awful smell. That WM was used by the janitor for his rags so I guess the rags smelling was not an issue for him but it was for us! (2) man made fibers. Some materials get a strong musty smell. Need to boil wash to get it out, but it will build up again (3) clothes drying in an unheated space (4) diet. I once lived in an area with lots of first generation East Asian immigrants and they had that a strong sour smell. We smell to them too, due to the dairy in our diet.

I’ve also read ( though not experienced) that very overweight people can get sweat trapped in folds of skin which, if the person does not take care to wash in these folds, will smell.

I agree with 1.

The OP is only 26.

It's often much older /elderly people who smell, partly as they often don't/can't shower as often as they should and their sense of smell declines with age.

@fireworksinthesky3 You need to ask a close friend/parent/partner/colleague to give you an honest answer.

If your armpits aren't wet and soaking your clothes, it's pretty unlikely you will smell if you are showering once or twice a day, using antiperspirant and washing your tops/wearing them once.
Presumably you're showring in the morning.

With laundry again, anything that can't be washed at 60, you can use this amazing detergent called Halo, which kills fungi as well as the usual bacteria. So any fungi, if you have an infection somewhere on your skin you're not aware of, or mildew from the environment.

It's pricey at about £10 per bottle, but worth it imo. I only use it periodically, but it your circumstances I'd use every wash.

Might be worth looking into your skins biome too - your skin has one, just like your gut or whatever x

I wash at home then take everything down to the laundrette to dry and make sure its thoroughly dry.
Funnily enough I had this problem when I was on tramadol for back pain. My bed reeked of sweaty BO. It was something in the drug.

I would bet you are wearing synthetic fabrics.

Have only read OP posts so don't shoot me is someone has already suggested this!

Have you looked at your diet? Had an intolerance test? It could be something you are eating that reacts with your body.

Food Allergies: When certain foods trigger an allergic reaction, metabolic changes might result in altered body odor. Common culprits include dairy, eggs, and seafood

Where do you store your clothes? I used to have an inbuilt wardrobe in a house I was renovating and my clothes and even my shoes smelt musty even though the clothes were ‘clean.’ I could smell it on my clothes at work!

I also have a friend who lives in a damp flat. If I visit for a few hours and just sit on the settee, my hair smells and my family used to comment on it when I came home.

My son gets really smellly but I think we’ve finally come up with a regime that’s working

• coal tar soap in the shower
• pirspirex anti perspirant
• biplogical washing powder
• antibacterial stuff in the washing machine

No idea which one of those makes the most difference but it had got so bad we bought out the big guns. Mitchum wasn’t touching it.

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it but this medicated powder is great stuff - you can top up with some during the day to freshen up.

CUTICURA Mildly Medicated Body Powder 250 g, Many Uses Personal Hygiene, Sweat Control, Chafing and Friction Prevention, Itching Relief https://amzn.eu/d/g7IOmxp

Hi, everyone has given you really sensible good advice which you seem to have tried for some time If you are doing all the above and opening windows and do not have a problem with where you live being damp/mouldy etc. as nurse/midwife of 40 years I think you need a medical referral from your Doctor. There is a medical condition called Hyperhidrosis which can be caused by different medical conditions like overactive thyroid, the menopause and diabetes. Sometimes no underlying cause is found. Type in Gloucestershire Hospitals Hyperhidrosis they have produced a good information leaflet. which includes possible treatments that may help. xx

I reckon it’s your clothes. The shower and products mask the smell for a while but then it becomes apparent. Make sure your clothes are completely dry and aired before putting away and check your wardrobe for damp/mustiness. It’s a very persistent smell. It permeates everything, particularly clothes.

Am so sorry you are experiencing this - I can only imagine how this makes you feel.

Not sure if the attached article might help? If it is TMAU that you’ve got, there appears to be no cure BUT it looks as though changing your diet to avoid foods that your body cannot break down might help? Perhaps try an exclusion diet for a few weeks and see if it alleviates the smell at all?

goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/how-can-i-live-fishy-body-odor-trimethylaminuria

That condition is excess sweating.

The OP says she doesn't actually sweat any more than normal and her clothes aren't getting wet.

I myself doubt she smells and think it's a perception of 'smell' that's the issue.

My friend had this. It worked

Could it be dietary. What you eat can have a huge impact on body odour. It may be that there is something that you eat that causes this in you and not other people. Sorry I haven't read the whole thread apologies so don't know if this has been suggested. Could you consult a nutritionist.

Suggestions from me:

High strength probiotics for a while; i’m sure i’ve read that your gut biome can contribute to body odour

Go see GP or a private Derm and ask for investigations for a bacterial or fungal infection

Cut out sugar for a while- can cause candida which can contribute

Wash high smell areas with anti bac soap (not handwash)

Wash clothes as hot as you can with a sanitising detergent like Dettol Laundry, and tumble dry everything you can.

Sorry OP, it must be dispiriting.

How often do you change your clothes?
Try changing clothes daily(at least the top half of clothing) and natural fibres would probably be better.
Also when using a drying rack inside, place it in front of the radiator.

I recently started a medication and for the first few weeks I stank! Let's just say every sweaty area smelt disgusting and I was so paranoid! I got an aluminium free deodorant called bionsen it's a wee blue roll on and I managed to find it easy enough in Tesco. Something about the aluminium in deodorant isn't great for smell or something! I found it good just don't put it on after you've just shaved your pits though 🤣🤣 xx