Struggling with Body Odor Despite Daily Hygiene Routine

[imnina]

Hi everyone, I’m really hoping to get some advice because I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve been dealing with a serious body odor problem, and nothing seems to be working. Here’s what I’m currently doing:

•	I shower every single day.
•	I apply deodorant and antiperspirant (sometimes even at night).
•	I try different deodorant brands, but nothing seems to work for long. The one that worked the best was Mitchum, but it stained my white clothes yellow and left white marks on my colored clothes.
•	I also wash my clothes after every wear, but they still smell like sweat, even after a second wash.

Despite all of this, I still smell terrible—like sweat, and it’s so embarrassing. I can’t afford costly solutions like Botox treatments, and I’ve already tried a lot of different deodorants and hygiene products.

Does anyone have affordable tips or advice on how to deal with this? Especially for clothes that still carry that sweat smell even after washing? I’d really appreciate any help at this point!

Thanks so much in advance!

Biological washing powder, not liquid, is what you need .

I'd suggest that you wear natural fibres only: cotton, linen and merino wool.

As well as all the other suggestions. I would try cutting out smelly foods like onions, garlic, curries etc as they make fresh sweat smell. Avoid man made fabrics as they trap sweat. When you get home, change into baggy t cotton t shirts and turn clothes worn for the day inside out and spray with fabreze in armpits. Once clothes get BO in the armpits it’s difficult to get rid so wash frequently, don’t leave for days and hot wash at least 50degrees.

You could try wearing a t shirt under your clothes with armpit shields, like panty liners to change during the day.

Try washing clothes at 60 degrees if it is cotton? Use proper powder detergent. I would try longer wash cycles too. 3 hours etc. The ones you do for bed linen. Diets can dramatically change the smell, maybe take a look at your foods to detox the body and eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. I actually found ditching antiperspirants for natural deodorants reduces the smell dramatically overtime as antiperspirants just clog everything. But I agree it may not be the right choice for you just yet to drop them if the problem is severe, but try not wearing antiperspirant at night? Shower twice a day, use proper soap as people advised here.

So for the clothes I would soak the armpits in vinegar (white) before washing.
Then wash on a long wash, not a quick wash, on a 40 degree for synthetics, 60 degree for cotton.
Use a biological washing powder, not liquid or tablets.
Do not use fabric softener, get some dettol laundry cleanser and put a few capfuls in the softener section.
Do not overfill.
Try to get your clothes dried as quickly as you can.
Only ever wear cotton tops

As for your body, try a soap like Pears. Some soaps are better than others and I find it the best.

I had a similar issue. Here's what worked for me:

Wash with bar soap, use a flannel/sponge etc to give it a proper scrub.

I bought a bottle of hibiscrub (or you can buy similar) and use that, as per instructions, after the soap.

Shave pits daily or every other day.

Dry thoroughly and roll on Mitchum. Dry it with a hairdryer as it rakes ages to dry.

Clothes:

Spray the smelly areas of clothes with some sort of stain remover/laundry disinfectant. Leave for half an hour before putting the wash on 40 degrees with a biological detergent.

If this doesn't work then you may need to cut your losses and bin the clothes.

Talc under boobs
roll on + spray on deodorant

Fucking ageist comment.

I developed this odour at 33 after getting Mirena IUD. I recently discovered the whole Reddit thread on this topic.
What helps me:

1. Wearing roomy synthetic clothes. Think synthetic shirts. Forget cotton and linen.

2. Vichy from your photo at night and Mitchum triple defence in the morning.

3. Using Vanish before washing clothes to remove residue smell. But general rule - if the item stinks every time you wear it, this fabric is not for you.

I would never scrub my armpits or use any acids on them, it's too extreme. I use a lot of aggresive products on my face so I know what I'm talking about.
I was trying sulfur soap but didn't notice any difference.

Try using an acid like Pixi glow tonic (glycolic or lactic acid) after showering, it stops the smell produced by bacteria rather than just masking the smell. It really makes a difference.

Shield soap. Men’s dark green Mitchum roll on deodorant. Always wash clothes at no less than 40 degrees

Is it you or your clothes? If the sweat smell is on your clothes as soon as you wear them they warm up and emit the sweat stench all over again.

I used to sweat a lot so possibly slightly different but things I found helped are

Driclor deodorant stuff

Being careful with what fabrics I wear, polyester etc makes me more sweaty so I stick to cotton, jersey, more natural fibres, viscose is ok for me too

Nancy birtwhistle has some good tips for sweat smells and stains on clothes. I find vinegar doesnt really help once a smell has set in but a bicarbonate of soda paste might.

Making sure clothes are washed at, at least 40.

So, DH had this issue. We tried various things over many, many months. What eventually worked:

Did a full day of laundry washing everything he owned with a healthy dose of biological POWDER, 60° was, Dettol laundry cleanser. Put the heating on and got it dried asap.

DH showered twice daily with hibiscrub, washing twice each time and using a fresh towel each time.

After about a week then problem was gone. I continue to wash his stuff in biological powder and laundry cleanser, alternating between 40° and 60°. He used the bottle of hibiscrub until it ran out then reverted to normal bar soap. It's been almost 4 months and the issue hasn't returned.

I think his natural body bacteria which we all have had got out of whack, and the hibiscrub killed it from his body and the extra washing killed it from his clothes making it harder to return.

As an fyi, we were using smol laundry pods, and I changed to surf powder.

Thanks to this thread, I now know things like this exist...! 🤯

Wow!

You could try hibiscrub - I use it if I get a spot in my armpit and it's very effective. For deodorant, I use nuud underarm cream which comes in a tube and is very effective. Worth a try?

I use Dettol soap and Salt of the Earth roll on

I’ve created a profile purely to answer this as I know how debilitating this issue is.
It can be hard for people who have never experienced it to understand how you can still struggle with odour even with a good hygiene routine.
I find natural deodorants help most, all typical antiperspirants seem to just aggravate and mix with the smell.
I use native deodorant, unscented. You can get it on Amazon. It is expensive but really is good.
For me the problem started after I took a large amount of antibiotics for suspected tonsillitis, which later turned out to be glandular fever. I believe it did something to upset my natural flora in my gut.
I have intolerances and I think that when your body can’t break down
food it can linger in the gut and cause bacterial overgrowth. The problem for me is not bacteria overgrowth on my skin, it’s to do with internal issues which is why probiotics and eating clean help me so much.
The natural bacteria living on my skin have a field day with my sweat if I eat bread/processed foods and this exacerbates the issue. Obviously this is just my personal situation but I wanted to give you some suggestions as to what could help. I’ve spent an obscene amount on naturopathic advice & hundreds of different deodorants/antiperspirants, and experienced problems at work and in relationships so I totally understand

Thank you so much!
I also struggle with a suspected lactose intolerance.
I also struggle with some kind of bad breath because of this intolerance but it doesn't bother me that much.
I rarely eat processed foods as i cook everything and i don't even buy biscuits because i also make them.
I don't think it's something to do with the outside of my skin but more from inside, like you said.
Thank you!

I feel like this would be noticeable and irritating...

Thank you !!

That sounds great, i'll buy a paste ! Thanks

Thank you !!

No it isn't new, i started smelling around 10 when i started puberty, I am now 18 so, it's been a problem for quite a while.
I air dry my clothes so it takes around 3 days to be fully dry...

That will be an issue - the air drying taking so long, gives the bacteria time to regenerate on the clothes and transfer to your body. If money is an issue, try doing all laundry in one day and only putting the heating on for that one day to get them dry asap.