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Menopause

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Original poster

I smell like warm, slightly off meat. Anyone else?

43 replies

Caerulea · 13/10/2023 10:32

So yeah, it's as indelicate as the title suggests. The past year or so, along with a myriad of other peri symptoms, if I get sweaty overnight (not bed sweats) my pits smell...meaty. It's a really peculiar aroma & I don't bloody like it.

So not whole body, just the pits.

Anyone else get a scent downgrade in their mid-40's?

OP posts:
CorvusPurpureus · 14/10/2023 11:04

I found wiping my pits with a cloth dipped in apple cider vinegar helped! Killed off whatever bacteria were surviving a bloody good soaping (I was sometimes getting out of the shower still with meaty BO).

I now keep a bottle in the bathroom. Shower, vinegar wipe, good deodorant - with a reasonably strong scent of its own, else I smell like a bag of chips instead...

AmandaHoldensLips · 14/10/2023 11:10

I smelled like a sodding hobo during meno. It was awful. Had to change my bedding every other day. It was like I had morphed into a skanky teenage boy. Rank.

I treated myself to nicer shampoo and conditioner (due to daily washing), Jo Malone shower gel, room spray, spritzy perfume. Anything that would help me through the stinky old tramp phase.

On the upside, it doesn't last forever.

Giggorata · 14/10/2023 11:15

Ooh, I like the apple cider vinegar idea!
Another smellier old bat here.
Already gone the way of bar soap and still OK with Mitchum deodorant at the moment.
I am concerned about the old person smell due to nonenal and other chemicals, although they are also looking into changes in fat laden sweat… sigh.
I read that persimmon products are the thing to use to offset this and I spent a fortune on some persimmon essential oil, which I use a few drops of in almond oil after my shower.
I get lots of compliments about smelling gorgeous now, which is either because it is indeed lovely or else goes to show that I smelled like a skunk previously.
Hopefully the former.

Original poster
Caerulea · 14/10/2023 12:39

One of the issues I have is I can't use soaps etc that have any benzoic acid derivatives in - it brings me out in hives. Not so much on my body but I end up looking like I've got teenage acne if I get it on my face, neck or shoulders. Really limits my choices cos over the last ten years it's started appearing in EVERYTHING.

DS3 & I were in a huge Boots the other day & there was one (one!!) shampoo that I could use and annoyingly it's not right for my hair which is very specific, so £12 on shampoo I don't even like. I look like I'm on some kind of shampoo diet reading all the sodding ingredients. Always glad of his help if I choose not to buy online.

So yeah, I'm liking the logic of the cider vinegar, that makes sense @CorvusPurpureus , thank you. Now to find something I can use to balance that smell..

OP posts:
Gowlett · 14/10/2023 12:54

All of this is really interesting. I’m a big old sweat-bag now, I never was before. I thought it was just extra weight. But, no, I’m seriously slick all down my back, just going for the bus. After a walk, I’m left mopping my brow, my whole face is red.

Mumaway, please tell me about the Bacterial Vaginosis? I have been a bit sore down there for a while. It felt a bit crusty last week so I had a look with a mirror. There an open sore on my vulva, with white skin. I thought it might be herpes.

But, I don’t think so… Could it be yet another menopause treat? My jeans are too tight right now. I’m shovelling sugar into my face. I usually use shampoo / shower gel on the carpet, so reading this I think it might be irritating the area?

43ontherocksporfavor · 14/10/2023 12:56

No changes in odour . Just far less armpit sweat. Can get away with no deodorant apart from very hot weather.

43ontherocksporfavor · 14/10/2023 12:59

Check for diabetes.

43ontherocksporfavor · 14/10/2023 13:06

@Gowlett lichen sclerosis?

Gowlett · 14/10/2023 13:16

43, thank you. I think it might be this!

Gowlett · 14/10/2023 13:17

I really need to sort my health out. I was just fine until perimenopause struck. Now, I’m fat, tired and broken…

Seriously79 · 14/10/2023 13:34

Yes! I'm 44 and peri, have been on HRT for about 8 months.

Ive definitely noticed that I smell different, or my sense of smell has changed.

Abitslow · 14/10/2023 13:34

Thank you for the thread.
I have the same problem but its a week before i come on and it last for a good week after.
Its not my pits that are the worst its down below thats my problem😳 its not a strong smell it just of putting. (Cant explain it )
Never used to have it i shower every day morning and night i tried one shower a day still no differents.
But if i work out i become the stink bomb 😫

Original poster
Caerulea · 14/10/2023 13:39

43ontherocksporfavor · 14/10/2023 12:59

Check for diabetes.

I had some autoimmune blood tests recently & nothing came up. I'm alert to adult onset T1 cos it happened to my mum.

OP posts:
Bethebest · 14/10/2023 13:40

Giggorata where did you get the oil please? It sounds like a game changer!

funbags3 · 14/10/2023 13:41

I started to smell like cannabis for a while. It was so strange.
Now I just seem to sweat pure vinegar.

Original poster
Caerulea · 14/10/2023 13:41

Gowlett · 14/10/2023 12:54

All of this is really interesting. I’m a big old sweat-bag now, I never was before. I thought it was just extra weight. But, no, I’m seriously slick all down my back, just going for the bus. After a walk, I’m left mopping my brow, my whole face is red.

Mumaway, please tell me about the Bacterial Vaginosis? I have been a bit sore down there for a while. It felt a bit crusty last week so I had a look with a mirror. There an open sore on my vulva, with white skin. I thought it might be herpes.

But, I don’t think so… Could it be yet another menopause treat? My jeans are too tight right now. I’m shovelling sugar into my face. I usually use shampoo / shower gel on the carpet, so reading this I think it might be irritating the area?

Yeah I've never experienced sweat running down my back before this year. I get very hot at work & in summer I was literally dripping. Completely heat intolerant now, very much looking forward to autumn actually autumning

OP posts:
Giggorata · 14/10/2023 16:22

I got it from an Etsy shop but I can't seem to find the same product now. It cost something like £50 for a big bottle.

When it runs out, I may have to substitute the fragrance oil, which I know isn't recommended, but if it's that or honk…

Littlemousesing · 15/10/2023 07:40

I smelled of warm horse 🐴
Particularly after exercise or after a flat out day at work.
Shower twice daily and scrub pits, groin and feet with proper soap.
Mitcham
Change clothes / underwear twice daily.
I just showered,changed and straight into pjs.
Drink plenty of water , sort out diet.
It was far worse during my peri flooding periods phase.
Gone now I'm post menopause.

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