It is one thing to have a smelly home because you forgot to take out the garbage or you had a plumbing leak that allowed mold to grow under the sink. It is an entirely different matter when you have unexplained body odors. At least odors in your home can be addressed by a plugin air freshener or essential oil diffusion. Dealing with body odors can be a bit more difficult.
The people behind the Zephyr Fresh smart home aromatherapy diffuser say that, scientifically speaking, all odors occur the same way. Whether good or bad, substances have volatile compounds that easily evaporate into the air. As they do, they release molecules that make their way into the human olfactory system, triggering a neural response the brain understands as scent.
Stinky smells are caused by molecules the brain identifies as smelling bad. But know that what might smell bad to you could be lovely to someone else. The sense of smell is really a matter of perception. But enough of that. Let us get back to the question of what causes unusual body odors.
Unwashed Clothing
Aside from the lack of regular bathing, the next biggest cause of body odors is wearing unwashed clothing. Almost all outer garments are designed to wick away perspiration so that it can evaporated. Nonetheless, not all the perspiration goes. Some collects in the fabric where it breeds bacteria.
Undergarments are an even bigger problem. The fact that they are covered by outer garments makes it more difficult for perspiration to travel through them. Furthermore, some undergarment fabrics just don’t wick away moisture very well. They almost always trap smells a lot more quickly than outer garments.
The solution? Put on clean, fresh undergarments every day. As for your outer garments, do not wear them for more than two days in a row. If you work in a smelly environment, change your clothes every day.
Prescription Medications
Believe it or not, prescription medications can cause some unusual body odors. Common medicines including antihistamines, painkillers, decongestants, and muscle relaxers can increase your tendency to exhibit body odor simply by increasing the amount you perspire. Some of those same medications can cause bad breath by way of excessively dry mouth.
The obvious solution here is to talk to your doctor. If you believe a prescription medication is causing problems, your doctor might be able to switch you to something else.
Certain Foods
A lot of people do not know that the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ applies to body odors. They don’t realize that certain kinds of spicy foods release unpleasant gases as they are digested. Those gases can be passed through the digestive system or even through the skin. The biggest offenders are foods that contain lots of garlic, curry, and other potent spices. You can avoid food related odors by modifying your diet.
Stress Sweat
Finally, did you know that sweat comes from various places throughout your body? When you are stressed, your apocrine glands release a form of perspiration that is otherwise odorless. Yet when it reacts with bacteria in your skin, it produces an odor that almost everyone finds offensive. Indeed, stress sweat is the smelliest kind.
Thank goodness smelly odors in your home can be addressed with essential oils or an air freshener. You have enough to worry about with body odors. And now that you know what causes body odors, you can take some steps to mitigate it. Do not be afraid to speak with your doctor if you suffer from a body odor problem you cannot figure out on your own.
