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Body odor is socially disastrous! How does it feel when people don’t want to come close to you? Or how embarrassing it is when everyone who talks to you keep stepping back or cleverly use their hands or handkerchiefs to cover their nose? They don’t hate you but they can’t even stand the pungent smell that is emitted by your body. They don’t want to hurt you and that’s why they try to keep a distance from you while talking to you and just don’t tell that you smell like a fish! Sometimes we don’t even realize that we have this body odor! Our body is so adaptive that it cannot smell its own odor because the smell is constant, it is there every time! This is called sensory adaptation. But if you find people running away at the moment they see you, be alert and test whether your body odor is the culprit. Take help of some of your close friends or family members who can give you an honest opinion! And if they answer positively, take help of these home remedies for body odor to get rid of it!
1. Witch Hazel Remedy for Body Odor
Body odor occurs due to the growth of bacteria in such regions as underarms, groin area etc. These areas are sweaty due to more active apocrine sweat glands here. When bacteria feed on the sweat, they produce bad smell. Bacteria need high levels of pH to survive. There are certain ingredients that can lower skin’s pH such as witch hazel. When applied on skin, witch hazel lowers skin’s pH and thus makes it impossible for bacteria to survive. Thus, in the absence of odor producing bacteria, you get relief from your body odor. You can directly apply witch hazel on your skin. You may even carry witch hazel in a small spray bottle with you so that you can spray it whenever you feel like.
Get this:
- Witch hazel
- Cotton Ball
Do this:
- Soak the cotton ball in witch hazel.
- Dab on this witch hazel on cotton under your arms instead of your regular deodorant.
In fact, if you don’t want to discard using your deodorant, you can use witch hazel before deodorant too. Let the witch hazel dry out completely before applying deo. However, you need not use any deodorant to block odor when you use witch hazel. But if you still want to have scented remedy for body odor, try the homemade deodorant recipe given afterwards which also uses witch hazel as one of the ingredients.
2. Use Vinegar to Get Rid of Body Odor
For the same reason which makes witch hazel a good remedy for body odor, vinegar too can be used to get yourself rid of your body smell. Vinegar can also lower the pH level of your skin so that you feel fresh for the whole day without worrying about your body odor. You can use vinegar in more than one ways.
Ways to use white vinegar for body odor
- Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply to your underarms.
- Store vinegar in a sprayer and spray it under your arms after having bath. Don’t use any deodorant after using vinegar.
- Dilute some white vinegar in a mug of water while having bath and rinse your underarms with this water.
- Don’t use vinegar just after shaving as this may burn your already abrased skin.
However, many people may not get the benefit of vinegar while they try to remove their body odor. They may use lemon juice for body odor which is our next natural remedy.
3. Apply Lemon Juice to Remove Body Odor
Just like vinegar and witch hazel, lemon juice lowers your skin’s pH level making it difficult for odor producing bacteria to survive. Moreover, lemon can be used by even those who have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate even vinegar.
Get this:
- Lemon- 1, cut into two halves
- Cotton ball (optional)
- Water (optional)- ½ – 1 cup
Do this:
- Take one half of the lemon and rub it under your arms, one by one, squeezing its juice on to your skin. Store the other half of the lemon to be used later.
- Alternatively, you can squeeze the juice out of the lemon and apply this juice to your underarms with the help of a cotton ball.
- If you do not like the super acidic nature of lemon or you only have mild body odor, you can dilute lemon juice in water and rinse your underarms with it.
Lemon juice also stings when used after shaving. So better shave the nigh before to give a long gap between shaving and applying lemon juice on skin.
4. Baking Soda – Lime Juice Mixture for Body Odor
Some people sweat a little but then also suffer from body odor. For them vinegar or lime juice alone can work. There are some other people who sweat a lot and also have body odor. For such people, combining baking soda with lime juice can be a fantastic remedy for their body odor. Baking soda not only helps absorb sweat but also eliminate bacteria and act as a natural deodorant. This makes it eligible for using all by itself too! However, here I give you the way of using baking soda with lemon juice.
Get this:
- Lemon juice- from half or 1 lemon
- Baking soda- enough to make paste
Do this:
- Before having bath, mix lemon juice with baking soda to make a paste.
- Apply this paste to your underarms.
- Leave for about 5-10 minutes.
- Wash off with water.
- Now have bath.
5. Baking Soda and Cornstarch Remedy for Body Odor
As stated earlier, baking soda absorbs sweat and also kills bacteria apart from acting as a natural deodorant. Cornstarch is even better than baking soda for those people who perspire excessively. Cornstarch is extremely absorbent ingredient, even more than baking soda. Here are some ways to use these two ingredients from your kitchen to fight your body odor.
Ways to use baking soda and cornstarch for eliminating body odor
- After taking bath, pat dry your underarms and apply baking soda or cornstarch directly to your underarms.
- For a more effective remedy, mix baking soda and cornstarch and then apply on to your dry underarms to prevent sweating as well as foul smell.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar for Body Odor
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a well known natural bacteria-fighting ingredient. ACV, like white vinegar, helps in eliminating body odor by balancing pH levels of your skin. Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar having the “mother” should be used for any health benefit from this wonderful solution. When talking about body odor, you can not only apply ACV to your skin but can also drink it for better results in controlling your sweat production. Take a look at the ways in which you can use apple cider vinegar to kill your body odor.
Ways to use apple cider vinegar for body odor
- Pour undiluted apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and rub your underarms with this before having shower. Wait for 2-3 minutes after applying ACV and then proceed to wash it off or to take bath.
- Add a cup of apple cider vinegar in your bath and soak for 8-10 minutes. This also cures sunburns apart from killing body odor. ACV bath can be taken after a strenuous workout to control excessive sweating.
- Add 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and have it three times a day before meals. If you can’t stand its taste or smell, you may add a little honey to this mixture. This is a good remedy to reduce your excessive sweating too.
- If you suffer from foot odor, add 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar in a foot soaking basin filled with warm water. Soak your feet in this water for 15 minutes. You can do it once every week.
7. Apply Tea Tree Oil for Body Odor
Tea tree is an antibacterial herb and tea tree oil derived from this herb is a natural antiseptic. As we know, antiseptics can kill bacteria and fungi present on the surface of skin. Moreover, this oil has a sweet smell too. Thus, applying this oil to eliminate body odor makes sense. However, some people may have sensitive skin that might irritate with the use of tea tree oil. Such people can always use other natural remedies for body odor. For others, here’s how to use tea tree oil for body odor.
Get this:
- Tea tree essential oil- 2 drops
- Water- 2 tbsp (1 ounce or about 30 ml)
Do this:
- Mix tea tree oil with water and apply this to your underarms.
- If you want to use it as your regular deodorant, store water mixed with tea tree oil in a spray top bottle. Maintain the proportion of water and tea tree oil while making your own deodorant.
Always test your underarm area before using anything new (especially essential oils) by applying a little amount of oil to a patch of skin before using.
8. Sage Herb to Kill Body Odor
There are two properties of sage herb that come handy when talking about eliminating body odor. One is, it reduces the activity of sweat gland thus making you sweat less. Second, it is an antibacterial herb which can prevent bacteria from thriving on your skin. In fact, there is a third benefit too, it has a natural scent which acts as a deodorant. Belonging to the rosemary family, sage has aromatic compound camphor and volatile oils like apigenin, diosmetin, luteolin, and rosmarinic acid. They all work to keep you fragrant all through the day. So, go ahead and use sage herb to get rid of bad body smell.
Ways to use sage for body odor
- Mix a couple of sage essential oil with some carrier oil like olive oil and apply this to your underarms and/ or pulse points.
- Make sage herb tea for body wash. Add 2 tsp of this dried herb in ¼ liter of hot water and steep for about five 5 minutes. Use this warm water to rinse your underarms. Do not use for genital area. Always wash your hands after using sage herb. Never touch your face without washing hands after using this herb.
- Have sage tea but in small quantities. You can make sage tea by steeping 1-2 tsp of dried herb into a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Then strain the leaves and have this tea. Sage tea will help you in reducing perspiration.
A word of caution: When you drink sage tea, don’t have it as a routine and have it in small amounts. Prolonged use of sage herb can cause dizziness, hot flushes and seizures. Totally avoid it if you are pregnant or a nursing mother.
9. Rosemary Herb for Body Odor
Rosemary herb, which is widely used in Italian cooking, can also kill bacteria and fungi apart from lending its fragrance to your body. It is more beneficial when used topically. Here are some ways to use rosemary for body odor prevention.
Ways to use rosemary for body odor
- Take half a cup of of dried rosemary leaves and add it to 4 cups of tap water. Steep it for some time. Then add this water to your bath.
- Ground the dried herb to get powder of rosemary. Use this herbal powder on your body to fight odor and to keep yourself fragrant all through the day.
If you experience irritation after using rosemary, discontinue its use.
10. Wheatgrass Juice Remedy for Body Odor
The chlorophyll present in wheatgrass is what makes it a good remedy for killing body odor. However, due to its strong taste, it sometimes give nauseating feeling to first time users. So start with small amounts and have it on empty stomach to avoid any over reaction.
Get this:
- Wheatgrass juice- 2 tbsp
- Water- 1 cup
Do this:
- Add wheatgrass juice to water.
- Mix well and have it on empty stomach in the morning.
11. Turnip Juice Remedy for Body Odor
A rich source of vitamin C and many other nutrients, turnip not only makes delicious recipes but also helps in eliminating body odor. This is an Ayurvedic remedy and it seems, turnip helps in eliminating odor creating bacteria.
Get this:
- Turnip- 1
- Sieve
Do this:
- Cut the turnip into pieces and then crush them to make a paste out of it.
- Place the turnip paste into the sieve and press to get its juice.
- Apply this turnip juice to your underarms and groin area.
- Let it dry off by itself.
That’s all, this turnip juice application on your most sweating body parts will check your body odor for at least 10 hours or so.
12. Tomato Juice Bath for Body Odor
Tomato is considered to be a natural antiseptic and it can kill an extensive range of bacteria. Ancient Indian medicine, Ayurveda, has long used tomato juice as the remedy for body odor. It recommends using tomato juice in bath water. However, many modern herbalists recommend having tomato juice internally too for getting rid of body odor. They recommend drinking tomato juice three times a day. Here is how you can use tomato juice for bath water.
Get this:
- Tomatoes- 8-10
- Sieve
- Water- 1 bucket
Do this:
- Crush the tomatoes to get their pulp
- Using sieve, extract the juice out of tomato pulp.
- Add this tomato juice to a bucket full of water.
- Bathe with this water.
If you need more water for bath, increase the quantity of tomatoes.
13. Homemade Natural Deodorant for Body Odor
You should not use aluminum based deodorants to control body odor as they may damage your skin. Metals and chemicals can also be absorbed by your body that may lead to various health problems. In place of chemical laden deodorants, make a natural deodorant at home using all natural ingredients. Here’s the recipe.
Get this:
- Sage essential oil- 5 drops
- Coriander essential oil- 5 drops
- Lavender essential oil- 5 drops
- Distilled witch hazel- 2 ounce (about 60 ml)
- Spray top bottle- 1
Do this:
- Add sage, coriander and lavender essential oil to witch hazel
- Mix well and store it in spray bottle.
- Use it as your deodorant.
- Always shake before using.
14. Homemade Herbal Deodorant Powder for Body Odor
Make this fragrant powder to be used as your deodorizing powder and get rid of sweat naturally.
Get this:
- Sandalwood powder- 2 parts
- White oak bark powder- 1 part
- Lovage root powder- 1 part
- Muslin draw string bag (or a pouch made up of fine fabric, tied at top)
Do this:
- Using blender or a food processor, grind all the herbs to make very fine powder.
- Take a pan and toast the powdered herb mix a little.
- Fill your muslin bag or fabric pouch with this powdered herb.
- When using, pat the powder under arms or on feet.
15. Unscented Liquid Alum Deodorant for Body Odor
Many people do not like using scented deodorants but they still want to use them just to get rid of their body odor. You need not do this now. There is this ingredient, alum, which can help you make such unscented deodorant.
Get this:
- Alum powder- 4 tsp
- Baking soda- 2 tsp
- Rubbing alcohol- 225 ml
Do this:
- Mix alum, baking powder and rubbing alcohol.
- Store in a spray bottle.
- Use when needed.
16. Diet Remedies for Body Odor
Diet is of utmost importance, even when it comes to body odor. What you eat will define how you smell. So, you might need to omit certain foods while include another in your diet to get rid of body odor. Here are some suggestions for you to consider when changing diet habits for controlling body odor.
- Drink lots of water. This helps in eliminating toxins from your body so that you do not smell bad.
- Have balanced diet complete with all groups of food- protein, whole grains, fish or lean poultry, pulses, healthy fats, fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Limit consumption of fried meat. Foods that doesn’t digest easily or completely tend to produce toxins in body.
- Avoid process foods. Refined sugar, white flour and fats etc. found in junk foods will lead you to many health conditions including body odor.
- Don’t have much of spicy food. While onion and garlic are beneficial for health, overeating them can lead to body odor.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages, tea, coffee, colas and alcohol.
- Avoid any fried food that has been made in rancid oil.
- Have high fiber diet and avoid those with low fiber content.
- When you eat radish, have a little jaggery too for better digestion.
- Include such herbs in your diet as coriander, parsley, oregano, mint.
- Chew fennel seeds after meals.
- Have turnip or its juice frequently.
- Tobacco causes body odor. Quit smoking and stop using tobacco in any form.
17. Lifestyle Remedies for Body Odor
Sometimes we need to change just some of our habits to get rid of body odor. While diet is really important, if you are having it right then before adopting any home remedy or visiting doctor for body odor treatment, you need to check on your lifestyle. Here are some tips on cleanliness, hygiene and other habits that can help you in fighting with your body odor.
- Bathe daily at least once in a day. Don’t use harsh soaps. Also don’t use soap for longer. If possible, use soaps with natural ingredients.
- Do not wear unwashed clothes. Always wash your clothes once you have used them.
- Closed feet in shoes that are there for long time can give rise to bacteria and fungi leading to odor. Do not wear tight shoes. Also avoid wearing shoes for longer. Try wearing open sandals too.
- Remove unwanted hair from armpit and other body parts where you get more sweat. Hair traps sweat and are breeding grounds for bacteria.
- Manage your stress and anger. They lead to more production of sweat.
- Keep yourself dry. Moist body promotes growth of bacteria. Dry the skin fold properly after bath or when you wash them.
- Wear breathable clothing to avoid trapping of sweat and moisture.
If you maintain proper hygiene and follow the rule of balanced diet, you may not need the help of home remedies for body odor. If, however, you need to use home remedies and then also don’t get rid of body odor, visit your doctor to rule out any chance of some serious medical condition.
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