Summer for me means twice daily showers, putting mini perfumes in all my bags, and conducting regular sniff tests in my car. For even the cleanest amongst us, however, body odour might still be a problem. Here are a few weird reasons why you might be smelling bad and what you can do about them:
You're using an antiperspirant
If you're someone who struggles with body odour then you've probably spent most of your life buying deodorants with antiperspirant action and taglines promising '48 hour protection' and 'ultra dry technology'. But what if I told you that, ironically, these antiperspirants are actually making your body odour worse?
Here's a little sneak peek into what's going on in your underarms. Your skin is covered with bacteria which thrive in warm spaces like your underarms. Although bacteria are essential for our skin health, when some types of bacteria combine it results in an odour. Specific strains of bacteria make this smell worse.
When you wear antiperspirants over a long course of time it affects the diversity of bacteria in your underarms, possibly resulting in more of the type of bacteria that causes a bad odour. This is because of the aluminum salts found in many deodorants, which don't allow you to sweat and disrupt the balance of bacteria.
The solution
Switch to a natural deodorant that respects your skin's microbiome! Aside from helping your body to return to its natural sweet-smelling self over time, this is also great for anyone who has sensitive underarms or uses hair removal methods such as laser or waxing.
A few years ago, I wouldn't have told anyone to switch to a natural deodorant because I couldn't find an affordable one that worked well anywhere. That was before I discovered Apivita Bee Fresh deodorant! It uses propolis and other smart active ingredients to specifically target the bacteria that cause odour. It promises 24-hour deodorant protection and it certainly delivers.
For the first few weeks after making this switch your body odour might be worse until your microbiome is restored, so make sure to carry your deodorant with you for easy top-ups on the go.
You're wearing the wrong fabrics
I make no secret of my hatred of fast fashion. Not only is it awful for the planet and a complete violation of human rights, but the fabrics used to make the clothes feel awful on the skin. This is because these fabrics are, more often than not, synthetic. Synthetic materials are cheaper to mass produce, which is why they're so popular with the big fast fashion companies.
Synthetic materials such as polyester are great when it comes to winter wear because they trap body heat and are often water resistant. While they're water resistant, they attract the oil and odour-causing bacteria produced by your body, making them smell awful when you wear them during the summer as your body naturally produces more heat. Heat which is trapped by your clothing, causing you to sweat more and feel hotter.
The solution
This is a bit tricky because natural fabrics are becoming harder and harder to come by, even if you're willing to pay more for a piece of clothing. When you see clothes titled 'linen dress' or 'cotton shirt' a closer look at the label will often reveal that they're made of 90% polyester and only a small percentage of natural fabric.
I would recommend checking out charity shops as older clothes are more likely to be made of natural fibres. You can also find cotton shirts and dresses in some fast fashion stores, just make sure to check the composition of the fabric before buying.
Cotton shirts are the best for keeping you cool during the summer. I normally buy men's shirts with long sleeves because, contrary to popular belief, they keep you cooler in the summer because they keep your skin sheltered from the sun. It also helps that an oversized shirt is perfect for achieving that effortless 90s supermodel look.
Do you have any other tips for smelling fresh all summer long? Help the rest of us out and leave them in the comments below!
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