Natural Remedies for Body Odor

Baking Soda (use as a deodorant)

I read somewhere online that Bicarbonate of Soda absorbs odours and I always put a bowl of it in the fridge to keep it fresh, so I thought I would give it a go as a deodorant. I was amazed to find that it really works. I just ran some tap water over my fingers, dipped them into the Bicarb and patted it under my arms after a shower. I couldn't believe that there was no odour all day, at all, and even the next morning before my shower. It stung a tiny bit because I had just shaved my armpits so the next day I tried the Bicarb again but this time I put a couple of drops of Grapeseed oil in the palm of my hand, added a couple of pinches of the Bicarb and made a small amount of paste which I then rubbed under my arms. It worked even better as the oil was soothing. You do have to use a really tiny amount. You could always dust more on later dry if you thought you needed it but I didn't need to. You could also add one drop of your favourite essential oil if you wanted to smell of something. I will be using Bicarb as deodorant from now on as it is so cheap and natural.

Just wanted to comment on the baking soda as a deodorant. I discovered this trick about a month ago trying to think of something i could use after waxing because it's advised not to use deodorants due to open pores. I usually use a drop of lavender oil and the baking soda in the palm of my hand after showering. Works great!

Hi! I am suffering from terrible b.o and bb too. I also notice that I get a sour stomach. I am chronic asthmatic, due to my medication I am constipated. I also have migraine, had a mild stroke too. What is the best advice you can give me. Thank you

Hi Jaya, Sounds like you have a lot of internal cleansing to do. I would check out the many detox remedies here on EC- and there are many!

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/detoxification.html

You may also be dealing with systemic candida which could easily have occurred with all your medication.

http://bodyecology.com/candida-quiz/

Also, work on cleaning up your diet.

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/diets.html

And look into the Body Ecology Diet which you can google and learn an incredible amount on their site including recipes.

I just helped a friend over the course of 9 months radically change her lifestyle. She was plagued with migraines and had been on migraine meds for over 3 years. She would often hear me speaking on various issues and remedies and diet but wouldn't say too much. Then one day she asked me if I could help her revamp everything and she was ready to finally take that step. She went to my acupuncturist who she then began working with twice a week. The migraines began to abate but she continued on her meds. I encouraged her to wean herself off and she did. Next step was changing her diet and cooking her own meals 3x a week for her family. The family loved it and it encouraged her. Three weeks ago she began to explore superfoods and has fallen in love with them. Everyday, she comes into her ballet class enthusiastic and full of life now! She tells me everyday how different she feels.

So, I encourage you to take the first step to change your lifestyle and restore your health. It can be done with commitment and encouragement. Wishing you the best of health, Lisa

Hydrogen peroxide diluted in a spray bottle. Spray on body after shower, this will kill the bacteria that is causing you body odor.

Cure for Under Arm Odor That Works!!

To solve under arm odor, at the end of my shower I use plain vinegar under my arms (not apple cider). I use a palm full under each arm (I keep it in my bathroom in a plastic bottle). It really works and lasts a day or two!!! I tried it in summer (August)!!

I did not try it to run a marathon or engage in a lot of exercise. You have to let it dry for the vinegar smell to go away, but IT REALLY WORKS!!!!!!

Noelle, u r a funny man and I enjoyed ur post. im gonna do it just like you did, but I will have to get some grip tape for my shower. I dont wanna defeat the purpose by trying to get rid of b/o and break my neck dancing in the shower. That would be like the pharmicuticl companys saying here take this it will help with ur depression but whoops it destroys ur liver, just a minor side effect.

hagi from canada it is very nice to know about the results of ACV and I tried this product it really helped thank you earth clinic for this wonderfull website

Thank you for this great remedy! I started it this morning with an old recipe my mother came up with in the 1970s for us kids in order to get more vegetables and fruits into our bodies. Blend 1 apple (I used granny smith), 1/2 cup cabbage chopped and 1/2 cup (or more) of distilled water. It was far more than I could eat at one go, so I have stuck it in the fridge and plan to eat it throughout the day. Oh, my mother also added blueberries and other fruit to the blender as well as some honey. But for me, just the apple and red cabbage is quite yummy! Will report back in a week or so and let you know my results for underarm odor.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi guys, i found this site a few months ago when i was looking for a body odour cure. I have this really bad odour...it stinks from miles and no amount of bathing or scrubbing helps.I have tried applying baking soda on my armpits...it worked wonders. the smell was totally gone. BUT, it always left huge white circles in my clothes which was so embarassing. So i tried the acv on my armpits before showers... this does not help at all... i still stink!! PLSSS help... my BO is killing me and everyone around me!!!!

try bathing with grandpa's pine tar soap and then using the baking soda. a good way to use the baking soda is to mix it with a little virgin coconut oil and smear this paste under your arms. both baking soda and VCO help with odor - so you will be getting a 2 in one - and the baking soda will stay where you put it this way. let it sink in for a few moments b4 dressing.

another thing that you can try - are those crystal deodorant stones. i use one of them and it works for me.

oh and i just re-read your post - if you want to use ACV as a deodorant - you need to apply it after your shower instead of before.

In response to Veronica from Singapore: I would take a look at what you're eating. If you eat mainly fresh veggies and fruit and overall a more natural diet, I think you're b.o. issue will diminish greatly. A raw vegan diet will help a great deal with body odor.

Hello Veronica,

If you haven't already tried leaving off soap to get rid of that body odor, please do so. If you do decide to try this, put a cup or two of apple cider vinegar in your bath water to get the soap you used in the last bath off your skin or you'll still stink a day or two after you stop using it. All you need for keeping the body clean is water and a good thick, all cotton wash cloth. You can always use a loofah sponge if you feel like you need to scrub clean. I would also suggest you leave off any smelly stuff you have been using like perfumes, lotions, colognes, etc.

Add an essential oil to it!

ask your doctor for a prescription for hypercare, it is for excessive sweating and it really works!!! Apply it everywhere you have sweat and odor problems read psalms 46:1 love u

Hi, Haycee. No, it's not the fizzy kind but a tablet you chew on. So far so good. I have found that it lasts as long as you shower. If you don't reapply it doesn't last. One application of apple cider vinegar last through at least 2 showers. Thanks for the tip about wounds. Great to know!

WARNING!

Warning about the zinc oxide ointment for body odor. I agree, it works great. I've been using it for the past 2 weeks, every other day like one of the posts suggests. But... it's not just zinc oxide you're applying -- there's also light mineral, white beeswax and white petrolatum listed as ingredients. Not great things to have absorbed near your armpit lymph nodes! After reading the contents on my tube this morning, I may go back to ACV even though the zinc oxide has been great.

Couldn't agree with you more. So I make my own.

2 oz. Shea Butter, 1 Tbsp. Argan Oil, 2 Tbsp. Zinc Oxide Powder.

I LOVE this site! AMAZING! Yes, the ACV works miracles for under-arm BO. I mean, I haven't used deoderant in days!! I'm so glad b/c I was tired of putting toxic aluminum crap on my skin. I just dab some ACV on a cotton ball, apply it to my pits about 3-4 mins before I get in the shower, rinse off and I'm good for the WHOLE day! And the nght! I usually sweat a lot at night, so that was the ultimate test.I mean NO ODOR. It's wonderful..

Hi,i tried 2 used baking soda yesterday in the afternoon after my shower, but after a several time my armpit sweat, and had a bad smell again,why this happen to me? I thought this remedy cures my bo..What im gonna do? How many baking soda put in my armpit? Anybody could help me in this problem?

Have you tried applying a mix of corn starch and baking soda? This mixture seems to have done the trick for me, it is very soothing, and takes care of any odor issues.

A cheap Milku 2in1 underarm and foot powder solved my smelly and sweaty armpits. It reaaly worked and im happy with it. One day when I used milku powder it controlled my heavy sweating but there was a bit only of sweat, after class I smelled my armpits and they did'nt smell bad promise! :) I was amazed. You can buy milku at watsons drugstore in the powder section :)

I am a new member and I used the Apple Cider Vinegar remedy for underarm odor and I am shocked that it works. I must use it daily; otherwise, it doesn't work for me. I would also like to mention that some cause of body odor is caused by a condition called Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) - it is a rare metabolic disorder. There is much information online about it. Good Luck and thanks agains for the ACV remedy.

Please help me! i'm now confused on what i will use to prevent my BO.. cause there's so many procedures and chemicals that has been written by some and now, i really do not know which is the best. i don't want to try it all because some products are hard to find. i actually tried baking soda, it's pure sodium bicarbonate and it really helped me to fight BO on the first day but now, i want to stop from using it because i've got irritations under my arms. it's like red rashes and when i apply baking soda,my underarm gets painful. it felt like it's burning! ouch! now, i don't know what's the cure for this SILLY BO and also the cure for the red angry rashes because of the baking soda? i really want to remove this BO because i don't want to be away from other people just because i don't want them to smell my BAD odor. i really appreciate those who will be able to reply on my problem.

You might try borax. This is a main ingredient in bathing salts, so it can't be too tough on your body. You can put it in a bottle and let it soak for a day or so that it's kind of like a soft mud. I noticed that since I started using borax (after reading some entries on this site) instead of shampoo/conditioner and body soap, the BO has really gone down, dandruff and rashes have gone away, and I like the way my hair feels. I have to wonder if the residual chemicals on my body in typical shampoo is a factor in BO and other problems.

For irritated armpits, use eucerin ointment at night time to heal the area. I used eucerin also during the day to protect the skin around the armpit area that is inflamed. I also used an unscented antiperspirant to cover the area around the armpit to provide a protective film so the baking soda would not burn that area...very effective. Now I am trying desitin ointment as suggested on this site..so far very good...more confindence...hope this helps someone.

Try dabbing apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball under the arms before you get in the shower. Wait 2 to 3 minutes, then wash it off but don't use soap. I've been doing this for a few weeks now and found it is much better than baking soda for body odor. It actually lasts 2-3 days - unbelievable! I shower as usual in between applications but don't use soap on my underarms. 3 days has been the max so far before the body odor returns.

Hopefully you can find apple cider vinegar in the Philippines. Doesn't have to be organic either. (I don't use it). Good luck!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Body Odor

This is in response to Marie...I did try using Baking Soda for a few days and got the same reaction. It started with itchy, red rashes and that burning sensation. I completely stopped using it. Then those red rashes turned into a much darker color. Here's what you might want to try, which I am actually doing now after reading it from one of the comments. Take a couple cotton balls, one for each armpit, and saturate it with apple cider vinegar (better organic if you can find some). Rub on the cotton ball for few seconds and leave it alone for at least 10 minutes or as long as you want before you shower or rinse. Do not use soap, just run the water down to wash out. In my experience, I get a good coverage all day long. Please give it a try for a few days and I would love to see you post your feedback.

I'd suggest trying Apple Cider Vinegar-just apply it to a cotton ball before showering,wait 3-4 minutes,and rinse.I've seen someone here suggest not using soap-try both ways,(with and without), and see which works best for you.I really hope this helps! Good Luck!

1/06/09 to marie from cavite phillipines. Marie the bo and rash may be something coming out from the inside. Try cheap grocery apple cider vinegar under armpits while showering ( acv 1st) wash everything else then come back to armpits and rinse w/ water ONLY. If you are not alreay on internal cleansers listed on this site (i.e. acv, obs, flax seed, H2O2,etc.) try one or two ( acv w/ organic baking soda (bs takes sourness out of acv)), to start and see if you don't feel better. the rash can be indicative of candida sometimes when it's in an area that we sweat heavier. many blessings, I hope this helps.

thank you all for your time and effort on how to solve my problem. i am planning to buy ACV at the supermarket but i really hope that there is apple cider vinegar there and im hoping that it'll work on my underarm.. but to become 100 percent sure, i have to consult first a dermatologist. so that this irritation and rashes won't happened anymore. and i'm planning to tell my mother about this also 'coz she didn't know about the rashes that had occurred in my armpits. i don't want her to know about my problem as much as i could handle it but i think in this case, i should tell her immediately to help me solve it. again, thanks for all your suggestions! i do appreciate them all! thank you guys! :)

Zinc oxide worked for me. I followed the instructions from Sid under the Zinc oxide ointment heading at the last of this section. I was totally amazed at how well it worked, since it is not even sold as a deodorant, but a skin cream. Live and learn.

I upped my intake to 75mg before bed & I see no difference.

Which ACV exactly should I buy? Can anyone tell me which works for you? Should it be diluted or filtered?

Lynda, I would highly recommend buying an Organic, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, since filtered processes out a lot of the beneficial enzymes, as well as "the Mother", and unless you like an EXTREMELY tart, acidic taste in your mouth, I would highly suggest diluting it. Earth Clinic has an ACV Recipe page for dilution instructions.

I myself like to buy ___ Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, although I have tried ____ when my store was out of stock as far _____'s. Those two are the one's I would personally recommend, as both are Organic, both are Unfiltered, and both definitely get the job done :-)

I have face some irritation on both of my armpits problem after applied the Natrium Bicarbonate as suggested from your Earth Clinic website to use Baking soda to prevent body odour. Besides that, it was wet on both of my armpits after sweating even though it claimed that will stay dry after application. The baking powder i purchased contain 100% sodium bicarbonate even though they labeled it as " Natrium Bicarbonate" .May i know what is the content for the Baking soda that you suggested. As in Malaysia, the baking powder for cake preparation contain natrium bicarbonate, sodium & flour. Or should I mix in some flour / body talcum if I'm using the Natrium Bicarbonate. How about the correct way to use Baking Soda? As it won't able to stick on the armpit after application even though I wet my armpit before hand. Or shall I mix it with water before application??

Hi, Sharon. I also experience irritation with the baking soda on the armpits, especially if I apply it after shaving. I've tried all methods - wetting it, applying it dry. What works best is to wait a few hours after shaving then apply a very light dusting to the armpit. I believe the irritation happens because of the clumps in the baking soda, so trying grinding the b/s down in your palm as finely as possible before applying it.

Baking soda is definitely NOT an anti-perspirent. I do question why people want to stop perspiring. I don't think it's healthy. The body needs to sweat out toxins through the pits!!

Good luck!

Hi Mary, thanks for the feedback. Emm, I will sweat a lot even though staying in an air cond room as no proper air ventilation as the air cond been set with very high temperature by other colleagues even though Malaysia is a hot & humid country. After sweating, found that the sodium bicarbonate will melt and leave on both my armpits. Is that mean that I need to wipe it dry and re-apply the sodium bicarbonate again through out the day? Other than sodium bicarbonate, is it advisable for me to add in some cornstarch? Im so desperate to cure by BO problem which been haunted me for years since my high school days. Thanks & take care Sharon :P

Hi Sharon,

Here is my recipe for a baking soda deoderant:

1/4 C Cornstarch
2T Kaolin Clay
2T Baking Soda
1/4t Lavendar Essential oil

Shake well (until Essential oil is mixed in pretty well) then let sit overnight.

I apply this with a powder puff under my arms and haven't had any problems.

Sharon, I don't think you would need to reapply the sodium bicarbonate after sweating since it lasts all day (until you shower it off). Also, I would also warn against using any kind of talc under your arms. It is a known carcinogen. I read about someone applying apple cider vinegar to his armpits before he got in the shower, then rinsing it off so you might look into that. Also look into your diet. If you have bad body odor since high school, it may be something you're eating every day. Onions cause bad body odor for me. The more I eat, the worse it gets! Took me a long time to make the connection. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Dear all, Thanks a lot for the reply & idea. Yeah maybe I should cut down onion, garlic , egg, dairy products in my diet. Yeah, I tried apply the honey vinegar at night, but maybe due to the sugar content that's why I felt sticky. Currently, I stopped using Baking soda for temporary & stick back to the deodorant and see what's the result. Besides that, I just started taking "Fitorac", it is a powder form of health supplement which consist of 21 kinds of organic vege & fruits. The main function is to detox & nourish the liver. It is a product from Elken, maybe you all can check it out. Hopefully I will help me to detox & eliminate my BO. By the way, Kate where can I get the kaolin clay?? Thank you & keep in touch. Sharon :P

Hi Sharon,

I think most Health food stores carry it. If not, you can probably purchase it online. Not sure, but you could possibly do without it. You were already wondering about adding cornstarch to the baking soda, which is what reminded me of my recipe. Maybe you should try the baking soda and cornstarch combo and let us know if that works? I know bo isn't something you want to test too much, tho. Good luck finding what you like best.

Sharon, don't add honey to the apple cider vinegar when you apply it to your armpits! The remedy does not call for honey, just straight up apple cider vinegar. Apply acv, wait a few minutes, then get in the shower and wash it off with water, not soap. That will hopefully work great for you.

I've tried several natural deodorants and none seem to work. Apply Witch Hazel ( I use Thayers Brand) on a cotton round after a shower. Works all day. Reapply after workout. Also a good toner for your face.

Mona....please tell me exactly how you apply ACV and BS to underarms...this sounds fantastic

Lime or lemon works great as well. Just cut a fresh lime of lemon and rub it on the underarm and the odor will disapear. You must reaply every day but it cuts the odor. Fresh juice only ond not the bottled kind.

This works! Since high schools I've had times when I get a rash from deodorant, which in turn causes a musty body odor problem. This doesn't happen all the time, but at least once a year. It's horribly embarrassing, and I've never found relief other than to just wait for it to clear up.

I had this problem beginning 4 days ago and tried everything including ACV, mouthwash, tee tree oil, corn starch. Nothing worked and my underarms just burned and smelled all day. I was washing them 4 or 5 times a day with no relief.

I read this cure this morning and tried it right away. INSTANT results. No more odor, burning, or discomfort. Thank you so much for this. I have seriously never found a cure for this issue.

I think this mixture will now replace my deodorant. I feel fresher than ever.

Thank you so much for this website!! I have finally found a solution to my BO. I used to have really bad BO and I tried all the deodorants and antiperspirants but nothing worked as quick, as good and as long as pure baking soda.

Antiperspirants worked but they have aluminium and they left a layer of gunk on my underarms which I wasn't comfortable with. I used deodorants which would work OK for a few hours but eventually by the end of the day, even in an air conditioned office with temperature control the stink would get mixed up with the deodorant smell to make up for a really horrible smell.

Baking Soda worked perfectly the first day I tried it!! It does both things the way it's supposed to:
1. It lets me sweat as it's naturally supposed to happen and
2. No bad smell all day!!

For me it has been a miracle cure.

I had tried several brands of natural deodorant and none of them worked. With any small amount of strenuous movement they immediately wore off (not a fun experience when you are around people). I tried the hydrogen peroxide & baking soda which did work, but it was a little messy applying the baking soda. Currently I'm using Thai Cyrstal deodorant which seems to be doing the job and it's much easier to apply then the HP & BS. I haven't done a full sweat filled workout to see how well the it holds up, but there have been a few hot, sticky days when I was out moving around quite a bit and so far, so good.

Hey, does this really work for underarm odor?

Can it only be that one brand that u mentioned? Thanks Meka

I had a large container of activated charcoal sitting in my cupboard the last 2 years that I rarely touch. I decided to give it a shot for body odor after reading about it on Earth Clinic. Yes, it works! You need to give it 2 days to get into your system before you notice the difference, then you need to maintain a dosage every day.

I do have a few side effects to note: Activated charcoal is best taken on an empty stomach, but I do not suggest taking it first thing in the morning. I drank my heaping tablespoon in 8 oz of water 2 days ago, then oil pulled. I ended up gagging up acid after 2 minutes of oil pulling. Yuck. This was interesting because I read that charcoal is actually a remedy for Acid Reflux! Well, then I changed to taking my charcoal in the middle of the day, before lunch. That seems to work. However, it does give me a slight stomach ache. You might also try taking it at night, several hours after dinner.

One benefit to the charcoal besides not having to use deodorant or baking soda (that irritates my skin, I must admit) is that I seem to sweat less when I have this in my system. It may be a remedy for excessive sweaters, I don't know... worth a shot. And it is a general detoxer, so that's a good thing in this hot and humid weather. Question for regular users of charcoal. Do you take it every day or is it something you need to stop every so often? Thanks!

WARNING!

A follow up to my post. Please be careful if you try activated charcoal! I was getting stomach pain 20 minutes after every meal. I finally figured out that my stomach pain started after I took activated charcoal (heaping tablespoon for 2 days in a row - not a lot!). I located the pain in my stomach, found a little lump in the colon, and then used my fist to move the lump to the left. A day later my husband took over, found the lump,(which had moved slightly) and did acupressure for about 2 minutes on the spot-- ohhh yes, it hurt. But within minutes I had to run to the bathroom and the rest is history. No more stomach pain. So please be careful with the charcoal, especially if you have a sensitive stomach! I think that people's stomach aches can be often be an impacted colon. The same thing has happened to me before after eating bread and another time, after drinking psyllium without enough water!

If you press on your stomach and have a painful spot that moves slowly from one day to the next, you may have clogged your colon/intestines. Tons of water helps, but acupressure massage is best to move the obstruction to your bowels and out. One last note is that I was having normal bowel movements even while my colon was impacted, so don't rely on that (constipation or elimination) to judge, but more on the location of pain and whether or not a little lump exists.

This was happening to me before the charcoal. I had severe pain on my lower left. Sometimes the pain would come before my cycle, so I assumed it was that. However, lately, the pain would be random times during the month. This last time was so severe that I decided to use my fist to massage the area, and I could feel the knot. I was/am terrified. 20 minutes later, I was going to the bathroom. After that I began looking for causes and remedies... I am cleansing now with charcoal, and I am on a high fiber diet. I can honestly say I feel and smell much better.

I am a believer! I have been using Baking Soda as a deodorant for the past couple days and I am tickled pink with the results!

I can't believe I've suffered with boils (from my foliciles being packed with deodorant residue) and stinky pits for the past couple years and this was all I had to do. All the scrubbing and shaving in the world didn't get me these result. I tried numerous deodorants and antiperspirants to no avail, then gave the crystal a whirl. That worked for a while much to my delight. But I think that something in my chemistry changed which then stripped me of the progress I'd made.

Not knowing what else to do, I typed in "perspiration and natural remedy" and found this site! I am eternally gateful! I won't even get into the savings I'll have now from not buying the expensive ineffective stuff.

I will spread the word!

I am happy that someone else is excited about using Baking Soda as a deodorant. I have posted that I have been using it successfully for the past months. I also mentioned that I use VCO when I have to shave because I do not believe it would be wise to use it after shaving. I am a believer and have been spreading the word slowly - can be a sensitive topic!!!

What is the recipe for the ACV and baking soda. Is it safe to drink it?