Natural Remedies for Body Odor

Zinc

Posted by Been (Fountain Valley, CA) on 01/21/2007
★★★★★

Okay...I get severe body odor and I am a vegetarian! I take acidophilus daily, zinc and cal&Mag vitamin, so far I stay away from onions and garlic and I eat a well balanced diet. The best thing that worked for me was zinc. At least 25 mg. I suffered my whole teenage,20's and early 30's with this problem. Drysol worked for sweating but not odor. Now I am pregnant and it is worse! But unable to take all those vits...I bath and wear double t-shirts. It is rough, hard and depressing. But I stay strong and remind myself it is almost over after baby born. Good luck and stay positive.

Baking Soda

Posted by Cibitka (Here&There, EU) on 06/26/2016 6 posts
★★★★★

For those who suffer from rash and irritated arm pits after using Baking Soda as a deodorant:

Make sure that you:
- buy Baking Soda and not Baking Powder (two different things)
- buy Baking Soda that was grinded very finely - the more grainy it is the more possible irritation
- don't apply Baking Soda on freshly shaved/depilated areas (leave the areas rest at least overnight)

My protocol of applying BS:
(I depilate my armpits.)
1. I apply BS in the morning.
2. I take about half of a teaspoon of BS and put it to my palm.
3. I wet the BS with enough water drops to make thick paste.
4. From that palm I take half of the paste amount on fingers of my other hand and I spread it under one armpit.
5. Then I spread the other half of the paste amount under the other armpit, just using the 'original' palm of the hand on which I did the paste. (so I end up with both palms with BS leftovers)
6. I allow the BS to dry out completely before I put on any clothes.
7. I use a towel or cloth to buff away excess BS from my armpits. But I make sure I don't rub. I just pat one or two times under each armpit. I like to do this over a carpeted room, as 1.) BS gets odours from carpets and helps to keep them clean. and 2.) it cracks unpleasantly when walked over on bathroom tiles...
8. Only afterwards I put on clothes.

When following this protocol, I have never experienced any issues with BS and I use it daily for already more than two years.
Also in southern EU countries, which get very hot during summer.

Milk of Magnesia

Posted by Back2nature (Washington, Dc) on 07/13/2012
★★★★★

I have struggled with body odor all of my life. I was always the kid that got the "outdoors" smell after playing. I was using Arrid XX-Dry as a pre-teen. Then, I was forced to rotate deodorants and soaps/body wash to tame the BO problem. Arm & Hammer's Naturals line was working for me up until recently when my BO started to rage. I stumbled upon the MOM solution. I'm not sure why it took me years to locate this type.

MOM gets the job done. Here are a few tips to making MOM cure you BO:

1. Thoroughly wash your trouble area(s) with a CLEAN and/or new cloth.

2. Either use a natural soap or home ready that will clean your arms pits (note: a loofa maybe helpful to in eliminating dead skin).

3. Clean your clothes thoroughly. I used Odoban in my rinse cycle to cut the odor and/or bacteria that may have harvested in my clothes.

4. Get a small spray bottle and add MOM. Apply to clean and dry arm pits. Allow to fully air dry before applying on clothes. For those with darker complexions, applying oils after the MOM has dried will eliminate "deodorant" stains on the arm pits.

Now go out and be BO free :-)

Milk of Magnesia

Posted by Annrae (Manassas, Virginia) on 08/30/2011
★★★★★

This is a miracle! I still sweat from my hyperhidrosis, but the smell is gone!! Even my feet no longer smell! Milk of Magnesium has saved me so much embarassment I can't believe it. As an added bonus, the skin under my arms is no longer irritated and bumpy-it is smooth just like any other part of my body. Try it-it is the ONLY thing that has worked for me!

Baking Soda

Posted by Maria (Bellflower, CA, USA) on 05/23/2009
★★★★★

Gina from Rizal. I have the same problem as yours but I started to have body odor when I was in 4th Grade. It was a rainy day and I grab someone's jacket to go outside. And after that I suffered with body odor. It is humiliating. People cover their nose when I am close to them or when they come close to me. I tried many kinds of deodorant and nothing works. I am socially isolated. I wish I can just go hide in the farm or something but I can't because of my family. I had surgery to decrease the swelling on my hands and armpits but I still stink! A month ago, I had botox done to my armpits, but I still stink!

I was frustrated. I pray to God everyday to help me. My prayer was answered when I searched the web and found this website(Thank you for having this website to people like us). I read this website two nights ago and I went to the store at 1230 am to buy the stuff I need. I was desperate, I used it the following day. IT WORKS! After having my busiest day ever at work, I did not stink. I thank God for showing me this website. My co-worker made a comment that I smell good! It's been 2 days now that I used it and I am elated for being bo free.

Iodine

Posted by Coregon (Medford, Or) on 08/16/2010
★★★★★

This is in response to your great idea for using iodine for deodorant. Using iodine in armpits has other benefits as well. Iodine is known for discouraging breast cysts and is also thought to be a deterrent to breast cancer. Since you use it under the arms.. It will get into lymph glands.. Very beneficial as deodorant and in getting iodine into glands near breasts! (Note: I suggest using the decolorized iodine to avoid "orange armpits" :) If you can't find decolorized iodine.. put some vitamin C powder in a small amount of filtered water and put on over the iodine.. It decolorizes the iodine AND Vitamin C is also a great natural deodorant! I also take Lugol's iodine orally as a deodorizing benefit, as well as the many other benefits of iodine. Have I mentioned.. I LOVE THIS SITE! All these people sharing resources and spreading knowledge.. Wish the world operated this way.. Sharing knowledge and caring for one another in this way!

Iodine

Posted by Hauwa (Abuja, Nigeria) on 02/03/2017
★★★★☆

Use iodine under the the ampit for body odor. Onne application last for a week. This effectively takes off even a very strong body odor. I do not know of any permanent cure for body odor

Severe Body Odor

Posted by Xxunknownxx (South Gate ) on 03/08/2014

long story short , why does my body smell any suggestion would really help , remedies , medicine anything ... here is what I know so far

people thing I'm stupid , because I smell like Shht. they comment all the time ever since I was a child. Yet I am not able to smell my self but am 100% sure I smell. child hood experience , a kid suggested to the class it smell bad, middle school.. High School year , people suggested , it smell like Shht .. I was fat as a kid , I did take showers. I ate alot of process food as a kid, in middle school I became aware of this stench but it was a real toll on my mental strength , grew up anti social because of this , miss most of my school activities , did not do things most kids /teens get to do in life .. had real true friends who stick to me even when people commented how it smell / how someone needs to take a shower / how it smells funky ect .. now I need some help . I want to eliminate this for good .. I want to get my life together but can't seem to ..

questions I need answers to ...

why does a hobo who doesn't shower not smell as bad as me . I pass through homeless people with no sign of a hard core stench that my body seems to emit . also I have realize that it reaches a very long distance like 30 - 40 ft . I have verified it as one time as I was crossing the stop lights. I took no more than two steps and the people in the opposite direction where already coughing ..

question two , I know what we can't smell our self , the same way we can't smell our bad breath . so why is it that I can't smell myself >? not even a little hint as to what people had to suffer through .

question three , I take showers, very long ones , scrubbing the rear end of my tush and my hole body . at the end of my shower I am able to smell the fragrance of the shampoo. I leave the shower smelling like head and shoulders to my nose but the moment I go outside to see if the smells is gone , but not ever one minute goes by that a person walking by goes with out coughing. ill go to stores having people cough , every where I go its all you'll see , people reacting to my body odor .

This has literally ruined all my chances in life , my desire to go to college which I am trying to be toughen up mentally , after high school took 2 years off to get myself mentally ready and hoped that it worred off as I thought it might be some sort of puberty body hormonal change . Yet nothing..

I have change my diet, stop any intake of process food for as much as I can remember , started implementing some good eating habbits, like now I am not as chubby as I was once before , I use to weight 180 now at 143lbs. my diet consist mostly of whole grain rice , beans , some vegetable here and there, 95% consume nothing but water. I have taken probiotic , as I thought it might have to do something with my body flora as I never did take care of myself as a child eating nothing but sugary sweet which lead to me being over weight.

I have taken: chloryphill tablets, charcoal tablets, garden of life probiotics, zinc

yet nothing.

I feel fine, have never gone to the doctor do to financial reasons and due to the fact I have no health care.

I have checked for many reason as to why this can help it , I did some of my homework ,

1st Theory (TmAu) : http://www.meboresearch.org/bodyodor.html

2nd theory (Leaky Gut) : http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/topic/92645-fecal-body-odor-causes-and-possible-cure/

3rd Theory (Candida / Fungus):http://voices.yahoo.com/bacteria-inside-body-causes-body-odor-6392506.html?cat=70

Please, I have tried many things and I need some advice from the geniuses on these forums, I want to change my life, I don't know what being normal is. I have good friends who I owe my life to . never slightly once made a bad remark about my odor , and my family who beleives that I am clue less about it. I try no to worry them, I make it seem as if I don't know , I have mental scars that have help me handle some bad remarks from people so it doesn't hurt as much when I hear some harsh comments. I am very gratefull to have a job , but people are always people , and will always be curious as to why is there an odd person who don't say much , but always stinks up the place, now I will leave it in the hands of faith, and hopefully someone in these forums can help me understand why???? if not than ill do as I have always done and put on my mask, my fake smile and live my life as best as I can knowingly know I smell offensive yet to the eyes not give a single hint that I am aware as I don't react to the smell as others .. my the blessing of your god thank you .......

I JUST HOPE ONE DAY WILL COME WHEN I CAN FINALLY FEEL NORMAL..

Milk of Magnesia

Posted by Leesa (El Cerrito, Ca, Usa) on 11/14/2012
★★★★★

Milk of Magnesia is AWESOME! I have had an odor problem and tried so many things that did not work. I would start to smell after taking a shower? All I know is the MOM works like a charm for me. I emptied one of my old roll-ons and added MOM and ready to go. Must dry before you put your clothes on. Good Luck. Thanks!

Lemon

Posted by Melanie (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin) on 11/11/2012
★★★★★

I was looking at Apple Cider Vinegar uses and came across post. For underarm odor. Rub underarm with lemon, cut the end off rub on, when it looks done cut off the slice and use new end. I have to tell you I was not convinced, but happened to have a lemon so thought what the heck do I have to loose. I used it and went to work, I did take my deoderant just in case. I am blown away! I had really strong body odor and persperation and had to change deoderant often as they would stop working.

This really works for me! No odor or persperation at all. I had to share and thank you to the original sharer! I love Earth Clinic!!!

Chlorophyll

Posted by Maxine (Phoenix, Az) on 10/08/2011
★★★★★

I spent nearly four hours reading everything I could on this site. It was unbelievably helpful, but most of all it made me check out what was going on in my body, supplements I'm taking and their effect, and noting changes in my body. I had an additional problem of urinary incontinence where I would have small leakage during the day. I wore panty liners every day and washed, washed, washed.

After reading on this site, I realized I wasn't drinking enough water and my urine was too strong, so I increased the water, took liquid chlorophyll for the urine odor and vaginal odor and it was 80% better. I haven't used the hydrogen peroxide yet, but bought some to douche with. In the meantime I douched with a little tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract. That helped a lot. Going to do all three (tea tree, grapeseed, and a few drops of chorophyll) and alternate days with hydrogen peroxide. I'll either come out smelling like roses or blow my va jay jay up! I also found out taking B12 causes excessive sweating and stopped taking it. I take a B complex 100 instead. Actually, as you can see, I'm trying to find what will work for me.

I found the chlorophyl really got things cleaned out and started. It's an all around good guy and cleans out unwanted bacteria, gives you more energy as it increases oxygen output, creates healthy blood cells - enriching blood, etc. Etc. Read online its benefits. There are so many. Right now I have no vaginal odor and am doing kegel exercises that's helping the incontinence. Am really grateful to you ladies (and gents?) who cared enough to share. It helps so much to know there are alternatives. God bless you all!

Flax Seed

Posted by Kathie (Houston, United States) on 05/13/2011
★★★★★

I struggled with body odor (it smelled like old lunch meat... To be so discriptive! ). I started taking flax seed for other reasons (fiber intake and hormones). The body odor receded, but I do not know why... Either because I was having more active bowel movements or it changed my hormones. I am just happy I don't stink anymore!

Now, my husband struggles from a sore back, and no, it is not related to a vitamin/ mineral or exercise issue... He stinks! Because he bathes only once a week. If he would only shower more I would not make him sleep on the sofa! Hence the back problem would be solved! LOL

Lime

Posted by Jane (Durham, Oregon, Usa) on 11/08/2010
★★★★★

Fresh limes, (not lemons for some reason unknown to me) cut in half and save half in fridge and use other half under arms and pits at top of legs after shower and allow to dry (I use blow dryer) lasts 2-3 days for me. Three limes of any size a week should be enough unless you are a daily shower person. We are all individual but the salt deoderant stopped for me and I learned of this and it works amazingly for me!! Gotta love it!

Milk of Magnesia

Posted by Cat (Austin, Tx) on 07/24/2010
★★★★★

MOM (Milk of magnesia) as a deodorant works sooo well! Without reapplying, my armpits stay dry and have NO smell. It is all I ever use now. My unconvinced husband, after much cajoling, decided to try it too. He's my big hairy guy who has rotated so many deodorants. They all worked for a couple of hours then quit. Not so milk of magnesia. It works outstandingly for him and he tested it a couple of days, constantly smelling his armpits. It was hilarious. Now, it is all HE uses as well. Bonus? He's more inclined to listen when I give him natural remedies, particularly when they are as cost effective as MOM. I think this much-needed site is pure genius. Peace out!

Diaper Rash Ointment

Posted by Jay (Altoona, FL) on 06/22/2008
★★★★★

I finally found a cure for the bacteria that causes really strong and offensive armpit odor. Desitin cream applied liberally and left on for at least 24 hours has completely eliminated bad armpit odor. This is the same product that many use to help with diaper rash on babies.

Diatomaceous Earth

Posted by MamaBear (Minneapolis, MN) on 02/23/2025
★★★★★

If you are having body odor, including underarm odor, it is a sign that you need to detox your body. I use a high quality FOOD GRADE ONLY diatomaceous earth (DE) powder mixed with water (start with a teaspoon to 8 ounces of water then build up to 1-2 tablespoons per day mixed with 8 ounces water over 2-4 weeks). NEVER take DE that is not food grade, it contains very harmful ingredients!! I mix well and drink it down all at once. You have to increase your water intake when taking diatomaceous earth. I try to drink at least 48-80 oz (3-5 bottles) of water per day. You can also use bentonite clay instead of DE. Taking DE daily gets rid of my body odors of all kinds. It may take several months of consistent daily use but you should see a difference! It works for me! I cannot stress enough that you have to eat healthy foods, exercise and stay well hydrated along with the DE. Stay away from sugar-laden foods and beverages, processed foods, sodas, fried foods and cow's milk. Stay hydrated! Intermittent fasting (6-16 hours) and infrared saunas can also speed up the detox process along with the DE! A real benefit with daily use of DE is that it also gets rid of internal parasites and caused my faded eyebrows to turn dark once again! ðŸ¤— Hope this helps someone out there! God bless! PS: if you have problems drinking plain water try adding lemon, limes, cucumbers or fruits!

Golden Raisins

Posted by Brian (NV) on 10/30/2022
★★★★★

I've found golden raisins to be a miraculous remedy for bad body odor and strong smelling stools. I find the jumbo golden raisins to be moist and taste very good. I find them at Sprouts in the bins. (Whole Foods might have them also, but I haven't checked.) The black raisins work also, but not quite as well.

Lemon

Posted by Maggie (Idaho) on 07/19/2020 36 posts
★★★★★

Lemon for body odor works great. I use bottled lemon juice because I don't normally have fresh lemons on hand. I put some in a small spray bottle and keep it in the refrigerator.