Body Odor
Natural Remedies

Natural Remedies for Body Odor

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Chlorophyll
Posted by Suz (Mendocino) on 09/14/2013
★★★★★

A chlorophyll gel cap every morning and evening has eliminated body odor for me since 1997.


Lemon
Posted by Dale (Picayune, Mississippi) on 11/12/2012

You have to be careful if you have sensitive skin.. I tried this and it burned my under arms terrible.. I was miserable for a week.


Blue Light Therapy
Posted by Bailey (Orlando, Flroida) on 09/06/2012
★★★★★

Here is a thought for everybody... I ordered one of those infrared lights for my face, it is for collagen and skin pigmantation. This light came with 3 different colors red, green and blue. The blue light is for acne and I do not have a problem with acne. After reading how the blue light works for acne.... By killing the bacteria under the skin, I thought well I don't have a problem with acne but I do get a stong underarm odor when I am out in the sun-heat. I know that BO is caused by bacteria so I thought I would give it a try for my underams. When I am out in the sun my BO is strong and different than just working out BO or everyday BO. I normally do not have a problem with BO until I am out in the heat and sun and I will immedietely smell worse than a man. I tried using the blue light therapy on my underarms and the next day-after going outside in hot Florida heat, I did not stink as I normally do when I am in the sun-heat. Now, I haven't had it long and only did it once but I did notice a big difference. It would be wonderful if I found a new cure for underarm BO. I would love to hear if anybody else is willing to try this and hear if it does help or does not help. I ordered mine off of Amazon and you can get a cheap one.... The one I got the wand glides on your skin for 3 minuntes. I would love to hear all responses.


Baking Soda
Posted by Linda (New Haven, Ct, United States) on 09/02/2012

Lynnieme, I had a similar experience with that irritating rash. Several months ago, I decided to replace products in my home with homemade natural ones. I've switched laundry detergent to deodorant and everything else in between over the past few months.

I found many recipes online for natural deodorants. Most had varying amounts of coconut oil, cornstarch and baking soda. I'd read that cornstarch could cause a yeast problem for some sensitive women and that arrowroot powder was an excellent substitution. I decided to use arrowroot, as I didn't know if I would have any problems with the cornstarch and wanted to be safe.

I mixed up a batch and began using it. Like you, I reacted to the baking soda with a red, burning irritation. I went back online to search for a solution to the rash issue. I found a site that recommended I rub the coconut oil alone onto my underarms.

Then it suggested lightly dusting the area with a 50:50 mix of arrowroot & baking soda on top of the coconut oil. I applied mine with an unused round makeup brush that was about 2 1/2" or 3" in diameter.

To help heal the rash that was already there, I began taking 1 tsp turmeric with a dash of pepper in my usual morning & evening protein shakes. I reasoned if turmeric was good for major skin issues (as mentioned on this site), it would surely work for the baking soda armpit irritation I had. Within 4 or 5 days of using turmeric, the rash began to heal and never came back!

The homemade deodorant works wonderfully. Please note it did take a full two weeks for it to work totally. Decades of deodorant and antiperspirant use clogs the pores. Heaven only knows what was trapped in there that worked it's way out over those two weeks! LOL

After this initial armpit "detox" period there was no smell whatsoever. I got through that period by applying my homemade product twice a day, washing and drying the armpit area thoroughly each time. Now, just once in the morning after my shower and I'm good all day!


Detox
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 08/31/2012 2041 posts

For many folks and not to their own advantage, a truncated version of the ideal diet that Lyndsey just posted is really the only practical way to go. In this compromised category of "people-on-the-go" in less than ideal situations, the diet must eliminate, say, the top ten or even twenty most harmful foods and beverages AND incorporate the top ten or twenty most beneficial foods, herbs and beverages. And of course their is conflicting dialogue and beliefs across this subject I.E. dairy or no dairy. With the best and worst foods and beverages taken care of, the next stage would be supplementing (which can become extremely confusing for a novis in this day in time), so the best way to cut that tape is to use the highest quality, most nutritious "multivitamin/mineral" at your disposal. Some brands sport hundreds of nutrients in a single tablet. Two multi's w/ every meal would be standard recommends.


Borax, Coconut Oil
Posted by Michelle (Dallas, Texas) on 05/20/2012
★★★★★

I suffered from severe underarm odor since junior high school. Even though I would bathe several times daily, as soon as I jumped out of the shower, I would still have a musty, onion-like odor. And the more I would worry about it, the more I would smell. Surprisingly, I didn't seem to have as much of a problem with odor when I was working out in the gym. I finally found something to help the odor. I asked my doctor to prescribe sulfacetamide cream, which I applied under my arms on freshly cleaned skin. I then applied Secret Clinical Antiperspirant and then Shower to Shower powder. This helped me for a couple of years, at least. But I began to have an allergic reaction to it. I began getting sore throats and upper respiratory infections because of it, so I had to discontinue use.

So I began researching this site again and found an even better answer for me! I now wash gently under my armpits with borax. (Using soap leaves a film on which the bacteria will eat and multiply, causing odor!! ) I then apply extra virgin organic coconut oil and then sprinkle baking soda on top. Amazing!! NO ODOR! At night after my shower, I just use coconut oil. (Using baking soda twice daily, along with the borax, can be very irritating. ) Keep in mind that you will have to get used to sweating - a good thing. However, you may continue using antiperspirant on top of the coconut oil and baking soda. Hope this helps! Blessings!


Stainless Steel Bar
Posted by Cientxa (Indianapolis, Indiana) on 12/23/2011
★★★★★

This stainless steel soap shaped bar really does work for body odor. I was skeptical when I read about it and my curiosity got the best of me and I ordered one. It works in the shower after bathing with soap. You rub it like deodorant over problem areas and there is no odor all day. It has certainly changed the way I feel about using deodorants, the fact that it is just a piece of metal.I have had a "sweating problem" all my life and this is the first time that something has worked instantly and continues to work daily.


Ammonia Odor
Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 12/21/2011

An ammonia smell coming from your trunk is usually a sign of a liver disease. Have it tested. Get some milk thistle with artichokes. Artichokes scrub the liver. Also, eat meat once a week and go on a fish and chicken diet. Incorporate salads with artichokes. Drink dandelion tea.


Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Amber (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) on 02/08/2010
★★★★★

Milk of magnesium works better than deodorant! Just rub it in under your arms, let it dry and away you go. I have used it for a week now and will continue to do so. Even if you work out hard (you'll still sweat) but you wont stink!

Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Granny Laura (Waco, Tx Usa) on 02/03/2010
★★★★★

I used to have severe body odor before I got tested for allergies and saw a doctor for Candida.

I'm talking about showering using betadine to wash under my arms and then using one of the three "industrial strength" deodorants that I rotated daily. I would still smell "soured" under my arms within 2-3 hrs.

It gradually got better after thousands of dollars worth of medical treatment to get my health better.

From what I have learned over the years...it may be caused by candida and toxins in your body. Try washing w/tea tree soap or GSE (diluted, of course). Try to keep carbs down to 40 gm or less a day. Rotate your deodorants, never using the same one 2 days in a row, the bacteria get resistant.

I don't have that problem now but I still have Candida synmptoms if I don't stay on the anti-candida diet. I found that even a couple of drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract help me to not have BO at all.

Oh yes, if your BO is that bad then your breath isn't going to be fresh, either. Bad breath usually comes from poor digestion, I'm in love w/digestive enzymes just now. lol Those and GSE should help.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mama To Many (Middle, Tennessee, Usa) on 06/14/2013

Hi Mary from Minni - Well, first off, don't be embarrassed about drinking coffee! I would drink it all day every day, except it aggravates my gall bladder, so I am motivated to stay off it. But I do love it - okay, sorry, I am off topic. I asked about the other health conditions as sometimes other things will help with the overall puzzle. And, if you were on a lot of toxic medicines, that could cause body odor. My husband occasionally works with chemicals and afterwards we can smell them coming out of his pores even after he changes and showers. Scary! Slow digestion could cause odor. If you are not eliminating toxins out of your system regularly, you may be having a build up of toxins, which your body could try to eliminate through your skin. Since you have had this problem for so long (bless your heart! ) it may take time and diligence to get it solved. So, I would encourage you to persevere.

First, I would add Apple Cider Vinegar (Raw, unpasteurized) to your daily regime. 1-2 T. Morning and evening. You can add it to water. The goal here is to get your body more alkaline and less acidic. (Disease/toxins thrive in acidic environment. Think of a fish tank, how if the ph is off, the fish die! ) What I do to get my vinegar (which helps a ton of health problems for me and others) is put 1/4 cup in a half gallon mason jar and fill with water. I then add 20 drops of lemon or orange essential oil and 20 drops of Stevia. (I use the alcohol based extract - the other kinds have powder and fillers and such. ) Anyway, I drink my "Vinegar Tea" all day long. (A half a gallon of this a day will cover your water needs and should keep your system moving! ) I love it now. The vinegar has been known to lower blood pressure, so just be aware of that. It also helps people with high cholesterol!

Second, if you can tolerate it, add 1 T. blackstrap molasses morning and evening. It has to be blackstrap. This is a very concentrated form of nutrients. People find it helpful for many things, including constipation.

Third - charcoal tablets. 4 in the morning and 4 at night (but not within 2 hours of any medication as it will adsorb them. ) Charcoal adsorbs (really it is adsorb, and not absorbs) toxins. It may take some time, but I would do this for a minimum of 3 months and it would be very safe to do it indefinitely Some like to add a probiotic when taking charcoal, but I have never had trouble with it causing imbalance. You can get charcoal powder (I am taking about Activated Charcoal Powder from the health food store, here. ) and put 1 t. In a glass of water twice a day instead, but many do not like the grittiness. The most important thing is to find a way you can tolerate taking it regularly. Oh, charcoal can lower blood pressure, too.

Fourth- Epsom salt baths, for detoxifying. 20 minutes in a hot bath with 2 cups epsom salt. Try to get in as deep as possible. I would do this a few times a week. The Epsom salt also is a cure for constipation, so be warned. My toddler empties his bowels within minutes of getting into an Epsom salt bath! You can add lavender essential oil ( a few drops) to make it even more relaxing.

Next - Bentonite Clay - 20 minutes before your shower, mix bentonite clay with aloe or water and make a paste. You can apply this to the armpits to help draw out toxins at the source. Then you can wash it off in the shower. Try this a couple of times a week.

Lalitha Thomas, who wrote, Ten Essential Herbs, would almost certainly tell you that you want to include some blood purifying herbs in your regimine. She would probably recommend Chaparral. I am new to it, but she loves it to detox the body and help all kinds of health problems. You could take chaparral capsules - 4 before lunch and dinner.

Exercise- try to get some exercise at least 3-4 times a week. A mile walk is good. Sweating does help your body get rid of toxins through the skin and is just good for you in so many ways.

Okay, I have tried to list some relatively easy and inexpensive ideas first. All should be safely done together, but to see how your body is responding, I would start one and wait a few days and add the next. The vinegar and the charcoal are the most important, I think. Long term use is where you will see the benefit.

Some harder things but things that may be critical would be dietary. But it is a good time of year for some of what I would suggest. I would encourage you to eat lots of fresh fruit, salads, etc. Avoid sugar, fried foods, processed food, fast food, etc. If you can make your own salads, I would also make your own salad dressing to avoid things like MSG and other chemicals in food that will not be helpful to health. Nuts make a great snack - lots or protein to keep your blood sugar stable. (But watch out here, as many have msg or artificial sweeteners added. ) You could find a chart listing alkaline vrs. Acidic food and try to focus on the alkaline foods. The fruit and veggies will also help keep the digestive system moving.

If you can't get your digestive system to eliminate at least once a day (ideally twice) with the above measures, you could add some of Dr. Christopher's Lower Bowel formula. This has the herb Cascara Sagrada in it which works very well. And it has other herbs in it so it doesn't cause griping pains when you take it.

Some other good all around supplements to help your health would include Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Odorless garlic (counter-intuitive, but it is anti- everything (fungus, yeast, bacteria, viral etc. ) Also, for some reason, I keep thinking Turmeric. Not sure why. But I have seen it help some amazingly with some serious health problems.

Some other things to research would be "oil pulling" (on this website), liver cleanses, anti-candida diet - but I don't want to be overwhelming. Just start with a thing or two, and as it becomes part of your routine, add some more things. It may take multiple different things to help and may take months. But I think we were designed to heal and I think herbs and such were created in part to heal us. But healing can take some time - we healed my son's asthma with simple herbal treatments (nettles and quercetin) but it took a year for him to heal. My little girl's migraines are completely controllable with an herb( feverfew). I sometimes think, How can something so simple work so well? But they do. Sometimes it takes some time to find what works best. It took many months of trial and error to find what helps my daughter's asthma. It was harder than my son's.

Something you can try in the meantime while you are trying to heal is rubbing alcohol. For years, that is all I did for deodorant. I used rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball instead of deodorant. I used it after a shower or as needed. You can even buy at the pharmacy, those little alcohol squares in a little package to keep in your purse for when you need to freshen up when you are out.

Please keep us posted on your progress. I am praying for your wisdom and healing in this! God bless you!
~Mama to Many~


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Teena (Melbourne Australia) on 01/19/2018 233 posts

As per Wikipedia, potassium alum in your crystal deodorant is in fact aluminum.


Multiple Remedies
Posted by David (Tokyo, Japan) on 01/02/2010

Does anyone think that shampoos and soaps actually cause BO? I've been shampoo and soap--free (thanks to borax) for about a year. I change clothes daily, but I often think I don't need to--even socks. Could shampoo and soap be stimulating the body to produce oils to replace oils removed and/or to remove toxins? I'm starting to think so, but does anyone have any thoughts?


Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Ann (Charlotte, Nc) on 12/21/2009
★★★★★

Several months ago I started using milk of magnesia for underarm odor. Just rub a little under the arms and let dry before putting on your clothes. It works great - even better than the antiperspirant I had used for years. It doesn't contain harmful aluminum and and the magnesium is good for you.

Zinc
Posted by Dee (Saint Clair Shores, MI) on 07/20/2009
★★★★★

The cure for body odor is zinc. I heard from someone that if you take zinc you won't stink. Sure enough it works. I take 50 - 100 mg/daily.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jackie (Lawrenceville, GA) on 06/24/2009
★★★★★

Well, because of so many medications I have to take, I have developed embarrassing body orders. I tried the ACV and I couldn't believe it, this really works!!! I put it on 3 minutes before I take a shower. No more deodorants, no more harsh perfumes or other types of chemical. This is my fourth day of using this remedy and I am really happy with the results. I recommend this to everybody:) Thanks earthclinic!


Zinc Oxide Ointment
Posted by Leo (Camrose, Alberta) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★

Zinc Oxide Deodorant: In Dr. Hulda Clark's books, she recommends zinc oxide powder as a deodorant. Over the years it has worked just fine for me. Just place 2 tbs in a small jar and add enough water to make a paste. Smear the past onto your arm pits or groin area. Odour is gone immediately.

There is a bit of residue left on your fingers from smearing it on, but that soon leaves. Or you can use a paint or bingo dauber and not touch the paste with your fingers. If you don't sweat much, the paste will keep you odour free for several days. But it is not antiperspirant, and it washes off quickly in the shower. Zinc oxide can be bought from Self Health Resource Centre in California, and in Canada. It can also be bought in 500 gm sizes direct from Fisher Scientific if you have an account with them. Very inexpensive. Thanks.

Leo
Camrose, Alberta.

Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Marixpress (Bronx, Ny) on 08/29/2009
★★★★★

Just use a hair dryer on cool setting and they'll be dry in a quarter of the time :)

p.s. I will NEVER use anything else on my armpits after MOM! It's a dream come true!


Zinc Oxide Ointment
Posted by Sid Davis (Springfield, Missouri, USA) on 04/19/2009
★★★★★

Get a tube of 20% zinc oxide ointment from a drug store or Walmart. After your shower and dry off, smear this on instead of deodorant. My wife and I have used this for many, many years and NEVER have under arm odor. It works better than any deodorant we have ever used. We don't even need it everyday. I use a dab about the size of two green peas under each arm every other day, but you can experiment with the amount and frequency. If you use too much, your pores might get temporarily clogged, so don't over do it. Zinc oxide is the main ingredient in many diaper creams. It simply kills the bacteria which cause underarm odor.

Cabbage
Posted by Susan (Oakland, NJ) on 03/22/2009
★★★★★

Body Odor: Raw Red Cabbage, I eat about 1 cup a day with olive oil and sea salt. I do not have any odor with or without my natural deoderant. I find it pretty amazing that all I need to do is eat cabbage and I do not have to worry. I am a massage therapist, so I need to be odor free. I refuse to use regular deoderant, so I have been searching for an answer. I also drink green drinks, do applecider vinegar, you name it, I take it or have taken it. None has worked. I am so happy for this find that I needed to share it, so others who struggle with it no longer need to. Hope you try it, you won't be dissapointed.


Vitamin C
Posted by Haycee (Gauteng, SA) on 03/03/2009
★★★★★

Vitamin C for body odour

I have tried several remedies listed on EC for body odour after I suddenly started perspiring profusely this summer and noticed a strong and unpleasant smell coming from one armpit. I stopped using soap, tried ACV, baking soda, coconut oil, witchazel, zinc ointment, green clay, all with varying degrees of success. However, they were no match for the hot and humid SA summer we are experiencing and had to be re-applied during the day.

Two weeks ago, I hit on a simple remedy which works spectacularly well - Vit C. I have been experimenting with remedies to replace soap and hit the jackpot when I mixed one crushed Vit C tablet with about two tablespoons of baking soda and discovered that the mixture prevents body odour. I also use the mix to brush my teeth. Later I discovered that Vit C works well on its own as a deodorant.

Here's what I do: I crush a Vit C tablet (ascorbic acid 500mg), lightly dip a damp finger in the powder and apply to damp skin once a day. One tablet is enough for many applications since you need a miniscule amount to be effective. I have also noticed that it not only prevents BO but also instantly removes any odour if, for some reason, you neglect to apply it in the morning.

Zinc Oxide Ointment
Posted by Cheryl (Wisconsin) on 08/20/2022
★★★★★

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

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


Zinc Oxide Ointment
Posted by Sid Davis (Springfield, Missouri, USA) on 02/01/2009
★★★★★

In the discussion of baking soda remedies, I notices more than one comment about baking soda as a deodorant.

I have not tried barking soda for deodorant, since for the last 20 years my wife and I have used zinc oxide as a deodorant. It works better than any commercial deodorant I ever used. You don't even need to used it every day; just every second or third day does the trick, even in the summer. Never fails.

What I am talking about is the tube of 20% zinc oxide that you can pick up at a drug store or at WalMart here in the USA. Just smear on a little dab under each arm pit after your shower. No stains, no smell, no irritation. If you are concerned about safety, look at diaper ointment; it contains 20% zinc oxide.

The only problem I ever had was when I first tried it and used too much and used it every day and it caused a small swelling in my sweat glands under one arm, I think from blocking perspiration. The swelling went away when I started using it just every other day, on which day I used nothing.

The way I happened on this was my mothers giving me a mineral rock she got at a health food store that was supposed to be used for deodorant. I thought she was nutty, but my wife tried it a couple of times and said she thought it worked a little. We wanted to avoid aerosol and deodorants that contained aluminum, so I looked at the health food store for whatever else they had. Since the mineral rock contained zinc as one of the ingredients, I decided to buy a very expensive cream deodorant that contained zinc as one of the ingredients, and it worked very, very effectively, except that it cost a fortune. I happened to see zinc oxide in a tube at the drugstore for only $0.65 per tube (20 years ago) so I tried it instead of the expensive health food zinc cream, and it worked.


Baking Soda
Posted by Gina (Oslo, Norway) on 01/07/2009

Hi Marie; I also had side-effect of baking soda; but I got rid of my body odor this way; 10-20 g chlorella algae daily for a year; you will notice improvement after a few weeks, depending on how "toxic" you are.

Supplement with B-vitamins and Zink may contribute to healing

I hardly ever have to use antiperspirant any more, but virgin coconut oil + some drops of essential oil works as a deodorant and also inhibit odor.

Ps if you cannot afford chlorella; you may try lugols iodine as a supplement instead. 8 drops daily of the 5 % lugol Then add 400 mcg of selenium and 50 mg of zink daily until improvement; then reduce to 3 days a week.


Grapefruit Seed Extract
Posted by Gean (Salina, Kansas) on 09/09/2008
★★★★★

The best natural deodorant I have found is a few drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) rubbed under the arms. Works perfectly!



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