Health & Wellness with Amy Hazel - Lets Talk BO!

Body odour isn’t actually caused by sweat alone.

Sweat itself is mostly odourless and plays an important role in regulating body temperature, cooling the body and supporting detoxification pathways. BO develops when the bacteria living on the skin interact with sweat - particularly in areas like the underarms where sweat glands are more concentrated.

This is why body odour can change depending on stress, hormones, lifestyle, diet and even the products you use on your skin.

What Can Make Body Odour Smell Stronger?

Stress

Stress sweat tends to smell stronger because it contains more proteins and fats for skin bacteria to break down.

Hormonal Changes

Hormones can influence sweat production, oil production and the skin microbiome, all of which can affect body odour.

Puberty, Pregnancy & Postpartum

These stages involve major hormonal shifts, which is why many people notice changes in BO during these times.

Food, Alcohol & Medications

Certain compounds from foods, alcohol and medications can be released through sweat and alter body smell.

Over-Cleansing the Skin

Over-scrubbing or using harsh antibacterial products can disrupt the skin microbiome and sometimes make odour worse over time.

Deodorant vs Antiperspirant

A lot of people use these terms interchangeably, but they work differently.

Deodorants are designed to reduce or neutralise odour-causing bacteria.

Antiperspirants use aluminium salts to temporarily block sweat glands and reduce sweating.

From a naturopathic perspective, we don’t necessarily want to completely stop sweating. Sweating is one of the body’s normal ways of regulating temperature and eliminating waste products.

Current research has not proven that aluminium antiperspirants directly cause diseases such as breast cancer or Alzheimer’s. However, there are still ongoing discussions around long-term exposure, skin irritation, disruption to the skin microbiome and inhalation exposure from aerosol sprays.

Spray deodorants may also expose the lungs to fine particles, fragrances, alcohols and propellant gases — particularly with repeated daily use in enclosed spaces.

Natural Ways to Support Body Odour

Sometimes supporting the body overall can make a noticeable difference to BO.

Things that may help include:

• Wearing breathable fabrics

• Washing sweat off after exercise

• Supporting gut health and digestion

• Managing stress levels

• Reducing ultra processed foods and excess alcohol

• Checking zinc or magnesium status if needed

• Choosing gentler non-aerosol deodorants

  
  

We’re lucky enough to live in a time where there is such an abundance of easily accessible natural deodorant brands available. Options like No Pong, Woohoo Body and Eco by Sonya are just a few popular choices for those wanting to reduce their use of aerosol sprays and aluminium-based antiperspirants.

If body odour has suddenly changed, feels excessive, or is impacting your confidence, it can sometimes be worth exploring underlying factors like hormones, stress, gut health, nutrient deficiencies or overall health.

If you’d like personalised naturopathic support, you can book in with me to explore possible underlying drivers and create a plan tailored to you. www.amyhazel.com