My pits smell like sweaty feet

[Junegoddess]

Sorry... but they do... and it's kind of all of a sudden. I used to get by pretty well using just a spray mineral deodorant. (Like a deodorant crystal, but dissolved in water, with maybe a bit of alcohol to help it evaporate.) But, during the summer, sometimes I use an actual, evil, anti-perspirant. Because, well... it gets hot and muggy down here, and I don't like soggy shirts. Even when I did get sweaty, I didn't used to STINK. Now, the last week or so, I do. I smell like sweaty boy feet. EW!

I'm not eating differently... it's not any hotter this week than it's been for the last 3 months. I can't think of anything I'm doing differently. Ok... well... I'm taking Dr. Ron's Bella Femme herbs, to balance my cycles out a bit. That's new. Do hormone changes make a gal smell like feet? I'm right about to ovulate, if that matters.

I don't want to use anti-perspirant, but I have a really hard time finding natural products without lavender, and I'm the only person on the face of the planet that managed to make themselves allergic to lavender. And I don't want to smell like... gym socks. So... my first question is... any ideas why I stink? And, secondly, any ideas for other things to hide the smell for the mean time, beyond Alzheimer's-inducing anti-perspirant?

[wombjuice]

I have only used the crystal deodorant for about three years now, and I get the sweaty feet smell, too! I find that it depends on what kind of shirt I'm wearing, and also where I'm at in my menstrual cycle.

It's very hot and humid here, too. I've become a pro at taking off my shirt and bra, wrapping a towel around my waist, and washing my underarms in the bathroom sink.

[mama2tzatziki]

You might want to check over in Natural Body Care. They have many threads on this topic. I have found good success with a deodorant I make myself. Its main ingredients are baking soda, coconut oil, aloe vera, corn starch/arrowroot powder, beeswax and essential oils...

[gabella06]

If it makes you feel better, I haven't changed anything in my diet either, and after not needing deodorant the past 2 years (thank you TF!) and using only coconut oil, I now STINK right through all natural products. I have no clue what the change is. It doesn't matter where I am within my cycle. It's so bizarre. I can't handle it if I'm out during the day, so back to the icky conventional products I go.

[TonyaW]

I found I have to change deodorants every so often. I am using a mineral rock in combination with Aubrey Organics Caluendula spray. It works for now, but I am sure in the future it will stop working. I have used coconut oil in the past and that worked for a while then stopped. I also used other things that no longer work. I don't why this happens.

[quietserena]

Yes, hormonal changes will give you BO. Every time I've gotten pregnant, I've had that 'dirty head' smell that just wouldn't wash away even with washing my hair *daily*. Usually this sort of thing sorts itself out after a while at least for me.

I have no idea why that's happening but since I go without deodorants every now and then, I've noticed that I do get stinkier at certain points in the cycle. I never would have called the smell 'feet' but hey, different noses.

I also notice that when I start drinking kefir after a break, my skin will take on a fermented milk smell.

But then again, I'm particularly sensitive to smells so who knows.

[Mamapits]

Eat lots of greens and get yourself some liquid chlorophyll. You can add a spoon full to a glass of water and drink.

[Junegoddess]

Originally Posted by Mamapits

Eat lots of greens and get yourself some liquid chlorophyll. You can add a spoon full to a glass of water and drink.

I think it's funny to get smell-better advice from someone named "Mama Pits."

Just being silly.

Thanks for reminding me about chlorophyll! I'd forgotten about it's deodorizing effect.

[Mamapits]

Originally Posted by Junegoddess

I think it's funny to get smell-better advice from someone named "Mama Pits."

Just being silly.

Thanks for reminding me about chlorophyll! I'd forgotten about it's deodorizing effect.

I noticed that myself after I posted.

[deditus]

I had no problems pre-pregnancy or during pregnancy, but the first 6 or 8 months pastpartum were STINKY. Strange hormone stuff. I tried chlorophyll and it didn't help at all! I also stink when I'm stressed.
I like Weleda's spray deodorant. Don't use the rose scent if allergic to bees because they really like the smell, too. And don't feel bad, I think I sensitized my dd to lav oil, too.

[godusjourney]

Not sure if this is really good for you or not, but something I have found to be EXTREMELY helpful is to splash-rub hydrogen peroxide on my armpits and just hang out for 10 min., then hop into the shower to scrub up with soap and rinse it all off. It doesn't completely eliminate sweating or stinky-ness, but it sure gets rid of a lot of it. It tingles a bit like when you pour it on a cut, so I imagine it's working on getting all the bacteria out. My mom has used that as her only "deodorant" for as long as I can remember, and she never has stunk.

hth,
Sarah

[Junegoddess]

Verrrry interesting... hydrogen peroxide... I can easily give that a try. And, yeah, I'm stressed. And hormonal. LOL Maybe I just need to get used to my new smell. Eeek... no... I'm going to fight it for a while yet!

[anniegirl]

That's interesting about the hydrogen peroxide!

I've had good luck lately with spritzing with body sprays that have a high alcohol content.

I also wanted to mention (I don't know if this is a problem for you, it is for me) that bacteria can harbor in your t-shirts. Mine smell clean out of the wash, but as soon as I get sweaty the stink comes out! Sometimes my pits don't stink, but my shirt does! I solve this by every once in a blue moon washing all my shirts with 1/4 cup bleach. It kills the bacteria, but it's not enough to fade the shirts. I also dilute it with water in the bleach slot in my machine.

[Mamapits]

Originally Posted by anniegirl

That's interesting about the hydrogen peroxide!

I've had good luck lately with spritzing with body sprays that have a high alcohol content.

I also wanted to mention (I don't know if this is a problem for you, it is for me) that bacteria can harbor in your t-shirts. Mine smell clean out of the wash, but as soon as I get sweaty the stink comes out! Sometimes my pits don't stink, but my shirt does! I solve this by every once in a blue moon washing all my shirts with 1/4 cup bleach. It kills the bacteria, but it's not enough to fade the shirts. I also dilute it with water in the bleach slot in my machine.

You can use vinegar to do this as well. Less toxic and it works

[Junegoddess]

I probably need to wash with vinegar... we have extremely hard water and things don't get clean easily. I add baking soda to pretty much every load, to help out, and Oxy Clean to loads with stains... vinegar every now and then would be a good idea.

I don't do any kind of body spray... I'm allergic to (or at least really annoyed by) perfumes and fragrances. I can't STAND walking by candles in stores... yeurgggh.

[pixlee]

I've also rubbed some baking soda under the pits but not too hard because it can hurt while in the shower and then wash it off. I find that has really helped me.