One thing that can be considered a major turn off by all women is men with bad body odor. Body odor and excess sweating is one thing that is very common amongst men and gone are those days when these things were considered ‘manly’

In a metrosexual world where men are expected to be well groomed it is important that you solve body odor issues and keep them at bay by keeping yourself informed about all you can do to keep it away.
So here is a simple breakdown of the causes and remedies about all you can do about Body Odor.

CAUSES OF BODY ODOR

You might be surprised to know that it is NOT sweat that makes you smell but the bacteria present in your body. Sweat itself is virtually odorless to humans;
it is the rapid multiplication of bacteria in the presence of sweat and what they do (break sweat down into acids) that eventually causes the unpleasant smell. The smell is perceived as unpleasant, many believe, because most of us have been brought up to dislike it. Body odor is most likely to occur in our feet, groin, armpits, genitals, pubic hair and other hair, belly button, anus, behind the ears, and to some (lesser) extent on the rest of our skin.

Two types of acid are commonly present when there is body odor:

• Propionic acid (propanoic acid) is commonly found in sweat – propionibacteria break amino acids down into propionic acid. Propionibacteria live in the ducts of the sebaceous glands of adult and adolescent humans. Some people may identify a vinegar- like smell with propionic acid, because it is similar to acetic acid, which gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell.
• Isovaleric acid (3-methyl butanoic acid) is another source of body odor as a result of actions of the bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis, which are also present in several strong cheese types.

HOME REMEDIES FOR BODY ODOR

BAKING SODA

Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda is a white crystalline compound with many health benefits. Here is how it can help:

• It absorbs moisture from the skin and keeps it dry.
• It acts as a natural deodorant agent to prevent body odor.
• It kills bacteria and neutralizes / alkalizes the body to prevent excess sweating and odor.
• Baking soda will lower the pH level of the sweating parts to counteract the acids in sweat.

Process 1

• Dust baking soda on the places where you sweat the most.
• Let it sit for few minutes to absorb the sweat.
• Discard the excess baking soda and wear clothes as normal.

Process 2

• Place baking soda in a clean bowl and add water to make a fine paste.
• Wet your underarms or affected areas and apply the paste evenly.
• Rub gently for a minute or two and then allow it to sit for about 5 – 10 minutes.
• Shower to remove and repeat regularly.

Process 3 ( With lemon)

• Mix 1 tablespoon each
of baking soda and freshly squeezed lemon juice into a mixing bowl.
• Apply this on your underarms and other body parts where you perspire excessively with either a cotton pad or finger tips.
• Allow it to sit for about 10 – 15 minutes.
• Make sure that not to scrub or rub the skin.
• When dried, have a shower or bath.
• Follow daily for few weeks.

LEMON JUICE

Lemon juice is great for treating body odor. The acidic property of lemon juice helps lower the skin’s pH level, which in turn makes it difficult for odor-producing bacteria to survive.

• Cut one fresh lemon into two halves. Rub one half of the lemon on your underarms. Make sure the juice gets onto your skin. Allow it to dry on its own, and then take your shower. Follow this remedy once daily until the odor is gone completely.
• If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute the juice from half a lemon in one-half cup of water and apply it to your underarms using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then wash it off with water. Do this once daily until you notice improvement.

TURNIPS

Turnips have antibacterial properties that help kill odor-causing bacteria. Plus, they are a good source of vitamin C and many other nutrients that help combat body odor.

PROCESS

• Cut two or three turnips into small pieces and put them in a blender to make a paste.
• Put the paste into a sieve and press it with a spoon to extract the juice.
• Apply this juice to your underarms and groin area.
• Allow it to dry on its own, and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Use this remedy each morning to keep yourself free from body odor for at least 10 hours.
• You can also include turnips in your diet.

TOMATOES

Tomatoes have antiseptic properties that can kill bacteria that cause body odor. They also help shrink pores reduce sweating.

PROCESS

• Gently crush seven to eight tomatoes.
• Press the crushed tomatoes on a sieve to extract the juice.
• Add this freshly extracted juice to a bucket full of water.
• Use it to take your bath.
• Follow this remedy once daily to control body odor.
• You can also drink one to two glasses of tomato juice daily to reduce body odor.

WHEATGRASS

Wheatgrass contains a lot of chlorophyll that has a deodorizing effect. It also helps eliminate toxins.

PROCESS

• Mix one or two tablespoons of wheatgrass juice in one cup of water.
• Drink it on an empty stomach in the morning.
• Follow this routine daily until the body odor is gone.
Warning: As wheatgrass has a very strong taste, it may be nauseating for some people

OTHER FACTS OF BODY ODOR

• Your hair can enhance the odor.
It’s actually not the actual sweat from apocrine glands that creates that smell. Stench-causing bacteria happens to be attracted to that particular sweat. And once they break down the fats in apocrine sweat, the stay-away-from-me aroma appears. The more hair you have, the more surface area bacteria has to cling to, which keeps the smell so pungent.

Foods affect your scent. Garlic, onions, and curry are classic BO instigators that can make your smell even worse.

Overcleansing can make it worse. You can definitely use antibacterial soap and scrub away at your BO hot spots, but don’t go any farther. Some people try rubbing alcohol on those areas, which dries out the skin and causes the body to fight back by producing more sweat.

Stress produces more sweat. Yup. That’s why you might see someone with drenched armpits before they head into a big interview.

QUICK FIXES FOR BODY ODOR

1.HAND SANITIZER
  

Rub hand sanitizer on your armpits. If you are in a really tight spot and need to eliminate body odor as quickly as possible, you can use hand sanitizer to get rid of the smell. To use hand sanitizer as a relief from body odor:

• Squirt a small amount of hand sanitizer into your hand. Use your hand to rub the sanitizer onto your armpits. The sanitizer will help to fight the bacteria that are causing you to smell.

2.OIL BLOTTING PAPER

Use oil blotting paper. If you are sweating heavily and are afraid you might begin to smell, use an oil blotter to wipe up the sweat. These papers are very effective at absorbing moisture, so rub one of the papers under your armpit (or anywhere else you are sweating) in order to prevent yourself from beginning to smell.

3.ALUM STONE


Rub an alum stone on the area emitting the odor. Alum is a mineral that contains properties that can help to fight the bacteria that create body odor. To use an alum stone, you rub it on your armpit much in the same way that you would apply deodorant.[4]

• If you are sweating, consider washing the stone after you have applied it to your skin.
If you would want a specific product to cure odor we would highly recommend Drysol Solutions which has been known
to be one of the best solutions to body odor problems.However if you want something more affordable than Drysol we would recommend Nivea Men Body Deodorizer which is the best antiperspirant in town and is locally available.

* Deodorant kills the bacteria when you sweat, so you do not smell. Anitperspirants stop you from sweating with aluminum, which can accumulate in your body.