by Joseph Hazelbaker

Created on: March 27, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

For most people, beating body odor is a function of clean bodies and clean clothes. Allow bacteria to build up in either one, and body odor will become a problem. You can cover it up to a certain extent, but the root problem will not be addressed.

Despite popular belief, sweat in healthy individuals is nearly odorless. However, sweat helps to create conditions for the rapid growth of bacteria. Antiperspirants can help reduce the sweat and thereby reduce these conditions, but antiperspirant, alone, is not enough.

Deodorants can have two effects: they can cover up odor, and they can kill bacteria. However, the effects of deodorants are limited in duration. Furthermore, the bigger the bacteria problem, the less effective the deodorant. I also should say that certain deodorant scents seem to mix poorly with the body odor of particular people. When this occurs, it seems like the deodorant accentuates the body odor, rather than cover it up.

The best strategy is to make sure our bodies and our clothes are truly clean. The biggest obstacle in this area is our washing machines and detergents. Quite frequently, I have found my washing machine to not be up to the task. I found one tip that has helped out and that is to use less detergent. It sounds ironic, but it's true. My theory, which is consistent with the theories of others I know, although not actually proven, is that when you use too much detergent (even the manufacturer's recommend amount) the washing machine is unable to flush it all away. Particularly with liquid detergent, you are then left with clothing with detergents in the fabric that acts like a magnet attracting and trapping dirt and bacteria. The result is that your clothes get dirtier faster.

Of course, maybe I just need to change my detergent or up the temperature in my washer. But, reducing the amount of detergent has worked too. However you choose to do it, keeping your clothes truly clean and putting them on a truly clean body with a shot of deodorant strategically applied is the best way to reduce and combat body odor.

As an aside, people should also be sensitive to the fact that certain individuals are stricken by conditions or diseases that cause body odor that cannot be helped regardless of how clean they are. My heart goes out to these people. How tough it must be to get by day to day in a society that prioritizes appearance (including smell) over everything else.

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