Underarm odor or underarm smell is a grossly underestimated problem that a lot of people suffer from. Even if you are a highly hygienic person, you can suffer from underarm smell, which can be irritating for the people around you and pretty embarrassing for you as well. However, worry not, for there are a number of effective home remedies for underarm smell that you can use to get rid of the problem once and for all.
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Underarm smell can occur in those people who have overactive sweat glands. It might also develop in teenagers who are going through puberty, and often, chemical deodorants aren’t enough to combat the problem. Here are some of the most effective, yet nature home remedies for underarm smell that can help you be hygienic and save you a lot of embarrassment as well.
Suggested read: 20 Effective Home Remedies For Body Odor
1. Take a shower every day
Believe it or not, taking a bath every day can work wonders in keeping underarm smell as bay. Because the armpits are a place that does not get fresh air constantly and is in a stuffy place, the chances of your sweat glands working overtime are higher. There is also the chance of greater bacterial growth in your underarms. A shower a day can keep your skin feeling fresh and smelling better, than if you didn’t take a bath every which would lead to accumulation of dirt, grime, sweat and all kinds of unpleasant things.
2. Apple cider vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar has neutralizing properties which can help neutralize the odor in your underarms, and keep it fresh for longer. This makes it an effective and all natural deodorant, which doesn’t have a smell of its own, but it can get rid of the bad odors from your underarms. Simply fill a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar. You can even add some water and lime juice to the vinegar for even more freshness. Spray your armpits with apple cider vinegar before you leave the house, to ensure minimum sweat release and no bad odors.
3. Don’t shave your underarms
One would think underarm hair causes the unpleasant underarm smell. However, that is not the case at all. In fact, the opposite is true. There is a reason you grow hair in your armpits. The hair not only keeps the skin from coming in touch with irritants or stimulators that could increase the activity of the sweat, it also protects the armpit. Also, while shaving, things like wax, razors, shaving cream and lotions could all irritate the skin, and while your underarms may smell really good immediately after, in the long run, shaving could add to your underarm smell.
4. Witch hazel
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What causes the bad smell in your underarm is the bacteria which grows there as a result of sweat accumulation. In order for the bacteria to survive long enough to emanate a foul odor, they must depend on the pH level of the skin. To prevent this from happening, natural substances like witch hazel can be used to lower and regulate the pH level of the skin, so that the bacteria don’t get excessive nourishment. This makes it one of the most effective home remedies for underarm smell. You can carry witch hazel in a spray bottle and spray your underarms with it. You can also apply it to your armpits using a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel.
5. Baking soda
Baking soda has wonderful chemical properties, which can help solve your problem naturally. Not only does the baking soda help in absorbing the sweat and keeping your underarms dry, it also acts as a deodorant that kills bacteria. You can apply baking soda in powder form directly to your underarms like talcum powder. You can also mix it with cornstarch, which also an excellent absorbent, and use this mixture as a deodorant and bacteria killer.
Suggested read: Smelly Feet? Treat Them With These Home Remedies
6. Lemons
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Lemon is another refreshing natural ingredient which can help you get rid of underarm smell effectively. Lemons are acidic in nature. They help balance out the pH levels of the skin, preventing a bacteria culture to grow and accumulate there. Using lemons as a preventive method for underarm smell can also be a refreshing experience, as it helps your skin feel cool and makes it smell great. Cut a slice or two of lemons and rub it on your underarms. You can also mix some lemon juice with water and spray the mixture on your underarms.
7. Sage
Sage is a herb that not only smells great, but is considered highly effective when it comes to home remedies for underarm odors. Sage has anti-bacterial properties which kills the bacteria in your underarm which causes odor. It also helps in reducing the activity of the sweat glands, so that your body produces less sweat in sensitive areas like this.
A natural, DIY deodorant can be made with 3 drop of sage essential oil, 3 drops of lavender oil, 2 drops of coriander essential oil and 2 ounces of witch hazel that has been distilled. Use this as a daily natural deodorant to get rid of underarm smell effectively. Drinking sage tea regularly also helps in getting rid of underarm odor.
8. Natural Soaps
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Using soap for underarm odor is of course, the most natural course to follow when you are trying to get rid of unpleasant smells. However, a lot of the soaps that you get in supermarket and drug stores are laden with chemicals that could aggravate your problem instead of helping it. A natural soap, would however, help in elimination bacteria and odor, which is why you can make your own natural, DIY soap. To make garden mint soap, you need peppermint essential oil, mint leaves and lye and a few other ingredients which are fresh and cool, helping you tackle underarm sweat effectively.
9. Control your diet
Eating things like onion and garlic can contribute to your underarm smell over time. These roots contain fumes which when consumed is good for the health, but can seep through your sweat glands and body pores and emanate a pungent smell, quite like the vegetables themselves. Eating raw onions and garlic is counterproductive to keeping your underarms fresh and odorless, which is why you should try to keep them out of your diet if you are prone to sweaty, smelly underarms.
10. Tea tree oil
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Tea tree oil is another natural product which helps balance the pH of the skin, making it impossible for odor-causing bacteria to survive there. It also has amazing anti-fungal properties and can help regulate your sweat glands, so the chances of odor developing in your underarms throughout the course of the day are very less. Mix a couple of drops of tea tree essential oil into rosewater or plain water with a few drops of lime and spray this mixture in your underarms. You can either do this in the morning, or throughout the day.
11. Alcohol
This might be a surprising addition to a list of home remedies for underarm odors, but it is effective nonetheless. Alcohol is a natural disinfectant that can get rid of the bacteria that causes the bad odors to emerge from your underarms. The best alcohol you can use in this case is vodka, which doesn’t have a smell of its own, so you can use it to kill the bacteria without smelling of alcohol yourself. Just rub a few drops of vodka on your armpits to keep it dry and odorless for the rest of the day.
Suggested read: All You Need To Know About Controlling Excessive Sweat Through Home Remedies
12. Sandalwood powder
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Sandalwood powder is a natural remedy and a natural deodorant for underarm smell. It has been used since ancient times as a part of ayurveda, to get rid of a host of skin problems and problems relating to body odor. Sandalwood absorbs excess sweat throughout the day and because of its nice smell acts as a natural perfume for your underarms. You can use sandalwood powder or sandalwood paste and apply this to your underarms. Keep this on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with water. This will save you from dealing with underarm smell for the rest of the day.
Even though chemical and drug store deodorants and perfumes might seem like the most effective solution to underarm odor, they can in fact aggravate your problem further. Instead, ditch the chemical products and use these natural home remedies to get rid of this problem once and for all!
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