A Hidden Cause of B.O.

You’ve probably read all the tips to keep B.O. at bay. Dry brush. Eat clean. Remove toxins from your lifestyle. Go vegan. Don’t eat garlic or onions. Don’t drink alcohol and coffee. Take chlorophyll. You may have even tried all of these things and still experience odor. Much of our body odor is determined by genetics, but today I wanted to talk about one cause for body odor that has nothing to do with health or diet. And it’s something that you might not think be thinking about: your shirts!  

When you’re using a natural deodorant and not an anti-perspirant, you’re going to sweat. It’s a natural, healthy process of the body. But when bacteria starts to grow on your skin and create odor, it can also grow in your fabrics. We’ve found that synthetic fabrics like rayon seem to harbor bacteria more–but natural fabrics can harbor bacteria and odor too! And even after laundering your clothes, you can still end up with shirts that might smell okay out of the dryer, but can end up being funky as soon as the odors are “activated” with your sweat.

See, underarm sweat contains a lot of different compounds. From amino acids and fatty acids that feed bacteria, to a compound in everyone’s skin, sweat, and urine called urea. Ever notice yellow stains on white clothing, or chalky-looking stains on dark clothes? These are sweat stains, primarily made up of dried up urea. Odors can also linger in your fabric and might even smell right out of the laundry and you might not notice it–it’s not like everyone sniffs every garment before they fold it and put it away. Additionally there may be a buildup of amino acids in your fabric, and when that comes in contact with the bacteria on your skin, it can lead to instant odor as the amino acids feed the bacteria.

The good news is, there’s a way to remove the compounds AND odor! And it’s simple and cheap.