Go take a shower, watch TV, read a book for a while. Then, collect the clothes and give them the sniff test, especially around the pit area and anywhere you sweat profusely. If you find an odor that is unpleasant, that might be an indicator that you have a body odor problem that is leaching into your clothing.
Sniff your clothes at the end of the day.
Sweat tends to soak into clothing, especially your underwear, your bra, or your T-shirt. Toward the end of the day, give your clothing a sniff. If it smells pungent or musty, it's likely that you've got some body odor.
Trick your olfactory system
Try this: sniff coffee or charcoal for a full minute. Then go back and take a whiff of your underarm or other potentially offending area. In a pinch, you could even smell the crook of your elbow, which contains few sweat glands.
According to Lifehacker, it can be quite difficult to detect your own body odors because the receptors in your nose shut down after smelling the same scent for too long.
Kids start to have body odor around the time puberty starts and hormones change. Usually, this happens when females are 8–13 years old, and males are 9–14. But it can also be normal to start puberty earlier or later. Bathing every day, especially after a lot of sweating or in hot weather, can help with body odor.
Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS), also known as olfactory reference disorder, is an underrecognized and often severe condition that has similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). People with ORS think they smell bad, but in reality they don't.
Everyone has their own scent—just think of how differently your grandma and your boyfriend smell when you lean in for a hug. But can we smell ourselves? For the first time, scientists show that yes, we can, ScienceNOW reports. Our basis of self-smell originates in molecules similar to those animals use to chose mates.
Peppermint and citrus scents can help with focus and attention; use these after nap time or towards the end of the day when kids are dragging. Lavender can have a very calming effect, perfect for an active bunch!
Rubbing lemon juice on armpits can help curb the smell. You can also use baking soda and cornstarch to make a quick, natural deodorant. Combine one-part baking soda with six-parts cornstarch and dust a little on your underarms. Be careful when applying alcohol or lemon juice.
In addition to a clean body and cleansed insides, wearing clean clothing can also help. Clothing that smells musty or has been worn multiple days without washing can trap bacteria and mix with sweat to cause odor. Tolbert said keeping the gym bags and shoes clean will also help cut down on the smells.
The answer has to do with hormones—specifically, pheromones. “Pheromones are chemicals that animals and humans produce, which change and influence the behavior of another animal or human of the same species,” says Erica Spiegelman, wellness specialist, recovery counselor, and author of The Rewired Life.
Conversations about body odour should be private, Blais Comeau advises. “If it's somebody you're on good terms with, have the conversation,” she says, adding that a superior doesn't need to be involved. Other methods, such as an anonymous note left on a desk, may make the person feel attacked or isolated, she adds.
Start the conversation young; it'll help encourage them to take pride in taking care of their body and self. Begin by explaining the “why” of maintaining healthy hygiene, for example, the importance of brushing your teeth after meals which keeps teeth healthy and strong.
Sweat and Body Odor
Perspiration, or sweat, comes from sweat glands that you've always had in your body. But thanks to puberty, these glands not only become more active than before, they also begin to secrete different chemicals into the sweat that has a stronger smelling odor.
Hair is another place where bacteria like to hide. If you still smell a strong body odor after a shower, consider shaving the hair in your armpits, groin, and chest. The hair's surface is a perfect place for bacteria to call home, and it's harder to eliminate them from the hair than your bare skin.
Putrefaction (4-10 days after death) – Autolysis occurs and gases (odor) and discoloration starts.