A slightly musty smell is normal. This is usually caused by sweat, dead skin, heat and is especially present in pubic hair. All you need for this smell is a regular shower, just don't go cleaning inside your vagina- the vagina is actually a self-cleansing organ and takes care of itself in there.
Apocrine glands, which are located in the groin (and armpits) release an odorless, oily fluid during times of stress. When this fluid comes in contact with bacteria on your skin, it often results in a musty odor that many people associate with body odor.
However, it is normal for the vagina to have a mild, musky smell. This odor changes with hormonal shifts during pregnancy, menopause, and the menstrual cycle. A subtle smell is not a cause for concern. However, females with other vaginal odors may wish to seek consultation with a doctor.
Musk is a warm subtle scent defined by a complex range of powdery, sweet, woodsy and earthy aroma impressions. Fruity or floral undertones can also be detected depending on the musk.
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.
The apocrine sweat glands in the groin area secrete fluid into hair follicles. Pubic hair can trap bacteria and moisture. A mass of pubic hair can trap heat in the skin and cause apocrine glands to secrete excess sweat.
Like the armpit region, the groin contains numerous sweat glands called apocrine glands. It is normal for people to experience some degree of sweating between their legs, especially during hot weather or exercise. Sweating is the body's way of cooling itself down.
Groin sweat contains fatty acids and proteins which feed bacteria. As the bacteria break down the nutrients in groin sweat, foul-smelling acids are left behind.
If your home or clothing smells musty, chances are you have mold or mildew hiding out. While other things — like a lack of ventilation or high levels of humidity — can make a musty odor more noticeable, they typically are not the primary cause of the smell.
While sweat in and of itself is odorless, the type of sweat produced in your armpits, feet, and groin smells bad when it combines with bacteria that's already on your skin. That's why frequent bathing or showering with mild soap and warm water is important to rinse sweat off the skin.
Ask to speak in private. Be direct (“I'm not sure if you're aware of this but you have a strong odor about you.”) Reserve judgment ( “I don't know if it's from your clothing or if it's a personal hygiene issue.”) Open the conversation (“Are you aware of this issue?
“musty” is a smell that comes from dampness and mildew. “musky” is a smell that comes from musk, the scent created by male musk deer, or similar scents from other animals. Perfumes are often based on musk, but never mildew.
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.
Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotten or decaying fish.
Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands. That can make your armpits and skin smell bad. It's normal for stress to cause smelly compounds to be released through your sweat.
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
“Never ever put anything with fragrance on or near the vulva,” Lincoln says. “You're just asking for a skin reaction.” Any fragrances, including those marketed as skin-safe or natural, can break down sensitive skin and cause infection.
Pubic hair doesn't require its own beauty regimen, as long as you're showering on a regular basis. "It just needs to be washed with soap and water," says Dr. Knopman. Seriously: There's no real need to shampoo it, condition it, give it an oil treatment, or treat it to a spa day.