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So you've hit a certain age, and suddenly you notice a whiff of something that smells positively adolescent. After you've given your teenagers a good sniff and realize it isn't them, you could be surprised to learn it's coming from you.
It's one of the secret joys of menopause that nobody tells you about — menopause body odor. Fun! Changing hormonal levels and common symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes during menopause can make your armpits (and other areas) a breeding ground for stinky bacteria, even when you practice the best hygiene habits. And that can lead to body odor. While it's totally normal during menopause, it's probably not something you want to deal with. But we have some solutions that can make a huge difference.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking lots of water can help you manage body odor anytime, especially during menopause. How? When you sweat, you release toxins. And you need water in your body to sweat. If you're dehydrated, the toxins won't be released from your body, and that'll lead to more bacteria accumulating in areas like your groin and your pits. So, bottom line, drink lots of water — be less stinky.
Struggle to get enough water in? I have a delightfully tasty option that helps me drink tons of water — Waterdrop Microdrink. These tiny cubes add bunches of flavor (and a little fizz) to water, and they're sugar-free and contain electrolytes and vitamins. My favorite is the Waterdrop Sky flavor. It's so yummy that it helps me drink plenty of water all day long.
Sleep in Cooling Sheets
Night sweats are a thing during menopause. Ask me how I know. I've had nights where I've been in a cold room under just sheets, and I've still been super sweaty. If you bathe at night instead of showering in the morning, sleeping in sweaty sheets all night is going to cause you to wake up with a little funk.
I've taken a two-pronged approach to this that really works. First, I've switched to cooling sheets. I love these Sijo cooling sheets. These super soft and comfy Tencel (eucalyptus) sheets have been a game-changer for me, and they're worth every penny if night sweats are part of your menopause journey.
Also, I was a night bather, which I still do, but I've also added a very quick shower in the morning to remove any of the night sweats from my skin before the bacteria has time to do its thing.
Shower Regularly
The best way to keep bacteria from building up and causing body odor is with a shower, so frequent showers can be super helpful for menopause body odor.
Funny story. I mentioned that I started showering in the morning. Typically, I get up, meditate, work out, and hit the shower. One day I was working out and sweating a lot, and I noticed the smell of chicken soup — which I most definitely wasn't cooking at the time. In fact, the only thing cooking was me (ba-dump-bump!). Which is when I realized it was me. I smelled like chicken soup, which isn't the worst thing in the world, but nobody wants to walk around smelling like soup.
I looked it up (thank you, Dr. Google), and I discovered this is one way that bacteria can make sweat smell. So I started using Lume acidified body wash for my nighttime bath and then again with my quick shower in the morning. No more soup smells. I love Lume (my fave is the toasted coconut or the clean tangerine) for fighting menopause odor because it controls the bacteria, which are the source of the smell. It lasts for hours, so once I've taken my post-workout shower, I'm in good shape for the rest of the day.
Make Friends With a Really Good Deodorant
Even if you've never been someone who has had a lot of body odor issues in the past, menopause and perimenopause can surprise you. I know people who have never had to use deodorant in their lives, but once perimenopause hit, they suddenly had to.
I'm not a huge fan of traditional deodorants or antiperspirants because of harsh chemicals, and I've never found natural deodorants to be super effective. But I love the Lume deodorant. It works really well (especially when you use it in conjunction with the body wash) at controlling odor all day. I've even swiped it on when I've noticed a little funk, and it made it go away.
Wear Breathable Fabrics
Menopause is not the time to wear fabrics that don't breathe because those fabrics will a) make you sweat more, and b) trap sweat and odors in the fabric. Natural, thin fabrics like linen, cotton, and bamboo will keep you cooler and wick moisture away from your skin. I love these cooling bamboo viscose yoga pants (the pockets are everything) and bamboo t-shirt for casual around-the-house style or workout wear to keep me cool and odor-free.
Dress in Layers
You never know when a hot flash will hit, but when it does, chances are you'll be overdressed. So my strategy has been to wear lots of light, breathable layers to keep me warm when I'm not hot flashing but that come off easily when I am.
I love this lightweight and pretty ruana to layer over lightweight leggings and a t-shirt or tank as a quick, casual, on-the-go layered outfit.
Don't Sweat Menopause Body Odor
Your body odor may change when you enter perimenopause, but it's totally manageable. With a few simple adjustments, you can banish body odor and live your best-smelling life.
