Buzz
Advertisers initially had to persuade us that we all emit unpleasant odors to sell products like deodorant and mouthwash. Their strategy succeeded, leading most people to adopt these hygiene products, along with many others, to combat those unwanted smells. However, these products may not always be effective, or you might believe you don’t need them. In such situations, you could be unaware of your own body odor, as detecting it yourself is often quite difficult.
The human nose is capable of identifying over one trillion unique scents, yet it struggles to detect your own body odor. There’s always a possibility you emit an unpleasant smell without realizing it. If this concerns you, here’s how you can confirm it.
Simply lowering your nose and inhaling deeply near your body won’t likely reveal your body odor. You might assume everything is fine, only to go about your day unknowingly carrying a foul scent. Why does this happen? It’s almost impossible to detect your own smell, even if it’s unpleasant. The receptors in your nose that would typically respond to your unique scent become desensitized after constant exposure. Essentially, your nose becomes immune to your own odor to prevent sensory overload.
Take off your clothes and give them a sniff
To determine if you have body odor, you need to smell your clothes separately from your body, getting your nose close to the fabric. While you can’t undress at work, you can easily step into a restroom stall and inspect each item of clothing individually. Check every part of your attire for odors and look for damp areas caused by sweating. Sweat often creates an ideal environment for bacterial growth, and bacteria are the primary source of unpleasant smells.
Follow the golden rule of body odor: If you can detect any scent on yourself, others will notice it much more strongly. Apply more deodorant, use wet wipes for a quick refresh, change your clothes, or, as a last resort, use hand sanitizer on your underarms until you can address the issue. The same principle applies to deodorants, perfumes, colognes, and body sprays: If you can still smell your fragrance on your skin after some time, others will definitely notice it when they’re near you. So, use these products sparingly.
Run your fingers through your hair
Sometimes, body odor doesn’t originate from sweaty armpits. Your hair can develop a strong smell if it isn’t washed frequently or if you neglect to use dry shampoo after an intense workout. If you’re concerned that your hair is emitting an unpleasant odor as you move around, there’s a simple way to check.
Rinse your hands with hot water, avoiding soap to prevent its scent from interfering with your assessment. Run your clean fingers across your scalp—not your hair—multiple times. Sniff your fingertips to get an accurate sense of your hair’s odor.
The unpleasant odor from your scalp likely results from a combination of yeast, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It might also indicate ringworm of the scalp.
Inspect your ears
While earwax is often seen as something to clean off earbuds, it can also emit bad odors. This is typically a sign of an underlying issue, such as excessive earwax buildup, an ear infection, a foreign object lodged inside, swimmer’s ear, cysts, or, in rare cases, ear cancer.
Conduct a breath check
When dealing with bad breath, there are several quick methods to check for unpleasant odors before engaging with others:
The hand test: A timeless technique. Cup your hand or hands near your face and breathe into them to catch the scent. For accurate results, wash your hands first with unscented soap; otherwise, you’ll only smell your hands.
The arm test: Lick your forearm, wait about 10 seconds, then sniff the area. A bad smell indicates bad breath. Ensure the spot is clean beforehand for better accuracy.
The spoon test: Use a spoon, metal or plastic, to scrape the back of your tongue. Let it dry slightly and take a whiff. While it might smell slightly unpleasant regardless, this method helps gauge the severity of your breath odor—unless you’ve recently used a tongue scraper and mouthwash.
The taste test: A lingering odd taste in your mouth often signals bad breath. The same elements affecting your saliva and taste buds are likely producing an odor.
You can also assume you have garlic breath after eating garlic, coffee breath after drinking coffee, or alcohol breath if you used your lunch break to “relax.”
Reset your sense of smell
How can you refresh your scent perception? As Pamela Dalton, a psychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, explains to the Washington Post, our sense of smell doesn’t recover as quickly as other senses. Fully resetting your scent palate can take weeks. This is why you might notice the smell of your home after returning from vacation. Since you can’t escape your own body, there’s no way to fully restore your nose’s sensitivity to your personal odors.
Seek help from someone you trust
Finally, you can ask a trusted person to give you an honest opinion about your scent. This is undoubtedly the most reliable approach. However, avoid asking your partner or someone you live with, as they’re accustomed to your natural odor. Instead, request a coworker or friend to be candid. While it might feel uncomfortable, this method is sure to provide accurate feedback.
