Aroma, scent, smell, odoriferous-essence, B.O., odorant-substance, odoriferous, sweet-smell, olfactory-essence, malodorous, fragrance, funk.....regardless of what you call it, no human is without essence (whether its sweet or offensive).
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Scent is emitted from the sebaceous and sudoriferous glands (oil and sweat glands). When the sudoriferous glands deposit sweat onto the skin, skin-bacteria intermixes with enzymes called Lipases. When mixed with the individual's microbial flora, this combination metabolizes the sugar and protein in sweat, causing a chemical reaction which produces smaller molecules, such as Butyric Acid. This change is what produces our distinctive scent signature. All humans have their own unique blend of about 1,000 different types of bacteria living on the surface of the skin, giving each individual a custom blended olfactory-thumbprint. But it's more than DNA, however. Factors such as lifestyle, sex, medication, lack of hygiene and foods also influence one's distinctive scent.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT:
What we eat has a major impact on our scent, at least temporarily. It's a biological and, flat out, smelly fact that consuming large amounts of garlic or onions will affect the breath, but what about our bodies? Foods high in volatile sulfurous compounds such as
Allicin, will cause their odor to linger for hours. These compounds are absorbed into the blood and lungs after digestion causing a negative sniff-factor. Other volatile culprits are mint, turmeric, blue cheese, fermented foods and vinegar. Red meat, as well as spicy foods can significantly raise our odoriferous body factor as well. The amino acids in red meat leave a residue in the intestines during digestion. Intestinal enzymes break-down that residue and the chemicals are released onto your skin via the sudoriferous sweat glands. Skin bacteria intensifies the scent, making it the star of the smell-show. It requires more energy for red meat to digest than other foods, propelling your body to work harder to process it (resulting in more sweat-gland production) and by extension, more scent-secretions.
EAT YOUR VEGGIES!
Vegetables which contain chlorophyll, like leafy greens, naturally cleanse and deodorize the body through oxidation. The main element in chlorophyll is magnesium; the main element in blood is iron. Chlorophyll has the ability to release its magnesium and absorb the blood's iron thus creating hemoglobin (it generates blood). The more blood our bodies produce, the more oxygen it creates. Therefore, you seldom have to worry about the funk-factor from "clean foods"
like leafy greens (as well as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds). Another great fact about chlorophyll? It neutralizes the bacteria that causes B.O. in the first place, how fantastic! Be conscience, however, of your cruciferous veggie intake, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and bok choy. The sulfur and other chemical compounds in these foods (in their raw state) are absorbed into the body and are later released through the sweat glands. An easy way to remove the stink-factor from these vegetables is to par-boil them in salt prior to consuming. What if you feel the urge to munch on them in their raw state, prior to a big date? Don't fret because it'll take about an hour for the cruciferous aroma to show its face; but about six hours for your body to completely flush out all of that rancid remnant, just in time for your morning coffee! Don't sweat about your post-binge stench however. Bacteria requires a few hours to reach the odoriferous level of unpleasantness. Just be conscious of the foods you eat prior to an event that requires you to be at your sweet-smelling best.
BUT WHAT ABOUT FISH?
There's no question that fish is lean, digests quickly and is über good for you. Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil, are essential for brain function and play a key role in reducing one's risk of heart disease. Choline, however, found in some fish, such as tuna and salmon, creates a natural fishy smell. Some folks are sensitive, causing the choline-secretions in their sweat to linger for up to a day after eating fish; producing strong body odor. In a small number of people, consumption of foods containing choline and carnitine, including fish, meat and eggs, can contribute to Trimethylaminuria, also known as "fishy odor syndrome," (ick!). For all you fish-lovers out there, don't sweat it! Trimethylaminuria isn't common and can be treated by dietary change, as well as antibiotics. So, enjoy your fish but be conscious of potential fish-funk.
WHAT ABOUT FAKE FOOD?
Processed (junk) foods have an elevated refined sugar content, as well as a high glycemic index, which also funktifies scent. Junk foods elevate the sugar-content in blood which accelerates sweat gland production. Junk and processed foods also lack chlorophyll which, as you know, is the body's natural deodorizer. Unless you sample these fake-foods in moderation, I would stay clear of them. These faux-foods not only affect your smell-factor, but the overall health of your skin as well.
BUT I EAT LOW CARB!
Low-carb diets may be an olfactory-problem for some. When you cut back on carbohydrates, your body has less fuel to burn for energy; when this occurs, your body starts burning fat instead. When you burn fat, yes you loose weight, however, your body produces a chemical which is excreted through sweat. Fatty-secretions are dense and have a higher smell-factor. This is not a problem for everyone, however, and does affects people in different ways; it all has to do with the individual's body chemistry.
THE SMELLY GLANDS:
Apocrine sweat glands are the glands located in areas where we have the most abundant number of hair follicles: scalp, armpits and groin. Unlike the Eccrine sweat glands, which regulate body temperature by producing clear, odorless sweat comprised mainly of water and salt, the job of the Apocrine Glands are to disperse one's characteristic pheromonal odor; their job is to actually emit your essence! Eccrine sweat glands are the major sweat glands of the body, located on virtually all areas of the skin.
Apocrine Sweat is an oily, fat-infused secretion that is a super-buffet for surface bacteria to feast on. As opposed to eccrine sweat, which is made-up of mostly water, apocrine sweat's main ingredient is Sialomucin which is the biological cousin to milk and colostrum, hence the fatty DNA. When sweat and oil from apocrine glands get deposited on the surface of the skin, bacteria begins to eat away at those fatty-sweat molecules. This process of consumption is what causes one's pheromonal aroma to turn into funky B.O.!
HOW CAN I SMELL SWEET ALL DAY?
Aside from maintaining proper hygiene such as bathing often with a mild cleanser and warm water, the key to managing funky odor lies with your body's surface bacteria. The strongest, most offensive smell that a human can produce will come from the apocrine glands. If these three areas (hair, arm pits and privates) are managed, in terms of surface bacteria, you'll always smell like an English garden, how divine!
Here are a few ways to nix the nasty for good: First, keep the apocrine areas clean by cleansing everyday. Ayurvedic oils are the best, most skin-friendly way to cleanse whilst keeping it balanced, however, it is not realistic for the average consumer to practice Ayurvedic cleansing rituals due to Western culture's preference for soap. Therefore, use a mild cleanser mixed with warm water to cleanse the surface of the skin, and wash hair every 2 days (more if you produce an abundance of oil). Wiping skin with 70% alcohol will also sanitize it clean, reducing the amount of surface bacteria. If you produce an abundance of sweat (Hyperhidrosis), you can manage surface bacteria with a germicidal cleanser such as "Hibiclens" (found in your local drugstore). Although this process strips away skin-essential sebum and can be über-drying, it's a quick fix to cleanse skin and prevent odor-causing bacteria from multiplying, in an effort to manipulate the funk. Additionally, keeping skin-cleansing wipes handy, to use as needed, is a proactive way to stay fresh during the day.
Next, manage unwanted hair. Apocrine sweat is oily and likes to cling onto hair like a monkey in a tree; this clinging helps to release its scent. Reducing or removing surface hair means that there is less tree for that funky-monkey to cling on to, thus reducing the odorous-factor. Lastly, treat that clean fuzz-free skin with natural products containing Potassium Alum (a mineral salt) or Sodium Bicarbonate (yes, baking soda). These ingredients are like bacteria's Kryptonite and prevent it from forming in the first place. It's best to apply a diluted version of these products to the skin via a spray pump. Avoid rubbing these minerals directly onto the skin, as they can cause irritation. Spritzing them on, rather than rubbing them in, delivers a thin protective layer which works quite well. If these mineral salts aren't working for you and you're still experiencing severe odor, it may be an indication of a more severe, underlying issue.
BUT I STILL SMELL BAD NO MATTER WHAT I DO!!
There is a chronic condition called Apocrine Bromhidrosis (as well Eccrine Bromhidrosis), in which excessive, elevated body odor emanates from aprocrine gland secretions. In the case of Eccrine Bromhidrosis, the chemical makeup of an individual's sweat production causes bacteria to create an offensive odor through the decomposition of keratin cells (skin cells). Bromhidrosis is no joke. It does not discriminate, it's not impressed with social status and does not express interest in the number of Benjamins in one's bank account. Bromhidrosis can severely impair a person's quality of life as it pertains to social stigma, as you can imagine; it's a metabolic condition that should be addressed. Individuals with this condition typically have more numerous, as well as larger apocrine glands than average. If you suffer from Bromhidrosis, here are a few steps to put you on the sweet-smelling path: As mentioned earlier, the key to an odor-free essence is to nix the presence of surface bacteria. However, in addition to Bromhidrosis, you may also suffer from Hyperhidrosis, a condition that creates an excess of sweat production. Hyperhidrosis may be contributing to the funk-factor and should be treated first if that's the case. Aside from obvious hygienic rituals such as washing (with germicidal soap) and applying an anti-perspirant, injectables such a Botox can significantly reduce the amount of sweat production in the auxiliary area of the body. Wearing breathable, non-restrictive clothing (made of natural fibers) will help keep skin dry. If you suffer from excessive sweat production, I suggest you make an appointment with a recommended dermatologist. Botox or a prescription of beta-blocking medication may be your answer. Botox injections applied to areas of excessive sweat, like the armpits, will temporarily hinder the production of apocrine and eccrine gland production. Unlike facial-injections of Botox that last for about six months, when injected in the armpit region, Botox can last up to a YEAR (more or less, depending in the patient), and may be all you need to manage this issue.
Controlling the excess of sweat production may help with regard to Hyperhidrosis and Bromhidrosis, but it may not, you may require additional attention. The answer may lie in controlling your surface bacteria. A dermatologist may prescribe a more aggressive treatment, however, I recommend first following the aforementioned suggestions in this article prior to any drug-related protocol.
LAYER TO SMELL SWEET:
Layering your fragrance is the most effective way to create a lingering aroma. Applying a perfume alone will deliver a one-hit wonder. But using a scented body wash followed by layering a scented body oil or lotion, along with the according fragrance or perfume oil will create fragrant dimension, and will allow your sweet scent to last longer.
There is a limit to what soap and fragrance can do with regard to controlling body odor. Regardless of your issue, whether it's excessive sweat, excessive odor, or both, it is a valid issue that should be addressed. There is comfort, however, in knowing that conditions which affect the odor-radar are identified and have a management protocol.
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--CIAO for now :)
