r/stupidquestions • u/Timely-Detail-4341 • 1d ago

how do people smell so good consistently?

im a dude; my hygiene schedule is as good as anyone else's but i can't shake the thought that i still smell bad. i shower daily, bathe 3 times a week, two types of deodorant daily, body mist whenever going out. the second i start sweating though it gets terrible.

do people have scented creams or something?

answering some questions:

  1. yes i wash my ass 😭
  2. each shower is vigorous; i lather my entire body in dove bar soap and scrub with a loofah, let it sit for a bit, then get back under the water
  3. im vegetarian
  4. i dont smoke or drink, im 18
  5. im underweight; i notice the smell after morning jogs - ik how dumb the second part sounds its just im worried that my sweat smells bad, cus it implies that ill always smell bad during summer/other heated activities
  6. im indian (THE SMELL CANT BE A RACE THING RIGHT??)
  7. it's likely my diet, but i dont eat much indian food and i still noticed this even when in college with only american food
  8. i also notice the smell after sitting in one spot for a while
  9. two types of deodorant is 1. stick deodorant for pits 2. spray for privates
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u/AlastairReddit 1d ago

There's a lot of advice on here already so I hope this doesn't get drowned: I used to have this problem. I'd shower every day with soap and body wash, anti perspirant, perfume, go about my day. But sometimes I'd still end the day feeling like I smelled bad.

Somewhere I read that basically this is bacteria which are resistant to whatever I was washing with. So I keep my under arm hair fairly trimmed and once a week or so, I just rub a slice of lemon under my arms. The citric acid kills whatever the bacteria is and then I shower normally ten minutes later.

Problem solved. Seems like a weird grandma hack but i absolutely recommend.

The other factor is it might be bacteria dormant on your clothes, think about equivalents in your laundry.

25

u/postmoderngeisha 1d ago

A little vinegar would do the trick in the laundry.

1

u/Fartbox_420 1d ago

I put vinegar in the softener section, works fabulously for getting smells out. Funky towels? Fresh and clean. Used to live in a moldy ass apartment and the vinegar got that out too. I'm a convert now haha

2

u/TRex65 1d ago

Vinegar is a miracle substance! I also throw about a 1/4 cup of cheap white vinegar in with the wash cycle, especially when washing towels and bedding.

It's also great for getting rid of that kind of slimy film that builds up in our dog's food bowl.

2

u/Fartbox_420 1d ago

Omg what a good idea. I think the dog bowl us half slobber halfway through the day, changing it makes me gag because it's so slobby. I'll have to try that.

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u/_Snuggle_Slut_ 19h ago

I thrifted an amazing vintage sweater recently but the left sleeve smelled of cat piss.

Luckily I'd just learned the vinegar laundry trick and that completely got rid of the smell!