10 Simple Rules : Smelling Good As A Man
There are many reasons why a man might not smell good, like bad breath, sweaty feet, the wrong cologne, a smelly workplace, or (the most obvious) B.O., but it's easy to banish bad body smells.
This article will tell you what causes body odor, share several ways of reducing it—many of which are totally natural—and how to keep it under control.
You'll discover that being a man doesn't mean you can't smell great most of the time!
How to Get Rid of Body Odor
When complaining about body odor (or B.O. for short), we're referring to the obnoxious, cloying stench of stale sweat. It cannot be masked by strong fragrances, and even if it could, smelling good doesn't mean reeking of perfume—especially not if you're a guy.
If you want to minimize body odor, start by attacking its cause.
What Causes Body Odor?
As with all offensive smells of an organic nature, the culprit is bacteria: sweat doesn't smell bad in itself, but it does help create an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Body odor is caused by the bacterial decomposition (or breaking down) of shed skin and hair cells and a fatty substance called sebum, which is basically a combination of sweat and fat secreted through the skin's sebaceous glands. Bacteria thrive in a moist environment, so they’ll obviously be prevalent in areas of high perspiration, like armpits, feet, and the groin. This is exacerbated by the fact that these areas are usually covered by clothing.
But men have another problem: have you ever wondered why women seem to sweat less? It’s because men have more sweat glands, which are also larger. This, however, has little to do with the smell itself or its intensity, which is determined by various factors, including genetics, diet, environment, stress, clothing, toiletries, and lifestyle.
Note: For more information on why you might be smelling bad (even after you shower), check out this super helpful Bellatory article on 7 Causes of Chronic Body Odor Even After Bathing.
How Is Sweat Produced?
Your body secretes two different kinds of sweat from two different types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.
Eccrine glands cover the most of the body. They produce an odorless sweat, consisting of salt and water. Secretion is stimulated not only through heat and humidity, but also stress, anxiety, nervosity, anger, sexual arousal, and certain foods.
Apocrine glands are found where body odor tends to be more cloying, like the groin and armpits, as well as the nipples, eyelids, and ear canal. Although the substance secreted consists of lipids, protein, carbohydrates, and ammonium, this in itself isn't the cause of odor. It's a bacterial breakdown of the lipids and protein that results in the release of the ill-smelling vapors we call B.O
How to Smell Good: A Guide for Men
Smelling good isn't actually all that difficult. Just follow these 10 simple rules.
Bathe or shower daily with a soap-free body wash.
Trim body hair by all means, but never shave it.
Shave your head if you work in a smelly environment or smoke tobacco. Otherwise, wash your hair daily or apply dry shampoo.
Use deodorant under your arms.
Make sure all your toiletries and cologne are of the same fragrance, or choose un-perfumed toiletries that won't clash with your cologne, which should never be cheap. Apply cologne sparingly if at all.
For fresh breath, meticulous oral hygiene is essential. Get in the habit of "pulling" coconut oil each morning.
Maintain a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Drink alcohol in moderation.
Wear foot deodorant if you suffer from sweaty feet, and place charcoal inner soles in your shoes.
Launder your clothes regularly, change your underwear daily, and never use fabric softener.
If you sweat a lot, take a cold shower.