What is Body Odour?

What is Body Odour? | how to Reduce Output of Body Odour | what are the Natural Deodorants for Body Odour

What is BODY ODOUR?

Old folk remedies for body odour are scarce not because of modesty but rather because it was an accepted fact of life. Few washing facilities existed either for body or clothes and the atmosphere was heavy with the smells of open fires and cooking. Even the highly born, except for an enlightened few, viewed placing water on the skin with a certain amount of trepidation. However, in today’s society cleanliness is next to godliness and with the marvels of modern plumbing in most homes and a battery of anti- perspirants and deodorants to choose form there is little excuse to be otherwise. My own opinion is that soap and water daily is essential and that there is nothing worse than a highly perfumed deodorant overlaying the smell of sweat.

body odour1 Many people do not need to use either anti-perspirants or deodorants and an increasing number are finding that they are becoming resistant or developing allergies to them. Synthetic fabrics and tight-fitting clothes increase the likelihood of excess perspiration and body odour, and an overindulgence in highly spiced and flavoured foods can create a transitory but noticeable odour exuded through the pores. Eating plenty of raw, dark green, leafy vegetables, including parsley, will reduce body odours caused by eating curry, garlic and onions, or try the famous ‘green cocktail’ described below.

Intake to Reduce Output of Body Odour

Green cocktail: Place a good selection of green vegetables into a blender with the addition of carrots, peppers, tomatoes, plenty of seasoning, the juice of 1 lemon and a little water. Blend well and dilute if necessary. These leafy green vegetables not only contain a lot of chlorophyll which will dispel bad odours but also have a laxactive and diuretic effect, thus purifying the whole system.

Fenugreek tea: Two level teaspoons of fenugreek seeds to one cup of boiling water, allowed to infuse for five minutes then stirred and strained into another cup and taken daily, with or without honey, is what Middle Eastern ladies drink to make themselves desirable. It helps to purify the blood, reduces bad breath and body odour and significantly improves catarrahal and sinus conditions. If used daily the fragrant, slightly spicy, smell of fenugreek will eventually permeate the skin.

Lovage tea, chrysanthemum tea or sage tea: These are all excellent remedies to reduce body odours as are many of the teas suggested for anxiety- one of the reasons that we ‘break out in a sweat’.

A Tonic to purify the system and Reduce Bad Breath and Body Odour

1 tablespoon crushed blueberries

1 tablespoon shredded watercress

1 tablespoon sassafras bark

300ml(½ pint) boiling water

body odour2 Pour the boiling water over the other ingredients. Cover, leave to cool then strain. Take 1 cup four times day for one day and during this 24 hour period eat only very light meals and drink only mineral water.

Nettles: Nettle beer is a gypsy remedy. A small glass taken daily keeps the body fit and healthy and is also the reason why most old-fashioned country folk, contrary to popular obloquy, smelt so clean.

Nettle Beer

900ml(2lb) young nettles

2 lemons

4.75 litres(8 pints) water

450g(1lb) demerara sugar

25g(1oz) cream of tartar

brewer’s yeast prepared in advance according to manufacturer’s instructions

a plastic bucket with a lid

Use the tops of the nettles only. Put them into a large enamel saucepan with the thinly pared rinds of the lemons- use a potato peeler for this job. Add the water and bring to the boil. Boil for 20 minutes then strain the liquid through a nylon sieve on to the sugar and the cream of tartar in a plastic bucket with a lid. Stir well and when lukewarm add the lemon juice and prepared yeast. Cover and leave in a warm room for three days then transfer to a cooler place for two days. Syphon into strong bottles- large glass beer or cider bottles are best but do not use plastic soft drink bottles for they will not sustain the pressure. If the beer ferments vigorously keep the tops, either screw or cork, loose for a day or two before sealing down. Keep in a cool, outside place (garage or outhouse) for a week before drinking.

Natural Deodorants for Body Odour

body odour3

Cleavers (goosegrass): This is the most old-fashioned natural deodorant and one of the few, with its sister plants of lady’s bedstraw and sweet woodruff, mentioned in ancient herbs as being suitable for keeping house, clothes and body sweet smelling – Cleavers for washing, lady’s bedstraw for strewing and stuffing in mattresses and sweet woodruff for placing in the linen cupboard and drawers.

A natural deodorant: Take a large handful of cleavers and put it into a pan with 1 litre(1¾pints) of water. Bring gently to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Leave to get cold then strain. It will keep for at least a week in the refrigerator but the plant is so common it can be made right through the summer. Apply with cotton wool or a spray.

Lavender Deodorant

3 drops essential oil of lavender

1 teaspoon sugar

600ml(1 pint) distilled or cold boiled water

Put all together in a bottle, seal, shake well and leave for two weeks. Always shake well before using either on cotton wool or in a spray.

Witch hazel: Use it neat provided it does not irritate the skin and dilute with water for a useful antiseptic underarm aftershave.

Thyme, rosemary, eau de cologne mint or lavender: Take a large handful of any one of these sweet-smelling, antiseptic herbs and place in a pan with enough water to cover. Simmer for 5 minutes, pour into a jug and stand until cold. Strain and bottle.

Apple cider vinegar: Mix together equal quantities of vinegar and water. Apply on cotton wool and leave for a few minutes to allow the smell to dissipate.

Powdered alum: A cheap and effective old-fashioned deodorant can be made from ½ teaspoon of powdered alum and 300ml(½ pint) of warm water.

Essential oils of thyme, lavender, sandalwood, angelica, cinnamon and cassia: A few drops of any one of these antiseptic oils in the warm bath water will reduce body odour and individually they have other delightful effects.

Cleansing bath bag: Take 3 handfuls each of dandelion leaves and stinging nettles, 2 handfuls each of blackcurrant leaves and scented geraniums. Tie into a muslin drawstring bath bag (a large white cotton handkerchief will do) and leave under the bath water as it runs. Fresh lovage or any other deliciously fragrant, antiseptic herbs can be used in the same way.

Seaweed Gel

1.25 litres (2½ pints) fresh Irish moss or carragheen

1.5 litres(3 pints) water

2 tablespoons scented floral or herb

Water

Soak the seaweed in fresh water and wash it well. Put it into a large pan with the measured water and bring gently to the boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Rub the gelatinous result through a fine sieve and stir in the scented water. Pour into jars when cold and keep refrigerated. This is a deodorizing gel which should be rubbed all over the body instead of soap, then rinsed off in shower or bath. It is also excellent for relieving aches and pains.

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