Mothballs, Cedar Chips and the Scent of Wisdom
You know the odor. The one you associate with your grandmother’s home. The one you were told were mothballs. When I was younger, even mothballs were a mystery to me, but now I know they are balls of chemical pesticide and deodorant she bought to keep clothes moths away. Believe it or not, they still make them even though they are toxic. Nausea! Vomiting! Seizures! I remember thinking “I am NOT going to smell like Nana when I get older-no way! NOT ME!"
So about the time I turned 50, I started smelling something-ME! Was I turning into Nana? And how did this happen? I don’t even have any mothballs (cedar chips work just as well for moths by the way). Could other people smell me? Is this happening to my friends? I would timidly sneak the question into conversations and it turns out I’m not the only one.
If it’s happening to you, you may miss the clean odor of days gone by. The scent of babies it’s not. Not the soft scent of new skin, of a rose bud, or even the scent of a new car. Let’s call it the scent of aging. It’s coming from my armpits and let’s be honest-from between my legs.
Who knew that age had an odor? When I brought it up to my GYN, my thirty-something doctor told me women have different “flora”. You may smell differently from time to time. “Flora” -it sounds so beautiful doesn’t it? I wish she had told me that as you age, your “flora“ ages too.
Well that just stinks! Even when I used to sweat like crazy, it still smelled pure to me, a reminder that I had done something awesome-like run 5 miles. I could wear the same shirt three days in a row. I didn’t have to reapply deodorant in the middle of the day. My neck is getting a crick in it from smelling my armpits several times a day.
So here’s the scoop. Come to find out that drops in estrogen associated with menopause not only cause hot flashes, but the sweat is now of a different consistency and bacteria clings to it better and breaks down the sweat liquid into smaller, odorous molecules. Bacteria? Should I be wearing cedar chips in my bra or my underwear? Are the splinters worth it?
There is good news, though. A study from 2012 showed that as we become elderly, the scent becomes less intense and less unpleasant than in middle age. Did you know that even the body odors of some animals change with age so they can distinguish their young and old peers by scent. You will be able to throw those cedar chips away, or better yet, I hear ground chips make good mulch!
So let’s reframe this. Let’s call it the scent of wisdom. The smell of the rite of passage into middle age; the one you earned through a multitude of experiences, life tests and working hard to take care of yourself to get to this point. It may not be the scent of rosebuds, but rather a fully bloomed bouquet of roses-thorns and all!
That said, here’s some tips to avoid the splinters :
Shower at least once a day
It’s important to keep yourself clean, especially the areas with many sweat glands, so that you wash away sweat and bacteria.
Use an antibacterial soap
Antibacterial soaps are designed to keep bacteria at bay. You will benefit from using them on a regular basis.
Dry yourself properly
After showering, you should use a towel to dry your body completely. Focus on areas prone to sweat. Bacteria often have difficulty growing on dry skin.
Use a strong deodorant or antiperspirant
Antiperspirants are formulated with aluminum chloride, a substance that is able to reduce sweating, and they may help cover bad smell as well. Deodorants on the other hand, only mask the smell on your skin without interfering with sweating. Use your deodorant or antiperspirant twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. However, if you find those over-the-counter products ineffective, you may talk to your doctor to get prescribed antiperspirants.
Change your clothes regularly
Fresh and clean clothes will help you control your body odor. If you have foot odor don’t forget to change your socks, too. Deodorants are available in powders. Use them in your shoes to tame the smell. The insoles should be changed frequently. If possible, go barefoot.
Cut Out or Cut Back On Certain Foods or Drinks
What you eat affects your body odor. Foods that tend to make you sweat more, such as hot peppers or other spicy foods, might also lead to body odor. And the aroma of foods like onions or garlic can be carried in your sweat. Drinks with caffeine or alcohol may also make you sweat more.
Keep in mind that the above tips are not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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