One of the most common misconceptions about body odour is that sweat is the culprit. It isn’t. Freshly secreted sweat is almost entirely water, salts and trace compounds — and on its own, it’s virtually odourless.
Body odour appears when the bacteria that naturally live on your skin break down certain components of sweat — particularly the richer secretions from apocrine glands found in the underarms, groin and other warm areas. The by-products of that breakdown are the volatile molecules we actually smell.
This is why odour isn’t limited to the underarms. Feet, skin folds, the chest and intimate areas can all produce odour under the right conditions — warmth, moisture and the right bacterial activity.
Conventional antiperspirants work by using aluminium salts to physically block sweat glands. That reduces moisture, but it also disrupts a normal bodily function and does nothing to address the bacterial process at the root of odour.
A microbiome-friendly approach takes a different route: instead of shutting the system down, it works with the skin’s natural balance — neutralising odour molecules at their source and supporting the beneficial bacteria that keep skin healthy.
This article is general information and not medical advice.
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