We all know that diet can affect our appearance, from the obvious body weight changes to skin clarity and more. The effects of our food choices can go far beyond the visible, though—all the way down to our very scent.
Ladies may be familiar with the concept that diet can alter the scent of the vagina, and we’re all at least aware of the age-old pineapple trick. But how does your diet affect your odor beyond sexual contexts? And how can that, in turn, influence the fragrances we wear?
Fragrances smell different on different people because, simply put, the skin is different. Our diets can affect various aspects of our skin—so it goes without saying that this in turn changes the scent of our fragrances.
Smells like biochemistry
The food that goes in affects the scent that comes out—but how does this happen? While some foods and food groups will change things, others will have little to no effect at all. So what should you eat, and what’s in the clear?
Rather than focus on individual foods, it’s best to focus on exactly what these foods do to influence your body chemistry. When you know the possible effects, you can keep an eye on how your body in particular reacts to certain foods, and adjust as necessary.
Why and how we smell
First, let’s take a look at what in our bodies determines our odors in general. In part, our odors come down to genetics. The baseline of that is something unchangeable and unique as our fingerprints, called an “odorprint.” It’s a particular flavor to your scent that is intrinsically yours—ever noticed how your parents’ house smells different from your friend’s, and how the respective people smell different in turn?
In a more flexible sense, our genetics also determine our scents simply by determining our other bodily functions—how we process, what molecules we produce, and in what quantity. This is especially true in the realm of body odor.
To produce what we know as B.O., our apocrine glands—a variety of sweat gland different to the eccrine, which secrete regular odorless sweat—release an oily mixture of proteins, lipids, and steroids. Natural bacteria living on the skin break down these compounds, and the waste they produce is what causes the smell.
In the same sense, those genetics can be why our diets affect our scents the way they do. While a certain food type can have an unpleasant reaction with you, it may not do the same to someone else. So let’s take a look at what different foods can do to us, and how to recognize it if they do.
Following your gut
Let’s start by taking a look at our gastrointestinal systems. Certain foods are prone to producing smellier results—not necessarily at the fault of our bodies, but simply due to what the food is made of.
Garlic, onion, and cumin
Have you ever had the curry sweats? Strong spices and flavors like garlic don’t only taint your breath afterward; the smell can seep through your very pores. When digested, these foods leave behind sulfur-like compounds, which can then be secreted by the apocrine glands.
Funnily enough, psychologists in Scotland and the Czech Republic have found that eating a reasonable level of garlic can actually cause men to smell more attractive to women. If you still aren’t a fan though, you can try some lettuce, mint, or apple to neutralize a bit of the scent.
Cruciferous vegetables
Though brassica vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are known for their health benefits, they’re also known for their strong smell. They contain sulfur (similar to the aforementioned curry flavors); not only is this secreted from the apocrine glands, but the bacteria on the skin is then fed a hefty meal of that sulfur, leaving them to produce even more as waste. It’s a vicious cycle.
Alcohol
Sorry folks, but if you find yourself smelling a little worse after a wild night out, it may be time to cut down on the drinks altogether. Alcohol metabolism is determined by genetic factors; depending on just what your DNA holds, your body may not be able to digest alcohol without an unpleasant stench being left behind.
This is because alcohol is metabolized into acetate or acetic acid. If your body secretes that acetate into your sweat, you may be producing a sweet scent, which can stray into sickly-sweet depending on quantity. Acetic acid, on the other hand, has a pungent, vinegar-like stench. The results ultimately depend on just how your body handles its liquor.
Disorders and conditions
In some cases, your body odor can be a sign of medical conditions. One example is a condition called trimethylaminuria.
The afflicted body’s enzymes (specifically in the liver) are unable to break down the compound trimethylamine, which is produced in the intestines when digesting foods like eggs, beans, seafood, and soy products. The excess of the “fishy odor” compound is then released in pretty much everything your body produces—sweat, urine, reproductive fluids, and breath.
A diagnosis can be confirmed through a urine test and/or genetic testing. There’s no cure for the condition, seeing as it’s genetic, but symptoms can be reduced through diet changes, or even antibiotics in severe cases.
Skin-deep differences
Even if your gut is an odorless iron trap, your downfall may come from the biggest organ of your body: your skin itself. Your skin is the home of your applied fragrance, where it lies and diffuses, so it’s no unreasonable assumption to say that the state of your skin can influence the results of your perfume.
A somewhat common problem perfume users find is that their fragrance doesn’t seem to stay on their skin for as long as it should. This is often simply due to the skin’s moisture, or lack thereof.
Fragrances best adhere to moisturized or slightly oily skin; that’s why those of us plagued by dry skin may find our scents quickly fading to nothing, rather than going through the proper lifecycle. You can combat that problem by moisturizing before application, but keeping up on hydration (drinking water) is a more long-term fix.
Another culprit in a fragrances’ lack of longevity could be your pH balance. Healthy skin should normally fall at a mildly acidic range, around 4 to 5.5 on the pH scale, in order to properly fight off pollution and foreign bacteria. If your pH is too acidic or too alkaline it may throw off your fragrance—depending on what it’s made from.
Some of us naturally have more acidic or alkaline skin; factors like skin products, the amount of fat in your diet, stress, spicy foods, and some medications can alter it. Not to mention, especially for women, pH balances can fluctuate depending on hormones.
Taking the effort to balance your pH can do wonders for your fragrance (and your complexion). Try a pH-oriented skincare regimen: use low-pH products, followed up with moisturizers to restore the acid mantle afterwords.
Monitoring your diet can be a big help—try to keep a limit on acid-producing foods, like meat, cheese, sugar, caffeine, and processed or fried foods. Don’t worry, there’s no need to cut them out entirely. Believe us, we want our coffee and pastries as much as the next person. Instead, try to cut back as well as you can, and balance out the rest with alkaline-balancing foods like kale, almonds, and surprisingly enough, citrus (the acid of which actually has an alkalinizing effect in the body). Your skin will thank you!
Eat fresh, smell fresh
Ultimately, the best way to keep your scent in check isn’t necessarily to cut out entire food groups. Instead, know what your body does and doesn’t like, and keep a balanced diet around that. And remember to stay hydrated! Your body is a temple; keep it clean, water the plants, and it’ll be smelling fine in no time.
But remember that it’s not all on you—the fragrance you choose has to be a match for you as well. Luckily, with ScentBox, you can try on all the designer fragrances you could ask for with zero hassle. Our subscription will have a new bottle shipped to your door every month; and with our month-to-month payment plan, you can cancel at any time you want, no questions asked.
It’s time to clean up your diet, so you can find the perfect fragrance for you. Be healthy, smell good, feel good—what could be better?