The Good, the Bad, and the Stinky from Perfume to Masking Body Odor

You would think that dry cleaning can remove heavy perspiration odor, however if your friend was really party-hardy sweaty, then that kind of odor removal is best done with professional wet cleaning says Nora Nealis, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Cleaners Association. She adds, "most professional cleaners do offer wet cleaning capabilities, but you need to specify it."

From the years that I was a fashion stylist and borrowed showroom samples that were worn by one model after another on a fashion shoot, I learned a little de-stink trick to subtly camouflage mild perspiration odor in clothing: Place a sheet of fabric softener, like Bounce, in the armhole of the garment and let it sit for a while. The garment will eventually "freshen up" but if the smell is impregnated into the fabric it can crop up again once the body starts to heat up… then, head for the hills!

Deodorant Dilemma

Dear Sharon: I cannot seem to use perfume on my underarms. When I do, they itch terribly. Then when they sweat they have a strong smell. Its not like its a bad smell, just that I find it embarrassing.

Is there anything I could use to cover up the smell? Could it be the alcohol in the perfume that irritates because occasionally the skin on other parts of my body gets irritated too? I would really appreciate your advice. -Whiff Out (Leuven, Belgium)

Dear Whiff Out: Let’s not confuse the purpose of certain products. Fragrance is worn because its scent is pleasing to you and that makes you feel good.

Perfume in lieu of a product formulated to reduce body odor will not aid in keeping your pits smelling fresh. Actually, attempting to camouflage reeking sweat with overwhelming perfume results in a pretty putrid stench.

Deodorants help reduce odor and contain ingredients to inhibit the growth of odor-forming bacteria. It helps neutralize or mask odor, and has little effect on the amount of perspiration secreted, according to Mark Davis, Associate Scientist, Procter & Gamble Beauty Care Research and Development, the makers of Secret New Scents and Secret Platinum Protection

Anti-perspirants help counteract odor and wetness by restricting the flow of perspiration from the underarms. Most anti-perspirants also contain deodorant to counteract odor, adds Davis. Of course, you need to bath daily and wear clean clothing too.

The alcohol content in perfume on freshly shaved underarms may be a cause of your irritation. If the rest of your body itches, you probably are allergic to an ingredient in the perfume and stop using it. See a dermatologist if the irritation continues.

The Perfume of a Relationship Gone Sour

Dear Sharon:I adored a fragrance that my boyfriend gave me and constantly wore it as my "special" scent. Now that our relationship is kaput, this very same perfume gives me a headache. Could an aroma possibly change for me, or am I losing my mind? -Scent-enced To Sneeze

Dear Scent-enced To Sneeze:Can anything be more stale than the scent of a relationship gone bad? You are absolutely on the mark, nothing can elicit a certain emotion or memory the way smell can.

"As scientists," states David Hircock, Director of Aveda‘s Aromaology Institute, "we are only beginning to understand what the brain truly does with aroma. Everybody is different, but when the brain senses stress, it will give you signs of danger, which may be reflected in a headache.

When you smell the perfume that your ex-boyfriend gave you, your brain remembers this stressful situation, and ultimately gives you a headache. There are also other elements of synthetics and perfumes which do not imitate nature, that may be causing you and your brain stress, which can also be the cause of your headache," Hircock adds.

It’s about time that you wash that old head-pounding scent out of your life and find a positively divine fragrance to keep you soaring to a fresh, new start.