Changes in underarm odor?

Guys, I’ve got a weird issue here. I can't find anything about this online. For about a month now, my underarm sweat odor has completely changed. It isn't your typical sweat smell anymore. I don't know how else to put it, but the scent is totally different—maybe something similar to fried chicken or curry powder. It started under my right arm first, then moved to the left after a few weeks. To make matters worse, a few days ago, I started noticing the same smell in my mouth—basically bad breath.🙄 What the hell is going on? Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

Kenneth Johnson8 said:Guys, I’ve got a weird issue here. I can't find anything about this online. For about a month now, my underarm sweat odor has completely changed. It isn't your typical sweat smell anymore. I don't know how else to put it, but the scent is totally different—maybe something similar to fried chicken or curry powder. It started under my right arm first, then moved to the left after a few weeks. To make matters worse, a few days ago, I started noticing the same smell in my mouth—basically bad breath.🙄 What the hell is going on? Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

Body odors change. This happened to me back in my late twenties; I actually worried for a moment that I smelled exactly like my girlfriend at the time. Of course, it could be caused by certain foods or dietary supplements. There is a possibility it relates to an underlying medical condition, though I doubt it.

It’s so weird, one armpit smells totally fine while the other one gets super funky whenever I’m hitting the gym or going for a run... just one side acts up, not sure why 😁

Kenneth Johnson8 said:Guys, I’ve got a weird issue here. I can't find anything about this online. For about a month now, my underarm sweat odor has completely changed. It isn't your typical sweat smell anymore. I don't know how else to put it, but the scent is totally different—maybe something similar to fried chicken or curry powder. It started under my right arm first, then moved to the left after a few weeks. To make matters worse, a few days ago, I started noticing the same smell in my mouth—basically bad breath.🙄 What the hell is going on? Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

I am experiencing the exact same thing!
It started about a month ago and it hasn't let up.

I've also noticed that the smell of sautéed onions has changed for me too; I notice it way more intensely in food where they're used, or even just walking past a preschool kitchen.

At first, I figured it was just some lingering effect from when I had Corona (that was about 6 months ago).

Did you catch Corona too?

Ronald Reed said:I am experiencing the exact same thing!
It started about a month ago and it hasn't let up.

I've also noticed that the smell of sautéed onions has changed for me too; I notice it way more intensely in food where they're used, or even just walking past a preschool kitchen.

At first, I figured it was just some lingering effect from when I had Corona (that was about 6 months ago).

Did you catch Corona too?

Same situation over here 😲 😲

Dealing with the same onion smell issues, detecting it everywhere... I can even smell it under one of my armpits.
That onion scent is haunting me.
Had Corona nearly 7 months ago, this whole mess started about 4 months ago...
Also, it crossed my mind because I don't have any other health issues... 🤔

It’s the exact same thing for me. Over the last couple of months, I’ve noticed my underarm sweat has taken on this strange scent, almost like onion or garlic. I've been trying everything to get it under control lately.
I recovered from Corona about three months ago.

Looks like there’s a whole crowd of us dealing with this exact same thing... makes me wonder if the OP actually fought through Corona too.
How are you guys handling it?
I've been trying antiperspirant, but once it wears off, the smell just comes right back. I'm washing my pits more often, using disinfectant, airing things out... nothing seems to be doing the trick so far. 🙂

velvetcobra6 said:It’s the exact same thing for me. Over the last couple of months, I’ve noticed my underarm sweat has taken on this strange scent, almost like onion or garlic. I've been trying everything to get it under control lately.
I recovered from Corona about three months ago.

If you change up your diet, get some cardio in, stay hydrated, and just sweat it all out, don't you think the body eventually resets itself? Once that system finally purges everything, those odors usually shift back to normal.

Roger Fowler said:If you change up your diet, get some cardio in, stay hydrated, and just sweat it all out, don't you think the body eventually resets itself? Once that system finally purges everything, those odors usually shift back to normal.

I mean, sure, that all sounds logical enough... and honestly, I’m already doing most of that. Cut out the caffeine, eating way less meat and protein, haven't touched sugar in ages... But so far? Absolutely zero improvement to report. 😢

Jesse Williams14 said:I mean, sure, that all sounds logical enough... and honestly, I’m already doing most of that. Cut out the caffeine, eating way less meat and protein, haven't touched sugar in ages... But so far? Absolutely zero improvement to report. 😢

It doesn't happen overnight, does it? You have to give it time. And honestly, if you can swing it, just get yourself to the coast. There's something about the ocean air that seems to wash away every little fungus and bacteria clinging to you, not to mention getting some swimming in provides a nice little bonus.

Jesse Williams14 said:I mean, sure, that all sounds logical enough... and honestly, I’m already doing most of that. Cut out the caffeine, eating way less meat and protein, haven't touched sugar in ages... But so far? Absolutely zero improvement to report. 😢

For me, the main thing has been my body odor changing over a longer stretch. Once I started dieting and cut out carbs entirely, the smell just vanished. But the second I eat carbs in the evening, I have a problem again the next day. I only eat carbs at breakfast, but we're talking stuff like buckwheat, millet, or oats..

I've pretty much stripped fruit down to a minimum too. Maybe once a day if it's something like berries or watermelon.

Are you guys getting annoyed?😲 It sounds so surreal, but ever since the pandemic, you just smell like garlic.

jadetinker85 said:Are you guys getting annoyed?😲 It sounds so surreal, but ever since the pandemic, you just smell like garlic.

I’ve been thinking about this lately, and maybe it isn't actually a change in how we smell, but rather a shift in our sense of smell itself. I've noticed several things have a different scent to me than they used to, and I know I'm not the only one experiencing this.

Hey there!
So, about two weeks ago, I noticed my sweat started smelling super weird—kind of sour? Then it hit me... it smells exactly like raw red onions. I actually had COVID back like four months ago, so I’m starting to think it’s not my sweat that's the problem, but my taste buds that are just totally wonky now. Like, certain foods taste off too—popcorn tastes strange, peppers have this weird flavor, and tomatoes sometimes taste like gasoline. It's just bizarre because this didn't happen during those first few months after I had COVID. Back when I was actually sick, though, my sense of taste and smell were completely gone.

velvetcobra6 said:I’ve been thinking about this lately, and maybe it isn't actually a change in how we smell, but rather a shift in our sense of smell itself. I've noticed several things have a different scent to me than they used to, and I know I'm not the only one experiencing this.

Yeah, I had the exact same thought. Especially since, like so many people, I completely lost my sense of taste and smell while recovering from Corona. But then again, I kind of debunked that theory for myself... see, the smell of onions only shows up under one armpit for me. If it were just an issue with my sense of smell being messed up, I'd probably be detecting that same scent under both pits. Sooo, probably not that...

Jesse Williams14 said:Yeah, I had the exact same thought. Especially since, like so many people, I completely lost my sense of taste and smell while recovering from Corona. But then again, I kind of debunked that theory for myself... see, the smell of onions only shows up under one armpit for me. If it were just an issue with my sense of smell being messed up, I'd probably be detecting that same scent under both pits. Sooo, probably not that...

Hey, looks like I'm not the only one dealing with this.

I cleared the Delta variant about four and a half months ago. Then, about a month back, I started noticing this weird onion scent in my sweat, and honestly, the sweat and the onion smell have become pretty much indistinguishable.

I figured it was just my sense of smell acting up again. But how can I ever really know for sure? It feels so awkward to tell someone, "Hey, sniff my armpit. Does it smell like onions to you?" 🤦

I might just mention it to my primary care doctor, and if she's up for it, she can take a whiff 😁...

Andrew Baker6 said:Hey there!
So, about two weeks ago, I noticed my sweat started smelling super weird—kind of sour? Then it hit me... it smells exactly like raw red onions. I actually had COVID back like four months ago, so I’m starting to think it’s not my sweat that's the problem, but my taste buds that are just totally wonky now. Like, certain foods taste off too—popcorn tastes strange, peppers have this weird flavor, and tomatoes sometimes taste like gasoline. It's just bizarre because this didn't happen during those first few months after I had COVID. Back when I was actually sick, though, my sense of taste and smell were completely gone.

That happened to me too!!! For me, it didn't kick in until about 2 or 3 months after having Corona.

Anyone managed to fix that issue yet? Or did some of you just breeze right through it?

Megan Cooper2 said:Anyone managed to fix that issue yet? Or did some of you just breeze right through it?

I encountered this exact problem about ten years ago. That was long before the
Corona
pandemic. It started in my right armpit and then moved to the left. The most frustrating part was how the odor would linger on my clothing even after laundering. I eventually solved the problem by using a Vichy deodorant stick (the one with the red cap).
That product eliminates all odors and costs approximately $30

If you’ve dealt with COVID, then this is probably why. I’ve been stuck with the exact same thing for months now.
My sense of taste is still fine, but my sense of smell? Totally flipped. For example, when things smell bad—like, really bad—it doesn't even smell like crap anymore. It smells more like some weird chemical stuff
or maybe like iron with a sour aftertaste. Hehe 😁 sounds ridiculous, I know, but that's the reality.
Same deal with my armpits. At first, I thought it was just my deodorant or maybe all that aluminum they put in most brands, so I swapped it out, but nope—still the same.

Maybe the scent profiles of different chemicals have shifted, or maybe certain other scents are just totally muted, making everything else seem way more intense.
Basically, it all kicked off right after I recovered from COVID, along with my hair falling out for about a month. Luckily, it grew back though. 🙂