Smelly armpits are common, and the NHS says you can usually deal with them yourself. This guide explains how the smell forms, which self-care steps the NHS lists, where a deodorant fits, and when it is worth asking a doctor.
We sell a deodorant, so read this with that in mind: nothing below is a promise that any product, ours included, will stop odor for everyone. For related reading, see our deodorant ingredients guide and our guide to what to do when a natural deodorant stops working.
Armpit odor forms when skin bacteria, including Staphylococcus hominis, convert odorless secretions from the armpit's apocrine glands into smelly compounds, according to a 2024 laboratory study and a 2025 review.
The NHS says body odor is common and can usually be treated at home: wash your armpits at least twice a day with soap, dry thoroughly, change clothes regularly and use a deodorant or antiperspirant.
Who smells more varies. The NHS lists exercise, hot weather, hormonal changes, some health conditions and some medicines, and a 2024 family genetics study links the ABCC11 gene to whether sweat carries odor.
The NHS says to see a GP if odor has not improved after self-care and any of these apply: it affects your self-esteem, it smells different than usual, or you suddenly sweat much more.
Why Do My Armpits Smell?
Because bacteria on your skin convert odorless secretions into smelly compounds. A 2024 study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry describes body odor as the result of commensal skin bacteria, including Staphylococcus hominis, converting odorless secretions from the apocrine glands into volatile chemicals called thioalcohols. That study was laboratory biochemistry on a bacterial enzyme, not a trial on people.
A 2025 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences describes the same process in three steps: odorless precursors are made in the body, they enter bacteria such as Corynebacterium striatum and Staphylococcus hominis, and enzymes in those bacteria convert them into malodorous compounds that are released into the armpit. In other words, the smell comes from secretions and bacteria together.
Why Do Some People's Armpits Smell More Than Others?
There are several possible reasons, and sometimes nobody knows. The NHS says things that can make body odor worse include exercise, hot weather, hormonal changes, being overweight, having a condition like diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease, and certain medicines such as antidepressants. It adds that often the cause is unknown.
Genes may play a part too. A 2024 study in Scientific Reports, built around a multigeneration family pedigree, reports that whether sweat carries odor depends on variants of the ABCC11 gene, which moves the odorless precursor into the armpit's secretions. It is a small genetics study, so it points to one possible difference between people rather than telling you what to do about it.
How Do You Get Rid of Armpit Odor?
Start with the self-care steps the NHS lists for body odor. None of these is a guaranteed fix, and the last section of this guide covers when the NHS says to see a GP.
- Wash and dry: Wash your armpits, groin and feet at least twice a day with soap and dry thoroughly, the NHS says.
- Use a deodorant or antiperspirant: The NHS lists both among the things to do, and says a pharmacist can suggest stronger antiperspirants.
- Change and wash your clothes regularly: The NHS suggests natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk, and avoiding tight clothing and man-made fabrics.
- Watch strong food and alcohol: The NHS says not to eat too much strong-smelling or spicy food, and not to drink too much alcohol.
- Ask a pharmacist: According to the NHS, a pharmacist can help with stronger antiperspirants, armpit or sweat shields to protect your clothing, and soap substitutes that are gentler on your skin.
Should You Use a Deodorant or an Antiperspirant for Odor?
Either can be used, and they work in different ways. The 2025 review sorts deodorant formulation approaches into four groups: reducing sweat, limiting the growth of odor-forming bacteria, masking or neutralizing the smell, and deodorization. Antiperspirants are the sweat-reducing kind, and the NHS lists both antiperspirants and deodorants among the things to use.
We break down the difference in our guide to deodorant vs antiperspirant.
Can a Natural Deodorant Help With Smelly Armpits?
It may for some people, but this article cites no trial of our own product, so treat it as one option alongside the steps above. The product page for our Sampson Natural Deodorant Spray describes it as using potassium alum, a natural mineral salt, and botanical extracts to neutralize odor-causing bacteria on contact. That is our description of the formula, not a study result. The full ingredient list, including the Fragrance (Parfum) in the five scented variants, is on the product page.
If a natural deodorant worked and then stopped, our guide to why a natural deodorant stops working covers the usual reasons. If you have just switched, see how long natural deodorant takes to work.
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Shop now → ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75When Should You See a Doctor About Armpit Odor?
The NHS says to see a GP if body odor has not got better after you have treated it yourself and any of these apply: it is affecting your self-esteem, you notice a change in how it usually smells, or you suddenly begin to sweat much more than usual.
For sweating specifically, the NHS says to see a GP about excessive sweating when it comes with signs such as: self-help is not working, it has lasted at least six months, it stops you getting on with daily activities, it happens at least once a week, it happens at night, you have a family history of excessive sweating, or you are taking medicine for another condition. It says a GP may refer you for tests if another condition may be causing it.
This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Individual results may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for armpits to smell?
Yes, it is common. The NHS says body odor is a common problem and that you can usually treat it yourself.
Why do my armpits smell right after a shower?
None of the sources here measured this, so we cannot give you a reason. The NHS advice is to wash your armpits at least twice a day with soap and dry thoroughly. If odor persists after the self-care steps, a pharmacist can help, and the last section of this guide covers when the NHS says to see a GP.
Can food or alcohol make armpits smell?
The NHS includes not eating too much strong-smelling or spicy food and not drinking too much alcohol in its body odor self-care advice.
Do the clothes I wear make a difference?
The NHS advises changing and washing your clothes regularly, wearing natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk, and avoiding tight clothing and man-made fabrics.
Can smelly armpits be a sign of a health problem?
Sometimes. The NHS lists conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease among the things that can make body odor worse, and lists a change in how it usually smells among the reasons to see a GP if self-care has not helped. It adds that often the cause is unknown.
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