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Preventive care

Body odor: How it changes — and how to improve it

Your scent says more about your health, hormones, and habits than you think. Here's what causes shifts in body odor — and science-backed ways to smell better.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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Every person smells a little different, due to genetics, hygiene habits, and the skin’s microbiome (the microbes that naturally live on the skin), but body odor occurs when someone’s scent becomes foul. It is most noticeable when people are sweating, but body odor changes sometimes signal certain health conditions.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is the executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website. … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

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Rachel Reynolds, MD, Contributor

Dr. Rachel Reynolds is the Interim chair of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in acne and women's health dermatology. She co-directs … See Full Bio
View all posts by Rachel Reynolds, MD
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