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B&O
 The above is not
short for Bang&Olufsen, but the dreaded Body Odor that makes no
friends. While a fragrant-smelling body is one of the ways to pamper
yourself and avoid ostracism, it does not entail drowning yourself in
oceans of perfume.
One morning in the office elevator, there was the powerful smell of
perfume that clogged my nose and, in a former, less healthy time,
would have left me gasping for breath. One of the occupants obviously
had decided that perfume should be applied liberally, like letting
loose with room freshener in the kitchen after a curry fry-up.
I also often meet friends and clients who spray on perfume after
lunch, when the day is halfway done and they are already a little
worse for wear. It makes for a strange combination: Floral notes
intermingling with the odor of grilled fish in soy sauce that clings
to clothes. It seems that perfume is their savior from all the
undesirable smells of life.
It’s always the case that we are reliant on something from outside
instead of taking care of what’s going on inside. Like when we blame
our figure flaws on poorly made clothing, when we should have decided
long ago to leave the table before dessert arrived.
Perfume and cologne should be little extras, not a way for you to
mask your personal hygiene inadequacies.
1. Sweat glands 101. People have apocrine
and eccrine sweat glands. Apocrine glands are mainly found where hair
is located, in the armpits and pubic area, and excrete fatty materials
in sweat. When the materials come into contact with bacteria,
unmistakable BO is the result. Eccrine sweat glands are all over the
body, but particularly on the palms of the hands, feet and forehead.
They give off a salty odor (say cheese, please).
2. Odor Control: Bathe twice a day (no,
spraying yourself with two different perfumes twice daily is not the
same thing).
3. Wear clean clothes. There will be no
need then to saturate your clothes with perfume.
4. Underarms are the major problem area
for BO. Sweat gets trapped in the hair, creating a moist environment
ideal for bacteria to flourish (deodorant and talcum powder can
heighten the problem by trapping the sweat “on site”).
For those who sweat easily and/or work in a hot environment, shaving may
be the solution.
5. Keep your stress and emotion levels
stable. Getting worked up about everything around you will set the
apocrine glands working overtimes. It’s true what they say: Don’t
sweat the
small stuff.
6. Wear natural fibers like cotton that absorb sweat.
7. Keep your weight under control. Sweat
is easily trapped in the folds of skin, leading to odor.
8. Watch your consumption of high-protein
foods, especially lamb, as well as durian, fried onions and alcohol.
Smoking also is no friend of a fragrant you (speaking of friends, one
of mine finishes off a cigarette, and then sprays from head to toe
with her favorite perfume).
9. If you suddenly notice a BO problem
where there was not one before, it may have to do with any antibiotics
you are taking. Try an antiseptic soap.
10. German
researchers have found that the nerve-freezing properties of Botox may
also work in fighting BO. Wonder of wonders, it also can be injected
into the armpits to reduce sweat. Not only can you now have a
wrinkle-free forehead, but also a smooth underarm sans sweat. What
more could you ask for?
+ Samuel Mulia
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