I'm sorry that somebody insulted you. That must've been very painful, and it makes me sad that somebody was so tactless to say something like that to you.

What was the context of their remark? Did you ask if you smelled bad, and it was a friend phrasing it delicately? Or was it some boor who used it as an epithet against you? I wouldn't put too much stock in some angry passerby's remark, which is why I ask.

Another consideration is the possibility that if you don't smell like a magazine (full of inserts proffering various colognes) then you must smell offensive to some noses. Our society has a strange tendency to want to pretend that biology doesn't occur, and we're expected to smell like an explosion at a Chanel factory. I'd reckon that if you do a daily rinse to wash off fermenting sweat and oil build-up, you probably do smell fine, and somebody may well have been striking out at you based on some other irritation. (For instance, were you standing nearby on a bus, and they lashed out, feeling claustrophobic?)

Lastly, perhaps it's not YOU that smells, but whatever is going on in your tummy that stinks. You've reported an increase in rumblings and gas; are you flatulent? When was the last time you've been to the dentist? Dental caries may produce an unpleasant odor. Or, maybe, ketosis, which I hear is detectable upon one's breath?

Again, I'm sorry somebody said something hurtful to you, and I commend you for making a switch to a more natural lifestyle. I hope you're able to get things sorted out!

I knew two women - a couple - who went down the same hygiene route as you. One was of Chinese decent. The other was Palestinian.

The Chinese woman had no problem on this regime. Having fewer apocrine glands, she smelled fine. Her partner, on the other hand, ended up with a strong body odor (she didn't have one previously). Her friends begged her to go back to conventional soap.

I don't know what diet they followed other than that they were vegetarians. But the point is simply that different people can respond differently to the same protocols for reasons beyond their control.

For a while now I've been using a homemade deodorant that really does the trick: I can't recall the precise ratios but if you make a paste out of melted coconut oil and baking soda, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil if you like (I used lavender and lemon together), then spread a thin layer on your armpits in morning and maybe dust with baby powder/cornstarch to finish, you will be golden all day. Let me know if you're interested and I'll dig up the "recipe," which I wrote down and stuffed somewhere in my medicine cabinet. :)

Rook, this may be the first complaint but think back to your prepaleo days, was there every anyone that stunk...did you tell them? I think people smell all the time but I am around truck drivers and yard workers, they are bound to be sweaty. I dont think I have ever told anyone the have an offending odor but have gone to a Manager (i worked in a Pharmacy for years) before in two different scenerios to have it discussed with the employee because our customers were reporting their smell. Theirs was a lack of hygiene though, not brushing teeth, not cleaning roll under neck and being sweaty in Florida...whew, it was awful and we had to take it daily but I drew the line at the customer noticing.

I would take this as a opportunity to speak with your best friend and look them in the eye and say, BE BRUTAL, I have to know...Please tell me if you can smell my pits, general sweaty smell or what...If you have shared your paleo-ness with others do the same with 3-4...but to be fair to them you really have to stress that they need to be totally and brutally honest in order to help you.

Theresa

OMG Rook, you rock for posting this! First of all, we are all human so on some basic level, no worries about any of this. I'll bet it was just a fluke thing. And, one person may think someone is a bit odiferous, while another person will take a deep sniff and say, "mmmmm, yes, please!"

What happened? Was it a co-worker who said this politely? Or a frenemy who said it meanly? We'll kick their As$.

But, just in case, I'll share some info that may be helpful. I know of a man who showers ever other day or so, and tends to sweat easily just in a normal day to day working environment. He also hates doing laundry, so will try to get at least two wears out his shirts and pants. Some days, this was okay. But other days, there was some body odor. He uses the crystal deodorant and armpits were not a problem. So, if he just launders everything he wears after one time, and showers daily, it is all good. And some days, even if he doesn't it is fine, too. Depending on how warm it is, what we have eaten and so on--every day can be a little different.

It will boost your confidence and assuage your worries if you use your goat milk soap every day, use deodorant every day, launder your clothes after one wear, and sprinkle lavender blossoms and buds in your bureau drawers. Chew on fennel and cloves. Beware of all the flirting that will come your way! Here's my recipe for deodorant: 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch, a few drops of aromatic oil, I used cardamom. Blend and apply like a creme.

: )

Generally when someone says stink, they are referring to body odor rather than flatulance. If you are not using a washcloth to scrub your skin to get rid of old dead skin cells...that may be the problem.

I use only baking soda on a coarse washcloth to exfolliate my body while in the shower. When I first went no soap, no shampoo I was in a bathtub and I scrubbed with the washcloth and was absolutely amazed at how much dead skin cells were floating on the water. Baking soda for the hair also.

I use a little baking soda as a natural deodorant in my armpit...which does the trick. I have to use something because after a half day, I begin to reek in my pits, if I go sodaless.

Try the baking soda.

In lieu of deodorant, I apply 70% isopropyl alcohol to my armpits every day to kill the germs that cause B.O.

I've been doing this for years and have never received any complaints. Either it's an effective deodorant or everyone's been super polite to me.

I've been considering the no poo, no soap route but then, I practically do it anyways. I don't have answers to the causes but I do have some very natural suggestions for smelling better at any time. This works great for everyone, especially women at that time of the month and anyone at anytime who wants an extra something or needs help because they cannot use baking soda (like me). I've practiced aromatherapy for over 20 years so I'm not just blabbing out of school but a drop or two of lavender or peppermint or both rubbed in palms and briskly patted wherever needed can really tone down hormonal times or give you a fresh scent. If your skin is sensitive, add a couple drops of olive oil or jojoba if you have it. There are many other natural scents that can be composed from essential oils (not fragrance oils). I realize this isn't neutral but sometimes I might smell like a skunk. It just isn't my thing. Gorgeous is my thing:) Patch test anything first.

If your body is smelly -- then your lymph system is clogged, period. Cleanse your lymph and keep it clean. This has to do with how your body metabolizes and evacuates what your eat. If you smell at all -- then there is an imbalance in the body. You may not be absorbing or eliminating your foods correctly.

Are you eating any dairy?

Is your laundry detergent Paleo? I mean, are using still using standard laundry products?

The "crystal sticks" are overly commercialized, IMO. Yes, they work, but they're overly packaged and expensive. Pick up an alum block from a men's grooming store. Not only does it help tighten the pores on your face after a shave, but it doubles as an unscented deodorant that lasts forever.

Before you apply this types of crystal, though, make sure to run it under cold water first. Simply rubbing it against your skin isn't going to do a thing.

I use mostly baking soda in the shower, with occasional Cetaphil bar soap and hair conditioner. Crystal deoderants don't work for me. Neither do Tom's brand deoderants or milk of magnesia (another 'natural' remedy) or lavendar essential oil. Tried them all. I don't reek using them, but by the end of the day, I'm starting to ripen. Therefore I went back to my conventional deoderant. It's not worth the worry, and it's not convenient for me to wash my pits in the middle of the workday to reapply these less effective products.

You'll get it sorted out. Don't forget about your clothes either -- whatever steps you take, you may want to launder or dry clean any work clothes that have been worn recently. I had a friend in HR who told me she once had to speak with a coworker about an odor problem. It turned out he was showering and dressing for work, then putting coveralls over his work clothes before feeding his goats. His goaty coveralls were contaminating his whole person, but he couldn't smell it.

I tried a bunch of products, trying to get away from any chemicals, etc. Not much luck in the stink department until I tried Alvera unscented: http://www.iherb.com/Alvera-Aloe-Herbal-All-Natural-Roll-On-Deodorant-3-fl-oz-89-ml/6099?at=1

Works very well for me, and it's cheap.

I don't rub chemicals into my skin. I'm pretty sure I don't smell. What I do, and I think this is very important, is make sure I only wear natural fibres eg cotton or wool. Have you by any chance started wearing polyester lately?

Sometimes it also seems to be one persons nose vs. one persons body. If my husband doesn't shower for a few days, I think he smells like unshowered man, but it doesn't smell offensive to me. I've met other guys though that shower, use deodorant, standard hygiene and they just stink to me!

As you said it's someone you're in contact with regularly, I'd suggest one of the Toms of Maine products, at least for work. My mom actually used to buy me their deodorants when I was a kid (my family has always been anti aluminum, this was like 15 years ago!) but I had overactive sweat glands and would get made fun of for how much I perspired, so I went to the anti-perspirant anyway...and look at me now, waiting till mine gets all used up so I can switch back! XD

I use Aubrey Organics Men's Stock. They have a few other styles like a Calendula based one that smells less 'manly'. It's basically alcohol and some herbs sprayed on. It seems to work all day and even during gym work outs. Has worked way better than Tom's for me and seems to be even more natural.