How to Make Your Butt Smell Good (The Honest Hygiene Guide)

Heads up: this is one of those topics nobody talks about but everyone Googles. Every healthy adult has body odor down there to some degree. The real question is what's normal, what's a sign of something more, and how to keep things fresh without irritating sensitive skin. No judgment, just information.

The reality: butt odor is normal

The butt area has:

• Lots of sweat glands (eccrine and apocrine)
• Fabric trapping heat and moisture all day
• A bacterial ecosystem that's part of healthy skin
• Proximity to other body areas that contribute

Some level of scent is part of being a healthy person. Your goal isn't to smell like nothing — it's to feel clean and confident.

What's normal vs. what's a sign of something else

Normal:

• Mild musky scent at the end of a long day
• Stronger scent after a workout, before showering
• Some scent at the area between cheeks (it's a skin fold)
• Slight changes around your menstrual cycle

Worth investigating:

• Fishy odor — could indicate bacterial vaginosis (if you have a vagina) which is treatable but needs a doctor
• Sweet or fruity odor — rarely, can indicate diabetes
• Very strong sulfur smell — could be diet (asparagus, garlic, certain medications) or rarely, a digestive issue
• Odor with discharge, itching, or rash — see a doctor; could be a yeast or bacterial infection
• Persistent odor that doesn't respond to good hygiene — worth a check-in with your physician

If anything in the second category applies, don't try to mask it — go to a doctor. Odor can be the only early symptom of treatable medical issues.

The daily protocol

Shower routine

1. Daily shower with a gentle, pH-balanced body wash
2. Wash the area gently — don't use harsh antibacterial soaps or scrub aggressively (disrupts your healthy skin microbiome)
3. Pat dry thoroughly. Moisture is the bacteria's friend — dry skin smells less.
4. If you sweat heavily, a second quick shower or freshen-up post-workout helps

Underwear matters

• Cotton is gold-standard — it breathes, absorbs sweat, and doesn't trap bacteria
• Synthetic underwear (nylon, polyester) traps heat and creates ideal bacterial conditions. Skip for daily wear.
• Change daily, and again after workouts
• Don't sleep in tight underwear — going commando or loose cotton at night reduces moisture trapping

What to avoid

• Internal washing (douching) — disrupts healthy bacteria, can cause infections and worsen odor over time
• Heavily scented products — mask without solving, can irritate sensitive skin and cause more odor as it reacts with your natural smell
• Wet wipes long-term — fine occasionally but daily use disrupts pH and creates dependency
• Antibacterial soap daily — kills the good bacteria along with the smell-producing ones

For sweat-prone people

If you sweat a lot in the area (genetics, climate, workout volume), additional moves:

• Antiperspirant body lotion on outer butt skin (yes, this exists — Lume, Megababe Bust Dust) for occlusive sweat control
• Cornstarch or talc-free body powder at the start of the day for moisture management
• Exfoliate 2–3x weekly with Becky's Booty Scrub — dead skin contributes to odor by giving bacteria more to feed on. Removing it reduces baseline odor.
• Lavender water (which is in Becky's scrub) has mild anti-bacterial properties from the linalool

The diet piece (small but real)

What you eat affects body odor. Some foods that intensify:

• Garlic and onions (sulfur compounds)
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower)
• Red meat in large quantities
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Asparagus (changes urine smell specifically)

You don't need to eliminate these — they're healthy. Just know they can shift your scent profile.

What helps:

• Adequate water
• Fiber (supports gut health, which affects odor)
• Probiotic foods (yogurt, kimchi) — healthier gut bacteria, sometimes less odor
• Citrus and leafy greens (chlorophyll has mild deodorizing effect)

Period and hormonal considerations

If you menstruate, scent changes around your cycle are normal. The end of your period and ovulation are common times to notice slight shifts. Use cotton or organic-cotton menstrual products, change frequently, and rinse with water alone (not soap) for the days you bleed.

The mental piece

Body odor anxiety is incredibly common and almost always disproportionate to reality. Your scent receptors are trained on your own scent and amplify it; others smell it far less than you do. If a partner has never mentioned anything, it's probably fine.

If you're worried about partner perception, ask them directly. Most people would rather have an honest conversation than have you anxious in silence. The conversation is usually "I don't even notice it."

FAQ

How often should I shower?

Daily for most people. Twice daily if you work out hard or sweat a lot. Avoid showering more than twice a day — strips skin oils and can actually worsen things.

Should I use vagina-specific or butt-specific cleansers?

Generally no — they're marketing. A gentle, pH-balanced body wash (CeraVe Hydrating, Cetaphil) handles everything. The exception: if your doctor recommends a specific intimate wash for a treatable condition.

Is shaving / waxing better for odor?

Slightly. Hair can trap moisture and bacteria. But hair removal also creates ingrowns and irritation that can cause their own issues. It's a personal choice, not a hygiene requirement.

Why does my butt smell worse on certain days?

Hormones (cycle), diet, hydration, stress, sleep, illness, medications, and how much you sweat all factor in. Mild day-to-day variation is normal.

Does Becky's scrub help with odor?

Indirectly, yes. Dead skin cells feed odor-producing bacteria. Removing them with regular exfoliation reduces the baseline odor that bacteria can produce. The lavender water in Becky has mild anti-bacterial properties (from linalool) too. It's not a deodorant, but the routine helps.

What about poop residue — is that the source?

If you're cleaning thoroughly after using the toilet (toilet paper + ideally a bidet or wet wipe occasionally), fecal residue isn't the typical source. If you suspect it is, talk to a doctor — chronic incomplete cleaning can indicate pelvic floor issues that are treatable.

The bottom line

Daily shower + cotton underwear + pat dry + exfoliate 2–3x weekly + healthy diet = clean and confident. Skip the scented products. See a doctor if odor changes suddenly or comes with other symptoms. You're more aware of it than anyone else, almost always.

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Read next: The complete routine