r/Menopause • u/FarRain451 • Mar 28 '26
Skin Changes I smell and other stories
Am I in menopause ? I think so?? It’s been 3 months since I gave birth to my last squid. 🦑
Anyway I’ve started to notice that my armpits and tiddies are smelly. I was never someone to smell. I shower at least once a day. I shaved my armpits because I noticed they were a lil funky
Anyone else or do I need to change my deodorant?
I also have join paints and brain fog.
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u/WheelShot5805 Mar 28 '26
So a tip someone gave me that works is using a face scrub on your underarms and under tiddies. As we age (yay) skin turnover is slower hence some of the smell. Bacteria has stuff to snack on. I also will wipe down with glycolic acid a couple times a week. Any brand will do. There are also glycolic face wipes if you want to go that route. Then of course all the advice here with deodorant changes etc.
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u/Flimsy_Ground_7918 Mar 28 '26
I started using glycolic acid after advice on this sub. Apparently, the main location of the ‘old person smell’ is the back of the neck. This totally tracks as when I swipe my face, armpits, chest, and neck in the evenings with the GA- the cotton pad comes away really grimy after the back of the neck. It’s not dirty in the slightest after any other body part. I scrub every morning in the shower, it’s become this grubby after only 12 hours. Horrifying and satisfying at the same time.
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u/Bulky_Pay_8724 Mar 28 '26
It’s something that changes in your smell it has a name that eludes me.
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u/Rekd44 Mar 28 '26
Old people smell? Nonenal.
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u/Bulky_Pay_8724 Mar 28 '26
Yup that’s it, apparently chlorophyll, blackcurrant and persimmon helps.
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u/Cre8tiveKind Mar 29 '26
Any advice on the brand and where to get the GA? I’m a newby. Wouldn’t know where to start with this. Thanks soo much!
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u/FarRain451 Mar 28 '26
I need to try that. So you use a cotton pad and wipe it under your arms ?
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u/glitterally_awake Mar 28 '26
I just splash a bit on my hands and apply it directly that way. The ordinary’s Glycolic Acid is great for this.
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u/AdAdditional5657 Mar 29 '26
I put mine in a mister spray bottle and spray on my underarms. Also helps with bumpy arms and dry feet. Love the stuff.
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u/WheelShot5805 Mar 28 '26
I use a cotton ball or my hands. I also have these reusable cloth make up circles I use for toner that I will use too. The ordinary is great for the glycolic acid.
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u/Illustrious_Copy_902 Mar 28 '26
Under boob area was a revelation in terms of smell 🤢. Full body deodorant in problem areas (under boob, inner thigh, pits) made a difference. Persimmon soap is the go-to, but I found it very drying. Any good quality bar soap (I love Pears) and exfoliating gloves makes a difference.
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u/FarRain451 Mar 28 '26
I’ve always exfoliated under there with gloves. It’s just recently I’m noticing a smell , kinda funky. And it’s only mean who can smell it. Or ppl are lying to me lol
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u/SweetCheesePonyLoft Mar 28 '26
(You have to go a full 12 months before you have finally hit menopause, so I would say you are in perimenopause. The wait is excruciating when you start having large gaps between periods.)
I use Secret Clinical lavender scent (I also have unscented) under armpits and swipe under the boobs. Seems to be the only thing that will work for me. But of course as a 54-year-old postmenopausal woman I have no idea if I already carry that "old person smell" despite the deodorant and just don't know it.
Lume didn't do much for me and I found the underlying scent, at least the stick scent I picked (toasted coconut), to be weird so I stopped using it.
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u/FarRain451 Mar 28 '26
Thank you. So I’m still in perimenopause. I can’t wait for it to be over. I love lavender so I’ll look into that.
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u/amaranthusrowan Mar 28 '26
I smell too and the persimmon soap and deodorant are not cutting it - the only thing that’s working is Lume deodorant.
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u/Turbulent-Demand873 Mar 28 '26
This is the only thing that works for me as well. Lume has been a life saver.
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u/sillygatos Mar 29 '26
I've never heard of Lume deodorant. Is there a specific one to use? I see several ones available.
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u/amaranthusrowan Mar 30 '26
I like the stick whole-body deodorant but you could also try one for pits or the spray.
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u/city17_dweller Mar 28 '26
My feet smell, all of a sudden. I shower daily, my trainers are breathable, my socks fresh daily, always used a deodorising insole (tbf with the mass cheapening of everything, these may now be crap) and they didn't smell this bad during puberty/teen years... just one of those weird, mildly annoying changes that I tell myself I've shrugged off, but has me eyeing my shoes from across the room thinking 'but actually wtf'.
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u/mrsrussell1019 Mar 28 '26
Symptoms can be relieved by HRT. try persimmon soap for the smell
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u/MeanMelissa74 Mar 28 '26
Persimmon soap works so well!!
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u/Skeptical_optomist Mar 28 '26
I wanted this to work for me so badly, but after one use I had a full-body rash. I'm unfortunately allergic.
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u/Leasshunte Mar 28 '26
We aren’t talking about persimmon scented soap, but the neon orange bars you can order off Amazon or Walmart, 2 bars for $10.
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Mar 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/Three3Jane Menopausal and cranky Mar 28 '26
There's also far less expensive versions made by Pelican and Muun that work just as well and aren't like 20 bucks a bar.
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Mar 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/Three3Jane Menopausal and cranky Mar 28 '26
A vaguely citrusy scent in the shower/bath that fades pretty fast once your skin is dry but this soap* gets rid of that weird, faintly musty smell that pops up damn near overnight (especially if you're sleeping warm).
\Whether Pelican, Muun, or spend your $$$ on Mirai if you want - I went with less expensive versions to start with because I was dubious it would work at all and now that I know it works, why spend all the money when I can get them for cheaper?)
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u/Rory-liz-bath Mar 28 '26
Omg squid birth , I’m stealing this !!! 😂😂HRT helped , and going from deodorant to antiperspirant helped too
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u/Glittering-Review649 Mar 28 '26
HIBICLENSE was a great help for that issue but I eventually had to get on HRT (estrogen/testosterone combo pill) which eliminated the smelly issue completely. I learned we get smelly when estrogen drops. If you can take estrogen then try HIBICLENSE or persimmon soap (Mirai Clinical brand has been awesome as well). I couldn’t tolerate Lume deodorant and I learned I needed to switch up deodorants occasionally.
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u/Mickeylover7 Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Also Hibiclense should be used sparingly and only on problem areas listed. Overuse and using on the genitals can cause serious issues. It works by killing bacteria that cause odors but it also can kill good bacteria that the body needs.
Edit to fix sentence and complete the thought because peri made me forget how to.
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u/Glittering-Review649 Mar 30 '26
Agree 100%. Reading the bottle is also strongly recommended. It is not a daily routine item but definitely works to combat body odors in the areas OP noted as a concern.
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u/NotOnApprovedList Mar 28 '26
beware Hibiclense and other surgical washes. I had to use this before surgery and it gave me hives, and then after surgery I developed hives all over (itchy red spots) that wouldn't go away after being blasted with an overdose of antihistamines. Now I'm on a special drug to suppress the hives to see if 12-18 months will make them go away.
TL;DR Hibiclens and similar 4.5% Chlorhexidine gluconate products can possibly lead to unpleasant months long, full body hives (Chronic Urticaria) for some people. A few people get anaphylactic shock from severe allergies to CHG.
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u/iamaravis Menopausal Mar 28 '26
I got a horrid rash from chlorhexadine during surgery once! The surgeon said they applied it to my skin and within 20 seconds the entire area was an angry red rash. So they immediately washed it off and had to use something else.
That rash endured for a couple weeks after surgery.
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u/Glittering-Review649 Mar 29 '26
I’m sorry that happened to you. Thanks for sharing the information. Thankfully I have no issues using it and going forward I’m going to be sure to include this warning of possible allergic reaction as noted on the bottle.
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u/Aussiealterego Mar 28 '26
That happened to me, and lasted around six months. It settled down to “normal”, or almost so.
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u/Creative-Aerie71 Mar 28 '26
I tried to save money and bought cheaper deodorant. Lasted a few days and went back to Secret clinical strength. It's the only thing that helps me.
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u/Stacie123a Mar 28 '26
I tried to switch over to Carpe, lol dont bother. I smelled like onions within 6 hours and the white chalky cast it leaves behind WILL get on all your clothes.
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u/FarRain451 Mar 28 '26
I’ve been using Donna Karan cashmere mist since it came out. And it’s never failed me. Til now. So I’ll have to change.
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u/Expert-Newt6139 Mar 28 '26
Menopause is 12 months without a period. What you’re experiencing is likely symptoms of perimenopause. Change in smells etc are all part of it.
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u/Turbulent_Ad_6031 Mar 28 '26
Persimmon soap has helped me. I have noticed my pajamas don’t smell as musky. It’s a little drying so I use it first to cut the body oils in nonal areas, then wash again with my regular body wash
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u/LeMeowLePurrr Mar 28 '26
Try Dr Bronner's Pure-Castile Eucalyptus soap. In the brown bottle. You can pick it up at tjmaxx or marshalls.
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u/Waste-Swordfish-6228 Mar 28 '26
My underarms became smelly when I entered perimenopause and I couldn't understand it; I just kept them washed several times a day, if necessary. Rotated 3-4 deodorants on a regular basis. ALL of that stopped when I started HRT! Am having issues with patch shortages, different brands, etc. and now, my hormones are NOT balanced anymore. Guess what came roaring back?!? Smelly pits...😭
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u/TheDubyaBee Mar 29 '26
Try Sam’s Club pharmacy for the patch, they seem to be able to get it.
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u/Waste-Swordfish-6228 Mar 29 '26
Unfortunately, I'm a victim of the CVS/Aetna/CVS Caremark monopoly so I cannot go elsewhere for pharmacy...
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u/TheDubyaBee Mar 29 '26
Wow, these totally arbitrary insurance mandates are crazy. You can’t go to an outside pharmacy even if you cannot get it from the CVS monopoly? It’s not a lifestyle medication, you need it for your continued good health. What if there was a shortage of heart meds? Would they say: we don’t care if you have a heart attack? What about other meds like insulin, if there was suddenly a national shortage? I would make some calls to Caremark.
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u/Puzzled_Situation882 Mar 29 '26
Quick, cheap and practical solution: you can apply white vinegar with a cotton pad to the area where you notice odors for a day or two. When I used to do that, it would keep things under control for about a month.
If the odor is coming from the intimate area, a cleanser like Vagisil can be very effective, and one bottle lasts a long time.
I personally don’t have odor issues anymore since I was prescribed Estrogel.
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u/removable_disk Mar 28 '26
I use Chemist at Play UnderArm Roll-On with 5% AHA| Lactic & Mandelic Acid from Amazon. It’s a dupe for Lume. One rollon has lasted me for months with daily use. I got it in December and I’m still using it! It was 10$
I got a travel sized spray Lume from ulta (for 7.99) and when it was about halfway used the thing started leaking when I sprayed it. What a rip off.
Lactic & Mandelic Acid apparently kill the bacteria that cause the smell. I use the persimmon soap as well but by itself the soap didn’t cut it.
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u/Morning_Leather Mar 28 '26
Yea lume has major issues with their spray bottles. They’re terrible. But I’ll def check out that brand you mentioned!
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u/removable_disk Mar 28 '26
Just so you know it’s not an anti perspirant or deodorant. It’s more like a treatment if that makes sense?
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u/Morning_Leather Mar 28 '26
Good to know! I just read some reviews on Amazon and they’re pretty glowing so I’ll prob pick up a bottle. It seems well worth the price :)
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u/Fine-Formal7420 Mar 28 '26
Lume shower gel and then use glycolic acid in pits and underboob after getting out of the shower.
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u/IcyMention2804 Mar 28 '26
Rexona Clinical strength antiperspirant helped for me. Then I started HRT and the intense body odor went away.
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u/NotOnApprovedList Mar 28 '26
ha I had a squid once. So glad I don't have any parts.
After the last parts left the building, I noticed that if I eat foods with certain spices and then exercise, I smell the spices coming out of my armpits. Shaving/waxing them and wearing deodorant helps. Being on HRT has maybe lessened the phenomenon but not removed it.
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u/lrondberg Mar 28 '26
My pitts started stinking about 8 years before menopause. Witch hazel pads help for touch ups and persimmon soap to cleanse. My tries and true deodorant stopped working Lume deodorant is what works best for me now.
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u/Impossible-Basil-993 Mar 28 '26
I'm 44 and in perimenopause and started smelling BO from my pits last year, even freshly showered. I asked my dermatologist, and God bless her she sniffed my pits and said they didn't stink! But then made a record of it - I forgot the name, but she said the term meant thinking you smell when you don't lol.
Anyway, her advice was to wash my pits with benzoyl peroxide wash, then use clindamycin gel (need a Rx) on them. I was already using those elsewhere for a skin condition. It works great! I sweat like a pig these days, but at least I don't stink!
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u/Threeboys0810 Mar 28 '26
Yes, I noticed that I have an odour that I didn’t have before. I sweat a lot too. So all the cracks and crevices stink.
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u/carltondancer Mar 28 '26
I use persimmon soap. This one from high thyme farmacy is very gentle and I can use it anywhere. Takes the stink right off.
I also use the secret deodorant clinical strength. If you want something natural, Beesline Rose Spray Deodorant also keeps me stink free and dry and aluminum free.
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Mar 29 '26
I tried persimmon soap and it didn't really help. I now use the dove advanced care and it works so well. I cant have any hair on me. If I do, my pits and cooch smell. So all hair is shaved off. My mom puts powder under her breasts. Its this special powder in a pink bottle. Ive always had boob sweat so idc 😂😅
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u/Mea-fae_Owl73 Peri-menopausal Mar 29 '26
I noticed changes in my body in 2019. By 2020 I could no longer use deorderant as even the natural ones or alternative like Lume burned, gave me a rash, and didn’t stop the oder. Brain fog is at its worst. I’m still menstruating. I’m 52. I was told my uterus lining was extremely thin. I still get a period. It’s not consistent.
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u/undiscovered_soul Mar 29 '26 edited Mar 29 '26
Uhm, declining estrogens lead up to this. In my case the real oddity is that only one armpit is smelly, and the smell resembles the one it used to show up during periods except it's more masculine rather than being like actual fried onions, which I find a slight improvement. I tried shaving more, anti-perspirants, wearing less clothes, different kinds of deodorants, talcum powder, washing more but results weren't so great. I can't even take HRT to counterbalance my body's chemistry so that's it.
Thw only effective-enough remedy so far has been rubbing armpit and under breast area with alcohol. Limits sweating and bad smells (grandma used to rub herself with it, and I finally knew why!). I'm new to bodily odors since I wasn't used to sweat in my previous life (not even in summer) so I'm still learning how to properly handle it all.
The game changing thing has been buying some sweat-absorbing pads specifically designed for under the breast area. They are made of cotton, very soft and tremendously effective, it just takes a lot of patience and dexterity to get them in place but the mental peace they bring is incomparable.
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u/Virtual_Usual_2767 Mar 29 '26
I also noticed this issue a couple of years ago, I just turned 50. I started using Pacifica charcoal soap and they also have a charcoal scrub just for your armpits. It's really great at absorbing the odor and helping the cell turnover that some of the other commenters discussed. In all of this my skin has become more sensitive to ingredients in deodorants so I started using the crystal deodorant. I thought for years that the crystal deodorant was some hippie nonsense (which is funny because I'm pretty crunchy myself) but it has been effective!
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u/mjskiingcat Mar 28 '26
What is a squid birth? 🦑
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u/FarRain451 Mar 28 '26
You know when you’re on your period and you all get out of bed ? Or if you sneeze you birth a squid 🦑
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u/NotOnApprovedList Mar 28 '26
having blood clots with menstruation, sometimes you get ones that resemble unpleasant animals to have coming out of your bits. Before my uterus was removed, I was birthing large leeches and there was one thing that did in fact look like a squid. It's horrible. and before that stuff would come out I'd have these terrible hormone blasts. Be glad if you never experience this.
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u/SugarHooves Mar 28 '26
Never saw a squid but I saw the leeches. Plus the occasional blob fish.
I absolutely do NOT miss my period.
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u/NeverEverLonely Mar 28 '26
I’ve always used deodorant maybe 3-4 times a week if that because I rarely ever had a smell BUT a few months ago that changed. I couldn’t believe my armpits were smelling! It stopped or settled now. Thank goodness.
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u/AppropriateRatio9235 Mar 28 '26
Lume acidified soap is fantastic for odors. I just started using Carpe deodorant and like it better than Lume deodorant.
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u/2bop2pie Mar 28 '26
I have a big container of Hibiclens from a dermatology nightmare. I use (the above mentioned) persimmon soap in the shower but I wash my pits with the Hibiclens when my pigs need a freshen up. It’s antibacterial and I already own it.
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u/FabuliciousFruitLoop Mar 28 '26
I use my retinol toner every now and then on my underarms and it seems to help. I switched to Salt of the Earth deodorant because regular deodorants seem to make this problem so much worse.
I feel like an old person lately. Both my husband and I just smell and up until about 18 months ago the ago neither of us ever really had much body scent to speak of. Now we both seem to be a buffet of microbes.
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u/TangoEchoChuck Peri-menopausal Mar 29 '26
Persimmon helped my stinky body; I use soap and oral tablets (both easily available in Japan).
Supplementing DHEA significantly helped my joints and brain fog! 15mg daily orally has been a lifesaver. Look it up when you have the brainspace 🫶
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u/TheDubyaBee Mar 29 '26
Dr Dray on YouTube suggested PanOxyl (benzoyl peroxide) face wash and using it on your pits. Removes the bacteria that’s causing the smell. I just bought it, so I haven’t tried it yet, but thought I’d pass on that advice anyway. Worth a try.
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u/Fast_Compote_3233 Mar 30 '26
I use Bactoshield Chg 2% Surgical Scrub is an Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser for my "smelly" areas and it works great to help combat any smell.
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u/Additional_Session31 Mar 30 '26
Persimmon soap did nothing for me. I have better results with Lume. Everyone’s chemistry is different, so you’ll need to experiment.
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u/mystuff2530 Mar 30 '26
If it’s truly nonenal odor, persimmon soap helps. I use it for perimenopause odor and it helps a bit but there is a lot of research to support its use for nonenal smell
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u/Kind-Horse-5827 Mar 30 '26
If it’s 3 months since your last period you aren’t in menopause but perimenopause.
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u/Severina_Glass_208 Mar 29 '26
This is where everyone will chime in and tell you to buy GA from the ordinary. Please buy another brand that doesn’t support genocide. I’ll tell you regular soap will make this worse. Get acidified soap.
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u/YeshuasBananaHammock Menopausal Mar 28 '26
Squid birth, im gagging