Things That Make Your Private Part Smell And Taste Better

There’s no one “right” way that a vagina should smell—everyone has their own natural odor, and every woman’s odor is different. It’s also actually normal for your vagina to put off different odors sometimes, like when you’re on your period or after sex. However, if you’re noticing strong or persistent odors that aren’t normal, that could be a sign that something isn’t right. Keep reading for tips on how to keep your vagina smelling good and what to do if you think something is causing bad smells. 

 

Practice Good Hygiene

1. Wash regularly. You need to shower and wash yourself regularly to smell good! For most women, a good guideline is to gently wash the area around the vagina every day. Washing yourself will help combat a buildup of bacteria on the skin, which causes odor just like it does anywhere else on the body.

   
   

2. Use the correct soaps. Your vagina is very sensitive. Using the wrong types of soap can cause irritation and bad odor. Avoid soaps which are heavily perfumed, contain too many unnatural ingredients, or have antibacterial properties.  These upset the natural balance of your body. Instead, use natural soaps which are labeled as being fragrance-free.

3. Don’t douche. The only time you should douche (wash out your vagina) is if your doctor tells you to. Douching creates a terrible imbalance of your body’s natural bacteria and will almost guarantee that you end up with some kind of infection. The only cleaning that you will need to do will be with basic soap and water on the outside of your body.

4. Wipe carefully. Incorrect wiping after using the toilet can lead to infections. Wipe in the correct direction (front to back) and be sure that you are thorough. It is easy to miss the vaginal area and this can leave residue which leads to infections or overgrowth of bacteria.

5. Use products carefully. Be careful about the products that you use around your vagina. Using lubricants that are not water or silicone based can cause infections, and you should always clean lube off once you’re done using it. Anything with heavy fragrance can cause infections easily, so avoid feminine products which aim to make your vagina smell like flowers. This includes lotions.

6. Wear clean, fresh, correctly fitting underwear. This is a very important part of keeping your vagina clean and healthy. Wearing the same set of underwear for more than 24 hours may quickly create an imbalance of bacteria. You will also want to wear the right type of underwear. Your underwear needs to breathe, since an overly moist environment will cause bacterial buildup. Cotton is best. Make sure you do laundry, it can get messy!

Quick Solutions

1. Use perfume. Yes, using perfume too close to your vagina is a bad idea. However, putting a dab of perfume on the inside of each of your thighs, roughly six inches from the vulva area, is a time-honored way to smell amazing when anyone puts their head down there.

   • You partner will associate musky smells with sex (since this is the type of smell you have naturally) so try to get a perfume which is generally musky. Sandalwood and vanilla are common “sexy” smells.

2. Watch your diet. Your diet can greatly affect your taste and smell. Certain foods tend to affect your body in certain ways, by altering your body’s balance of sugar, bacteria, and chemical compounds. Much like how if you eat a lot of garlic, your skin excretes a garlic smell for several days, you can eat or not eat certain foods to produce a better smell and taste in your vagina.

   • You’ll want to start by eating less sugar. A spike in blood sugar can cause yeast infections and buildup, which will cause bad odor. 
   • Yogurt is considered to be a great way to help women keep a healthy vagina, as it contains the bacteria which naturally occurs in our body to maintain a healthy vagina. 

Understand the Causes

1. Watch out for infections and diseases. These are the major causes of serious vaginal odor. Examples of such infections and diseases include yeast and bacterial infections (the most common causes), STIs, STDs, or viruses like herpes. Even much more serious problems like some kinds of cancer or internal ruptures can cause vaginal odor. You will need to monitor your body for other signs of illness and if you really feel that your vaginal odor is unnatural, see your doctor.

   • One thing to look out for are unusual discharges from your vagina. Brown, green, or chunky white discharges are signs of infection and you should go see your doctor as soon as possible. Just remember that some discharge is normal and healthy but it should not smell.

2. Be aware that certain sexual practices cause vaginal odor. Any introduction of foreign bacteria can upset the delicate balance in your vagina and so sexual practices can have an effect. Certain practices in particular can set off a reaction, namely anal sex before vaginal sex, oral sex, and the use of objects or food as penetrative methods.

   • If you wish to engage in these practices, use protection (like a condom) and change it in between activities.

3. Check for foreign objects. Foreign objects lodged in the vagina will cause your body's immune response to react and try to attack the object. This can cause bad odor as well. Tampons that have been forgotten or left in for too long, pieces of a broken condom, or objects used in sexual play are examples of such causes for odor.^[13]

4. Be careful to practice proper hygiene. Improper hygiene can lead to a buildup of bacteria around your vagina and vulva. This will cause odor, though it may not necessarily cause an infection. If you want to reduce odor, keep yourself and your clothing clean. Loose clothing can prevent smell too.

5. Avoid hot baths and hot tubs. Surrounding your vagina with hot water will kill much of your body’s natural bacteria which preserves the delicate balance of your vagina.