Foods that change how your sweat smells, according to experts

We all know that when we get hot, we sweat more – it's our body's way of keeping us cool, external. Necessary, yes, but the side effects aren't always that desirable, particularly if we've eaten certain foods…

Yep, we're talking about the smell.

While sweat itself doesn't really have an odour, it's the mix of sweat and bacteria on your skin that you can smell.

So, sweating more doesn't necessarily mean you'll smell more. Karolinska Institutet's Prof. Johan Lundström, external specialises in smell and odour and says sweat's scent depends on lots of variables.

"Our body odours originate from a combination of excreted compounds from different glands [particularly apocrine and eccrine] – that is partly dependent on our genes, the bacterial population on our body (which is due to such things as cleanliness and genetics) and the environment (humidity, temperature, air pressure).

"What we eat can also have a significant part to play."

We don't know the extent to which food impacts the smell of our sweat – "to the best of my knowledge, this has not been formally assessed," says Lundström – but we do know which foods are more likely to influence it.

"Individuals who eat a lot of meat tend to smell generally 'worse' than those on a mainly vegetable diet.

"Also, someone who loves to eat garlic will likely have a smellier odour to their sweat," says Lundström.

Garlic and meat are rich in sulphur which, once consumed, comes out via various channels, including breaking wind – but also sweat.

Asparagus and various spices also "tend to contain chemicals that fuse into the bloodstream. From there, they're secreted to the outside. Most things that come into the bloodstream are excreted one way or another via our body odour."

While there's little research into foods that will make your sweat smell sweeter, some studies show which diets are more likely to result in a more 'attractive' sweaty scent.

One experiment took place at Australia's Macquarie University, external. The 43 male participants washed only using water before putting on cotton T-shirts (no deodorant allowed).

They kept the shirts on for 48 hours before submitting them for a sniffing analysis.

The result? The men who had a greater fruit and veg intake were "significantly associated with more pleasant-smelling sweat (with more floral, fruity, sweet and medicinal qualities)".

Those who had eaten fat, meat, egg and tofu also fared favourably, while those with a bigger carb intake were said to have "stronger-smelling, less pleasant sweat".

There's less research involving females, but one small study, external analysed their sweat before, during and after a period of 'complete caloric restriction'. Men found the women's sweat more favourable once they had started eating again and less pleasant during the time of restriction.

Despite hacks you might see online, such as drinking pineapple juice, the NHS doesn't advise eating different foods to treat body odour (except for avoiding 'strong-smelling and spicy food', external).

Rather than eating specific foods, Lundström says it's "easier to use deodorants and perfume."

Plus, he is keen to point out that even if you're particularly pongy, it might not always be perceived as a bad thing.

"There are differences between countries in respect of what body odours are accepted or not. Even more variances come from the context the body odour is perceived within.

"Body odour in a gym or in bed with someone you love is perceived very differently than if the very same odour is experienced in a context where cleanliness is particularly valued, like when you're sat next to a stranger on a bus.

"Also, a potential partner will like your natural body odour!"

If you do notice persistent body odour (BO), excessive sweating or a noticeable change in its smell, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Originally published July 2023. Updated February 2026

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