How to Make Your Vagina Smell Good

Practice Good Hygiene

Wash regularly. You need to shower and wash yourself regularly to smell good! For most people, 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.

Use the correct soaps. Your vagina is very sensitive. Using the wrong types of soap can cause irritation and bad odor. Avoid soaps that 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.

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.

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.

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 products which aim to make your vagina smell like flowers. This includes lotions.

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! Change your underwear regularly to help prevent any odors.

Quick Solutions

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

Get regular exercise or use a sauna to help improve body odor. Sweating can help remove toxins from your skin, so it may help get rid of any bad smells. Just be sure to shower afterwards to rinse off any sweat or bacteria that’s still on your skin.

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. Aim to include some quality sources of protein and fat, as well as a healthy mix of fruits and vegetables. 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. Avoid eating processed foods or simple carbs, such as pastries, cookies, and table sugar. Try to drink at least 12 glasses of water a day, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Plain yogurt is considered to be a great way to help people keep a healthy vagina, as it contains the bacteria which naturally occurs in our body to maintain a healthy vagina.

Understand the Causes

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 is unusual discharge 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.

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 or a dental dam) and change it in between activities.

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.

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.

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.