Body Odor and Coffee: What’s The Connection?

We’ve all heard of and possibly experienced coffee breath. Many of us may even avoid drinking java when socializing due to this reason. But, do these effects extend the entire body as well? 

In this guide, we’ll go over the effects coffee has on body odor and ways to combat these smells. 

What is Body Odor? 

Body odor is the scent given off by a human being. Everyone has it; it just comes in levels. For some, it’s neutral, while for others, it’s very strong. Body odor is specific to the individual and genetically determined. This is why you see bloodhounds tracking humans through the scent of their clothes. It’s pretty amazing, but more interesting is the connection between body odor and coffee. 

While you can’t rid yourself of your body odor, there are ways you can lessen its effects. The first is understanding what causes it. It is then you’ll be able to combat it.

Does Coffee Cause Body Odor?

Are you experiencing sweat smells like coffee? Is java the culprit, or is it something else? 

In order to answer this question, one must familiarize themselves with the body’s two sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands open directly onto the surface of your skin, occurring over most of your body. Apocrine glands open in hair follicles and develop in areas like the scalp, groin, or armpits.

Eccrine sweat is mostly salt and water. You want to watch out for apocrine glands since these are fatty sweat leading to body odor. Body odor happens when the bacteria of the skin breaks down sweat from the apocrine glands.

It’s true that sweating is hereditary, but other factors also influence it, caffeine included. Coffee is a stimulant that causes your body to wake up. It goes to a lot of places in your body, including the brain, nerves, and sweat glands. By drinking caffeine, you may be feeding your apocrine sweat glands, resulting in body odor.

How to Treat Body Odor Caused by Coffee

The areas most affected by caffeine are areas that don’t get much airflow, like the armpits. Too much coffee will cause these areas to smell; however, one way to kill off odor-causing bacteria is by rubbing alcohol on your armpits. You can also use green tea extract as a deodorant. Store-bought deodorants contain aluminum which blocks pores but can irritate sensitive areas.

And, of course, there’s always the option to reduce caffeine intake. This includes both coffee and tea.  

What Causes Coffee Breath? 

Stimulants dehydrate the body, and you’ve guessed it – coffee is a big stimulant. When one drinks java, kidneys work harder to filter more and more water out. Losing this water leads to dehydration because your body is pulling water anywhere it can, including saliva.

By draining the saliva from one’s mouth, bacteria are being exposed, releasing those bad odors or, as many like to call it, coffee breath.

How to Treat Coffee Breath

Treating coffee breath is easy. It’s this lack of saliva that’s causing funny smells coming from the mouth. Therefore, an easy way to avoid this is by drinking more water. This will help stabilize the body back to where it was before you drank all that coffee. 

Faster solutions include freshening up your mouth by brushing your teeth and gargling some mouthwash. You can also chew mint gum to mask the smell and help remove the bacteria. But if you don’t address the root problem (dehydration), the coffee breath will just keep coming back, so make sure you hydrate yourself.

Final Thoughts

Too much caffeine can lead to bad odors. To prevent this from happening, reduce caffeine intake, drink plenty of water, and wear a natural deodorant. Knowing the connection between body odor and coffee is the first step to knowing how to combat it. With this information in mind, you no longer have to worry about sweat smells like coffee coming from you.