Why does my butt smell even after washing?
I heard a guy say-:
Butts are like opinions- Everyone has one, and they all smell.
And it’s true, butts have a smell even after washing, no matter how much you scrub with soap. It’s a warm, dark area with plenty of sweat glands, hair, and zero airflow, not to mention poo. It’s a lot like armpits with the added bonus of moisture, poo smell and no deodorant.
The good news is, the butt doesn’t stink quite as loudly as armpits because the sweat glands down there are different. This means nobody can smell you if you wipe and wash properly every day.
But for my girls (and modern guys) who want their derriere to smell like daisies all day or at least have no smell at all, I’ve got you as always.
A friend once asked me whether I think a guy can smell her butt when going down on her.
Can’t say I haven’t wondered that too, especially if you are not freshly showered. But two ladies helped a lot when I was researching this very topic years ago and it has changed my hygiene game.
One is Chloe Yazmean, and I will put one of her videos here on how to properly clean your butt for 24-hour freshness. Her video is an eye-opener for many who think you just need to wash once and get on with it. The soap you use also matters so I highly recommend this video.
For anyone watching this, it is my assumption that;
- You ensured everything is healthy down there. (We will discuss this at length below)
- You shaved or waxed off the hair at least. Hair holds onto smell and makes it hard to have that fresh scent.
- You wipe your butt well after a poo. I recommend twice with tissue paper and twice with a wet wipe or a bidet and then dry off with a tissue to get rid of the moisture. Normally I just take a shower after a poo if I’m at home.
- You stick to a fiber-rich diet and hydrate well. The smell and consistency of your poo will affect the smell down there post-wiping.
The second person was the beautiful McKenna Walker whose video I’ll add as well.
In her videos, you learn about products other than soap that help keep the butt area moisture-free, and smelling fabulous all day long. Some of the products include whole body deodorant because guess what, your butt needs deo just like your underarms.
Over the years I’ve tried my fair share of whole body deodorants down there and I’ll give you my best recommendations. You can also check out my more comprehensive review here.
If you choose to skip the videos, here’s the process.
How to Clean Your Butt
I’ll summarize what works for me, McKenna, and Chloe for 24-hour freshness.
1. Lather a wet face towel (not the one you use on your face) with a good amount of moisturizing body wash- think Dove or Dr. Bruner’s peppermint soap. You want to be generous with the soap so it glides smoothly over your butt. The butthole has a very thin skin that bruises easily and ample soap prevents friction.
2. Squat or bend over and scrub the area thoroughly for about a minute. Feel free to get a little inside the hole to clean the folds. Rinse yourself and the face towel and repeat. I do it twice or thrice until there is no smell left.
NB: We are talking about the area from your perineum to your back, not the vagina area. I have a whole different post on that here.
3. Every fortnight, I use exfoliating gloves to do the second cleanse because your butt needs a good scrub like the rest of your body.
4. Dry the area completely with a towel and pat dry with a paper towel.
5. Now this is where Mckenna’s products come to play. We start by swiping both sides with witch hazel, which is a toner and deodorizer. It keeps your butt crack dry all day so you won’t have that smelly moisture that forms there. Use a facial/makeup wipes for this.
6. Next, apply some whole body deo. We both recommend Sweet Cheeks Full Body Deodorant. It leaves your butt smelling like watermelon or some pineapple and it applies nicely unlike other deos. I also like Lume and Dove whole body cream deodorants because they are moisturizing and very effective.
7. If you have a big booty, apply some deo or antiperspirant under your butt cheeks because sweat hides there.
8. Lastly, I recommend a hydrogen peroxide soak once or twice a week. Diluted hydrogen peroxide kills all the pathogens down there leaving you fresh.
Dilute a quarter cup of HP with half a cup of water and soak a bath towel in the mix. Then lay the towel between your butt cheeks and let it stay there for a few minutes. You can hold the towel between your cheeks while doing your skincare or brushing your teeth. Alternatively, do a normal soak in a basin for five minutes.
This routine will keep you so fresh, your man can eat food off your ass. If you use a bidet during the day or shower, reapply because the products will get washed away. And as always, please take a shower before bed and let your kitty breathe without undies.
Why Does My Butt Smell?
Hygiene aside, there are other reasons why your butt may smell. Some include;
1. Swamp Ass
Swamp ass is a condition where sweat accumulates below your butt cheeks and even the crack. If this sweat comes in contact with bacteria on your skin, a funk smell is inevitable. That much sweat also causes other issues like skin irritation and infection.
You can prevent this by applying an antiperspirant, wearing absorbent underpants/shorts, and staying hydrated. I also recommend getting to the bottom of what’s causing the swap ass. Common culprits include high stress, an overactive thyroid, and anxiety.
2. Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your butt that develop due to chronic constipation, among other things. The condition is characterized by itching, painful bowel movement, and bleeding in severe situations. As you can imagine, the swelling allows poop to hide in those veins and encourage infections that can stink if left untreated.
Luckily, hemorrhoids are easy to treat with medicated witch hazel, warm sitz baths, and topical ointments. You can also prevent a future occurrence by prioritizing a fiber-rich diet and plenty of water.
3. Bacterial Infection
Yes, your butthole is as prone to bacterial infection as the vagina is, especially if you practice anal sex. You can tell this is the case from a non-relenting putrid or fishy smell that stays even after you are clean. I however recommend seeing a doctor if you find such a smell because it could be caused by a myriad of reasons- STI, fungal/yeast infection, and anal abscess being some.
Only a doctor can treat any of these issues after a correct diagnosis. And if you douche your ass for whatever reason, this could cause bacterial infection because you are cleaning out all the good bacteria as well.
If the smell is on your butt crack and the area is itchy, you are probably dealing with a fungal skin infection. I recommend Sudocrem or Canesten and keeping the area as dry as you can. A regular hydrogen peroxide soak will also help.
It’s Okay to Smell Your Butt
Here’s the thing- your butthole is a window to your health and you should check on it regularly. Most people do not think it smells because they have never checked but your partner probably can.
And according to Rafael A. Lugo, MD, FACS, owner and CEO of Lugo Surgical Group, checking the anus frequently allows you to detect a small change sooner. So can I challenge you to swipe a finger on the crack and the butthole an hour or so after a shower and see if you are still fresh? If not, maybe the tips here can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Hemorrhoids Smell?
Left untreated, hemorrhoids can start to stink for a myriad of reasons from hiding poop, to abscess and even an infection.
Why do I have a fishy odor from my Butt?
Fishy smell on the butthole is caused by bacterial infection or disturbed PH caused by douching, anal sex, and poor hygiene.