OMG, I still remember it like it was yesterday. The moment I walked into the room and my mother made this "subtle" comment. I thought it was terrible when my mother said she smelled me a little and then mentioned that it was 'adolescent sweat'. And now? I find myself doing the same with my kids! Sorry!
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Sooner or later every adolescent will have to deal with it; adolescent sweat. I don't forget my first time, or at least how my mother brought it up. But I also don't forget the first times with my own children 😉 . My goodness, how can that smell! The bad thing is that you can't prevent the smell. But if you eventually smell it, luckily you can do something about it. Getting rid of it completely is not a realistic idea, but you can certainly reduce this intrusive and pungent sweat odor with these tips. It's a bit like those smelly shoes that you can tackle with Shoefresh, but different 😉 .
Same, of course, as all the other sweat. You're just not used to your little moppie smelling too. Because until now you haven't smoked your teenager at all. And then suddenly - like a bolt from the blue - you are blown off your socks by an air that speaks to you! As if your teenager hasn't washed himself in days.
But sweating is normal. Also for your teenager. And did you know that sweat itself doesn't even smell? It is the bacteria that give it the smell, even with adolescent sweat.
Now it is the case with adolescents that many changes take place in the body. The hormones are racing through their bodies, they get (partly due to the hormones) suffering from pimples , and their sweat glands start to work 'optimally'. But you don't just sweat when you're hot. You also sweat when you are under stress, or emotionally, for example. Due to the hormones, it is true that adolescent sweat has an even stronger odor than adult sweat. Add to that the fact that stress and emotions also play a major role in their lives and you understand why adolescent sweat has such a strong smell.
Let's also not forget that adolescents are not so careful with their hygiene. How often do I have to shout that the teenager in question should put on a clean shirt! And that taking a shower is not a superfluous luxury either… He is not too concerned about it himself. Interesting detail:he doesn't seem to smell his teenage sweat either.
In any case, a number of things are important to minimize the smell of adolescent sweat:
A shirt that has been worn for a few hours already smells like adolescent sweat. Let alone if they wore it to school all day. What I personally do in the worst cases is that I let them soak for a while in water with a dash of vinegar.
In addition, it is important that you wash very regularly. You cannot leave the clothes in the laundry basket for days, because then all your laundry will smell like it and the sweat smell of your adolescent will no longer be good at all. So do regular laundry.
Hint: Also use a dash of vinegar when spinning your laundry in the rinse aid compartment, and use a fine laundry perfume. Since I have been using this wash perfume my laundry -with clothes from adolescents- just smells nice and fresh when it comes out of the washing machine.
As we speak, my son walks past me with his smoke, he has undoubtedly forgotten to use his deodorant today. I prefer that he goes for a 'healthy' deodorant without aluminum for example, but that is not so easy. Most deo's without aluminum are in a stick and that has a little brother. Only a spray gets into him.
Tock, sticks are often the best to choose, because the natural deodorant contains a zinc oxide that works perfectly against hormone sweat. So puberty sweat. BewustPuur has a number of fine deodorants in its range , including Loveli. Deolene deodorant is also an option.
What is your experience with adolescent sweat? Are you also one of those mothers who 'carefully' tries to indicate that a certain smell is present? And how subtle are you in that?
