Why Your Deodorant Feels Different Some Weeks — and What It Says About Your Body

Most of us don’t think much about deodorant — until the week it suddenly feels like it’s not doing enough. You might assume you need a stronger product, but what’s really happening is much simpler (and far more interesting): your hormones are quietly changing how your body works.

If you’re a woman, you already know these shifts — how your energy, mood, sleep, and even skin seem to change slightly through the month. What’s less talked about is how these same hormonal rhythms can influence how much you sweat, how your skin produces oil, and even how scent shows up on your body.

Let’s unpack this together — cycle by cycle.

1. The Menstrual Phase — Your Body’s Reset Button

When it happens: Day 1–5 of your cycle (the days you bleed)

Estrogen and progesterone dip sharply. 

That drop changes how your body regulates heat — you might feel warmer or get cool sweats more easily. Your body is also working harder to shed the uterine lining, which can increase blood flow and make you feel a little more tired or flushed.

You may notice your natural scent feels slightly stronger, earthy or just different these days. That doesn’t mean you’re less clean — it’s simply your body chemistry shifting.

Helpful habits:

• Hydrate generously; water helps your body regulate temperature and replace fluid loss.

• Choose breathable fabrics like cotton or bamboo underwear and loose tops — they help your skin cool naturally.

• Opt for iron-rich, whole foods (like lentils, tofu, leafy greens) to restore balance, but pair them with citrus or vitamin C for better absorption.

• Go easy on processed food, sugar, and alcohol, which can make sweat smell sharper or feel sticky.

Small note: This is a good week to rest more, and to simply tell yourself it's ok if you don't have the energy to do more. You deserve to be kind to yourself

2. Follicular Phase — The Calm (After the Storm)

When it happens: Day 6–13

Estrogen rises

Your skin starts to clear. up, oil production settles, and sweat feels lighter. This is often the week when your deodorant works just the way you expect — your skin, hormones, and energy are in sync.

What helps:

• Eat colourful foods. Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants (berries, citrus, greens) support healthy skin and odour balance.

• Move more. You may find you have better stamina and recovery this week — great for workouts or outdoor activities.

3. Ovulation — Subtle Warmth, Subtle Scent

When it happens: Around Day 14 (mid-cycle)

During ovulation, your temperature goes up slightly (by about half a degree), and your metabolism speeds up a little. You may notice you feel warmer or sweat more easily, especially if you’re active or outdoors.

Some research suggests women’s natural scent changes slightly during this phase — not stronger, just different. It’s your body being naturally more active and energised.

What helps:

• Choose cool fabrics. Linen or cotton tops help airflow and reduce trapped heat.

• Stay hydrated. Water and hydrating foods like cucumber, watermelon, and leafy greens help you stay cool.

• Cut down on stimulants. Coffee, alcohol, and very spicy foods can increase sweating when your body’s already warmer.

• Keep cleansing gentle. Over-washing removes healthy bacteria that actually help prevent odour. Resist that third shower! Twice a day is enough even in a humid country like Singapore.

Tip: If your deodorant seems to wear off faster this week, it’s not failing — your body’s simply working at a higher pace.

4. Luteal Phase — The Week Before Your Period

When it happens: Day 15–28

Progesterone rises after ovulation and stays high until your next period.

This hormone makes your body feel slightly warmer and increases oil production. When sweat mixes with more oil, bacteria can act on it more easily — which is why you might feel like you need extra deodorant this week. You might also notice mild bloating or water retention, making your body feel heavier or warmer overall.

What helps:

• Stick to loose, breathable clothes. They keep heat from building up.

• Cool showers, not hot ones. They calm the skin and maintain the balance of healthy bacteria.

• Mind your salt, sugar, and caffeine. These can worsen bloating and make you feel warmer.

• Add magnesium-rich foods like dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, and avocado — they help with water balance and mood.

• Reapply as you go. A quick midday refresh of deodorant or body mist is completely fine. If you need it, just use it! 

Comfort tip: Store your deodorant spray in the fridge — applying it cool can soothe skin and feel extra refreshing.

Bit more on the science of scent... read on if you're curious!

The Science of Scent — What makes women's sweat unique

Sweat itself is nearly odourless. What you smell is a mix of sweat compounds and the natural bacteria living on your skin.

There are two main types of sweat glands:

• Eccrine glands: all over the body, mainly for cooling.

• Apocrine glands: found in the underarms and groin, producing thicker sweat that contains more proteins and fats.

Women generally have fewer active sweat glands than men, but our sweat tends to have more fatty acids and ammonia — ingredients bacteria can break down into odour compounds. That means changes in hormones, stress, and even diet can affect how our scent shifts from week to week.

Diet & scent pointers:

• Red meat, garlic, onions, and strong spices like curry can make body scent more noticeable.

• Leafy greens, citrus fruits, and herbs like parsley or mint can help neutralise odour naturally.

• Staying hydrated dilutes sweat and helps the skin stay balanced.

A Gentle Reminder

You are not meant to smell exactly the same every day. Your scent changes because your hormones — and your body — are alive and responsive. Once you start noticing your rhythm, it stops feeling like something to fix. It simply becomes a way of understanding yourself — and that’s the most grounded kind of care there is.

Want to explore our range of natural deodorants? Check out the collection here

📚 References & Further Reading

• ABC Lifestyle – Why the smell of your sweat changes through your cycle

• Flo Health – Body odor: What causes it and how to prevent it

• W. Tarumi et al., Women’s body odour during the ovulatory phase (PMC)

• Sure UK – From periods to postpartum: How hormones affect your sweat

• The Green Kiss Blog – How hormones influence sweat and smell

• Cleveland Clinic – How food affects body odour and sweat composition

• Harvard Health – Hydration, metabolism, and sweat: The chemistry of perspiration