A vulva can naturally smell and taste like fresh fruit, pineapple, and other sweet things. It also resembles your natural body odor. It’s best to avoid scented products and wear breathable underwear down there.
If you’ve suddenly noticed a strong scent or tastes, it may be a sign of an imbalance in the bacteria that reside there. A change in diet, laundry soap, or medication can skew the pH balance.
Sweet
It’s not uncommon for women to experience a metallic or battery-like taste down there, especially when it happens right before menstruation. That’s because the vagina naturally has an acidic pH level, which is why it can sometimes taste that way. If the vulva suddenly tastes or smells strong, though, it may be a sign of something more serious like bacterial vaginosis, which is best diagnosed and treated by a gynecologist.
A sour, tangy vaginal smell is also normal, and that’s usually just because the vulva’s natural bacteria are working to upkeep the right pH levels. The odor may also be caused by sweat, other body fluids, or semen (which has a higher pH than the vulva) that is being released during sex.
In addition to changing during a woman’s menstrual cycle, the taste and smell of the vulva can also change depending on what a person eats. For instance, curry and other spicy foods can cause excess sweating that leads to a salty taste down there. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to a salty vaginal taste and odor, as it can interfere with the pH balance.
However, there are also certain foods that can make your vulva taste sweeter. According to Dr. Ross, consuming a diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, whole grains, Greek yogurt, and plenty of water can help give the vulva a sweeter taste.
Sour
Vaginas secrete different fluids to clean themselves and lubricate, and those fluids can taste or smell a little bit off. This is totally normal and a sign that your vulva is healthy!
The sour flavor comes from healthy bacteria that produce lactic acid. It’s the same stuff that makes yoghurt taste a little sour. This sourness may be what turns your partner on and can make you feel sexy.
Just like the rest of our body, a woman’s vagina can have a variety of tastes and smells depending on diet, health conditions, and other factors. Foods that can have a negative impact include red meat, coffee (can change the pH balance in the vagina), greasy or spicy foods, and sugary drinks. Having lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, eating whole grains, and drinking plenty of water can all help vaginas feel better.
It’s also a good idea to avoid harsh chemical-laden soaps and vagina washes, as those can disrupt the delicate PH balance in your vulva. You should also make sure to wear cotton undies, as synthetic ones can trap sweat down there and cause a stinky mess. Smoking and excessive drinking can also change your vulva’s scent and taste, which isn’t a good thing for your libido. If you’re looking for ways to improve the way your vulva feels, try a probiotic that contains the bacteria that make vaginas happy, like Life-Space Womens Microflora.
Salty
As for salty or bitter tastes, they can occur in a healthy vagina due to a variety of reasons. For instance, if you don’t wash your vagina after each time you urinate, it may develop a salty taste from the traces of urine left behind. This is a normal reaction to urination and is nothing to worry about.
Additionally, certain foods can also affect the taste of your vulva. If you’ve eaten a lot of garlic or onions, your vulva might take on their scent and taste as well. This is a result of the food’s odor getting excreted from sweat glands throughout your entire body, including your vulva, which then passes through your urethra and ends up in your pee.
Another reason your vulva might taste salty or bitter is if you use an old or dirty tampon for too long. If you notice a strong, new smell or taste in your vagina, it’s best to go see your gynecologist, says Dr. Ross. A sudden change in the odor or taste in your vulva could be a sign of an infection like bacterial vaginosis, which can be treated with antibiotics.
It’s also important to clean your vulva regularly with a wash that’s safe for the area, such as mild soap and water. In addition, how you wipe your vulva can have an impact on the taste and odor, too. If you wipe your body from back to front, bacteria in the anal region can enter your vulva and cause strange tastes or odors. Therefore, it’s important to always wipe your vulva from the front of your body to the back to prevent this.
Smelly
The odor and taste of your vagina should vary depending on what’s happening down there, which foods you’re eating (avocados are said to have a vaginal odor that is similar to pineapple), how much you sweat, your hygiene habits, and the pheromones secreted by your glands. It’s normal for your v to smell slightly salty and have a tangy or fermented odor, as this is a result of the natural acidity of the area.
Some women may even have a metallic, penny-like taste in their vulva, which is caused by the iron content of their blood during menstruation. If your vulva tastes like ammonia, you may have left a tampon in too long or have an infection such as bacterial vaginosis.
A healthy, clean vagina should be a little bit spicy, sweet, and have hints of musk and body odor. Remember, there’s no need to “clean up” your vulva with perfumed products or other harsh chemicals, as this can actually make the odor worse and cause other health problems. Instead, try washing your vulva with regular soap and water, eating probiotic-rich foods like yoghurt, eating more pineapple, and drinking lots of water. If you’re still concerned about the odor or taste of your vagina, speak to a doctor as they may be able to prescribe some antibacterial creams and other solutions.
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