Should your vagina smell like a bouquet of roses?

I hope you know I am being cheeky here but the answer is no, it should not. Vaginas should smell like…vaginas! In fact, please be wary of feminine products that are supposed to cleanse and make your lady bits smell like roses, sweet peonies or the island breeze (whatever the heck that is). In order to have a healthy vagina, it is critical that the pH level and the microbiome (fancy term for bacterial environment) are maintained. Thus, any product that disrupt these can put you at risk for having urogenital infections, irritation and dryness.

A while ago, I had a client coming in to see me because she was concerned that her lady bits were smelling like strong urine. This is a symptom that may be indicative that she has a leaking issue or that she is dehydrated. For moms who are breastfeeding, dehydration is common so make sure you drink at least 8 cups of water a day if you are breastfeeding.

Other than this, an abnormally strong vaginal odour might be caused by an imbalance in the vaginal pH level or the vaginal flora. You may want to consult your doctor or gynecologist if you think this might be the case.

By Mia Dang, PT / a registered physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care