Between the hundreds of TikTok videos under the hashtags #coochiecocktail and #kittyjuice (we do NOT condone these names), and the dozens of articles across the internet espousing their tips can make you taste like ‘tropical punch,’ it’s clear people are obsessed with the idea of improving vaginal taste and odor.
While there are few scientific studies proving the validity of most of these claims, eating a healthy, diverse diet can’t hurt. What doesn’t work for one person might make a difference for someone else, and there's no harm in trying different foods, so long as you please refrain from inserting them INTO your vagina.
A study from 2020, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, suggested that the composition of your sweat is influenced by your dietary choices. According to scientists, the consumption of garlic and onion may result in a rancid or cheesy odor in sweat, whereas the intake of choline-rich foods like egg yolks, red meat, and liver can lead to a fishy body odor for some.
Whether this translates to vaginal odor is unclear, as the research is limited. But according to Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, “Foods and other things that you intake into your body can definitely impact your body’s excretions. Your sweat, vaginal secretions, even male semen, are all impacted by what you eat and drink,” she says.
“Keep your diet clean, make sure that you do drink a lot of water and hydrate, because you don’t want your bodily secretions to be concentrated… and that’s what can potentially happen when you’re not well-hydrated.”
At the end of the day, unless you have a serious health issue, like BV, a yeast infection, etc., that can impact your vaginal odor, how you smell shouldn’t matter. And if someone you’re with says otherwise—well, respectfully… dump them.
If you’re looking to conduct your own scientific experiment on the relationship between what you put in your mouth and how you taste and smell, here’s a good place to start:
Foods that can potentially improve vaginal taste & odor
Kimchi
Kimchi, a staple in Korean cuisine made of fermented vegetables like cabbage and radishes, contains probiotics, which are known to help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body. This can potentially impact body odor, among other benefits.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV, known for its antimicrobial properties, is believed to help maintain a healthy pH balance in the vaginal area, which can potentially prevent or alleviate certain issues like yeast infections. Just be sure to dilute the ACV before consuming, as it’s too potent on its own—best not to learn the hard way.
Sauerkraut
Similar to kimchi, sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage dish that contains beneficial probiotics due to the fermentation process. Probiotics are known for promoting a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, which can indirectly impact overall health, and potentially vaginal health as well. However, individual responses to foods like sauerkraut can vary.
Pineapple or Cranberry Juices
The key ingredients in many a ‘coochie cocktail’ recipe, people swear by fruit juices, specifically pineapple and cranberry, for improving how they taste down there. Again, as with many of the other foods on this list, there aren’t exactly loads of studies supporting these claims. Anecdotally, however, people who have tried them out say they work.
"Experienced tasters—or folks who've tasted many a lover's juices—do report that when you eat sweet fruits [like pineapple], vegetables, and herbs, it seems to heighten the sugary flavor of vaginal fluids and ejaculate," says sexologist Jess O'Reilly, PhD, host of the Sex With Dr. Jess podcast.
M Berry Tablets
This one is more for the errr, taster, rather than the vagina owner. These fruit tablets contain miraculin, a glycoprotein that inhibits sour receptors and enhance natural sweetness. In one woman’s experiment on vaginal taste, she had her boyfriend take an M Berry tablet about 20 minutes before going down on her, and he claims it made a big difference.
“This is crazy. You taste like SweeTARTS. It's like candy. It's summery. It's like paradise! Usually after a long walk, you'd taste salty,” he told his partner.
Foods that may negatively affect vaginal taste & odor
Sugar
A diet high in sugar can lead to elevated glucose levels in vaginal fluids, providing a favorable environment for the growth of yeast, particularly Candida albicans. This overgrowth can lead to yeast infections, which are common in women, and can come with an unpleasant smell as one of the symptoms. Maintaining a balanced diet low in added sugars may help reduce the risk of such infections.
Bread
While bread itself does not directly cause yeast infections, certain factors related to bread consumption can contribute to the conditions that promote yeast overgrowth, similar to a diet high in sugar. And, as mentioned above, yeast infections can lead to certain unpleasant vaginal odors.
Asparagus
The distinct smell that is sometimes associated with asparagus consumption is related to the presence of sulfur compounds in the vegetable. These compounds are broken down during digestion, and their byproducts can be excreted in urine, leading to a characteristic odor. Many people claim this same funky smell is noticeable in their vaginal secretions as well, though no studies have made this direct link.
When all else fails, the tried-and-true for vaginal health is good old fashioned probiotics.
URO Vaginal Probiotics have been raking in good reviews since launch. We came for the vaginal health & balance benefits…. and we stayed for the odor improvements.
