I have a friend that isn’t asian that’s like this, dude just bathes, no deodorant necessary, I was incredulous until I discovered this last year. It’s just extremely rare in the western world.
I’ll assume east Asians. As you head not too far away from the Pacific, the rest of Asia starts needing deodorant quite badly.
Life pro tip for those who do stink when they sweat:
If you ever find yourself in a pinch, and either you forgot deodorant or it wore off (it’s bullshit that these deodorants last 24+ hours), you can use hand sanitizer as makeshift deodorant. The isopropyl alcohol in the hand sanitizer will also kill the bacteria that breaks down those lipids that cause the odor. You can also substitute rubbing alcohol for deodorant and it generally lasts longer.
The pro tip that we had to give out in college for the newcomers to the ballroom team every semester to mitigate body odor:
- Shower with soap
- Apply deodorant with antiperspirant.
- Clean clothes.
You would be surprised how many people in college don’t understand the nuances of these points. Or other basically accepted hygiene practices of the area. For example, cologne or perfume is not “deodorant”. Also, most things are not clean after you wear them (esp if you sweat), and dont become clean again until they are laundered. You may also notice we had to specify “with soap” for a shower.
The bit about antiperspirant is not strictly necessary, but nobody wants to put their hand near or accidentally in a sweaty pit.
Antiperspirant doesn’t agree with my skin, so I use a normal deodorant, but otherwise I fully agree.
And some Koreans need no deodorant at all.
My partner, Filipino, doesn’t need it either. She uses lime sometimes. Yes, really.
Many Asians in fact
A decade ago, it was damn near impossible to get actual deodorant, not antiperspirant, in Korea. I had to get folks from The States to mail me Old Spice occasionally.
Is this specificly East Asian? Cause I had an Indian roommate once and that dude could knock out half the city with his stretch.
Yah, wow, some Indians need to have some intervention done. I know plenty of Indians that are perfectly fine, and then there’s a subset that smell like me after a 2 week solo backpacking trip.
Yes. It is. The article specifically calls out east asia.
✋dysfunction?
👉enhancement
A feature, not a bug
One of the most disgusting things I have ever read was from a guy on IRC who said he never bathed: “Women are attracted to my natural musk.” (He also claimed to be ‘voluntarily celibate.’ This was long before incels were a thing.)
Dysfunction ? More liked improved function…can I get the same treatment please?
I somehow got this . I never wear deodorant and don’t get any BO even after a crazy sweaty day .
Just make sure you’re getting some outside feedback on that, I’ve known folks so used to their own “brand” that they just couldn’t tell. Smelled utterly rank and couldn’t be convinced of it.
