Scientists in recent years have shown that many East Asians, a group that includes China's ethnic Han majority, have a gene that lowers the likelihood of a strong “human axillary odor” — scientist-speak for body stink.
"This key gene is basically the single determinant of whether you do produce underarm odor or not," Day said. While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
Why Chinese don't use deodorant? It's because many Chinese actually don't have westerners' body odor issues, which means that Chinese do not sweat nearly as much as westerners do, even when the weather is quite hot and humid.
Results showed that about 5% of people who do produce odor in their armpits do not use deodorant, while over a fifth (26 out of 117) of those who are not able to produce an odor under their arms do not use deodorant.
Yes, most Europeans use deodorant. In fact, the use of deodorant is a common practice in many cultures around the world. No, we take two eggs and smash them into our armpits. Keeps critters away for weeks!
This graph presents the results of a survey among singles in Germany on the frequency of their deodorant use compared to the population in 2021. That year, 65.4 percent of singles up to 49 years of age used deodorant daily, compared to 62.4 percent of the German population.
Deodorant is not common in Italy and is very difficult to find, so pack your own ahead of time.
With a little patience, I discovered it is possible to wean your body off of the chemical antiperspirants. I rarely notice issues with excess perspiration or stinky pits, even after my heavy workouts. It's time we really take notice of what we're putting on our bodies just as much as we care about what we put in them.
This study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and according to it, the gene is the only determinant of whether your underarm smell or not. What's interesting is that almost all Koreans lack the ABCC11 gene. In other words, they are “genetically mutated” to have stink-free pits.
The survey from YouGov, a polling firm, found that approximately 40% of people ages 18 to 24 don't typically wear deodorant, according to TV station WISC. The percentage is almost as high — about 30% — for people ages 25 to 34. The reason? Most people surveyed said they don't believe they need it.
Self-grooming. Aside from being as clean (purified) as they are for prayer, male Muslims are expected to cut their nails, and trim their hair and beards. They must also not wear any scent, including deodorant.
Orthodox Jews are forbidden from doing anything that's considered work – even using a deodorant. And that makes Sabbath prayers in packed synagogues a very smelly affair.
The people who use deodorant the most are young Americans. 90% of Americans age 18-29 use deodorant daily, as opposed to only 78% aged 60 and over. America is currently the leader in both deodorant sales and usage, however Brasil is in a very close second and is expected to overtake America soon.
Although there is some controversy on the subject of "racial" variation in body odor, it is determined that African blacks probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
The 'cultural norm' in Britain is to use deodorant every day whether body odour is a problem or not, the researchers said. Where as elsewhere in the world most people with the genetic variant are aware that they do not smell and do not use deodorant, they said.
But it turns out that Koreans are "genetically mutated" to have less of a sweating problem than others, according to research. The University of Bristol research suggested only 0.006 percent of the Korean population have the ABCC11 gene, a major culprit behind the odor problem.
Deodorant/antiperspirant
They do sell something they call “deodorant” but it's basically perfume. Antiperspirants aren't sanctioned by the Japanese version of the FDA, so Japanese deodorants just try to cover up smells, not prevent them.
The frequencies of the A and G alleles vary markedly across different ethnic groups. The A allele is very common in East Asians, and as expected, most people in this population don't need to use deodorant. And so they don't use it—it's estimated that only 7% of North East Asians regularly use deodorant.
Managing without deodorant
“If you stop wearing deodorant or antiperspirant, you can develop a stronger odor over time,” Doyle said. “When you stop using (such products) and sweat more, this creates a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal overgrowth, which can cause odor to become stronger.”
If you're used to swiping on an aluminum-free deodorant but decide to take a break, you'll continue to sweat, just as you normally would—but your odor-causing bacteria might cause more of a stench.
You will end up with bad body odors.
So if you're leaving without putting on deodorant, you're leaving yourself "vulnerable to body odor." And for more things that may be causing odors, make sure you're washing The Body Part Most People Forget About Every Time They Shower.
Women tend to use perfume rather than deodorant and, unlike in the United States, it is not unusual for women not to shave their legs. Major holidays in Russia include New Year's Eve, Victory Day (8 May), and Easter. Christmas is celebrated in a different way than in the United States.
PETA certified and cruelty-free, Kardashian's trusted deodorant is loved amongst users for it's pH balanced protection that adjusts to your body's chemistry. Stopping odor before it starts, the scent Kim prefers, Powder Fresh, is light and clean but still offers the classic protection of the solid formula.