Smelly genes 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.
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.
ABCC11: the “no body odor gene”
People with the ABCC11 non-functioning gene variant have dry earwax and little or no body odor.
About 2% of the population have this genetic mutation including most Koreans. They don't need to worry about stinky armpits because they carry this mutation.” He adds: "The ABCC11 gene is also responsible for your type of ear wax.
According to a group of researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK, 2 percent of people (at least in their survey) carry a rare version of the gene ABCC11 that prevents their armpits from producing an offensive odor.
Two percent of people carry an unusual form of a specific gene (ABCC11) that means their armpits never smell. The finding came from new research involving 6,495 women who are enrolled in the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol, England, and was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
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.
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.
Japanese people tend to sweat less and have a weak body odor. There is some quantifiable science behind this statement. The skin contains two types of sweat glands; the eccrine glands (that secrete through pores) and apocrine glands (which secrete through the hair follicles and hair).
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.
At about age 40, the body subtly changes the way omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids on the skin are degraded. These acids get exposed to the air and create a compound called “nonenal.” Nonenal most likely gets produced due to hormone imbalances.
Studies have shown that body odor is strongly connected with attraction in heterosexual females. The women in one study ranked body odor as more important for attraction than “looks”. Humans may not simply depend on visual and verbal senses to be attracted to a possible partner/mate.
It's completely normal to have a natural body odor and isn't necessarily related to how much you sweat. Sweat itself is odorless. Some medical conditions, genetics, being overweight or eating certain foods could make you more susceptible to bad body odor.
What is considered body odor is coming from secretion from the Apocrine sweat glands and it is not a result of any difference in hygiene. Having this gland is relatively rare among Asians (10% or less for a Japanese) as opposed to near universality among Africans, and Caucasians are somewhere in between.
According to the Social Issues Research Center, it has also been found that women are attracted to androstenol, a natural chemical found in fresh male sweat. It actually creates a chemical response in the female brain where cortisol levels rise, which is your body's main stress hormone.
East Asians on the other hand (80 to 95% of Chinese, Korean and Japanese) are said to have dry earwax and fewer apocrine sweat glands. The ABCC11 gene does not function in the following way that it does not produce the protein that is needed in apocrine glands to attract bacteria.
In Japanese culture, many people like scents that are light and natural such as sweet floral, green tea, and citrus.
Tatami Floors
Traditional tatami floors smell of rice straw and possibly other materials such as rush straw and woodchips. It's considered a good smell. This is one of the reasons that modern apartments in Japan often include one old style tatami room.
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.
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. They have to wear ihram clothing, which is a white, seamless garment.
Deodorant is not common in Italy and is very difficult to find, so pack your own ahead of time. Some people suggest bringing a silk scarf along to cover your arms for a church but you will only look silly. Remember above all churches are places of worship; if they have art there that's only secondary.
Very often people use much more than they actually need. 2% of the population on Earth doesn't even need deodorant because they do not produce any odor. Developed countries are much more likely to use deodorant than developing countries. Factors like these will determine who actually uses deodorant.
ABCC11. The ABCC11 gene determines axillary body odor and the type of earwax. The loss of a functional ABCC11 gene is caused by a 538G>A single-nucleotide polymorphism, resulting in a loss of body odor in people who are specifically homozygous for it.
Some Korean men do shave their armpits, while others prefer to let the hair grow naturally. In general, it is more common for younger Korean men to shave their armpits. This is not a hard and fast rule, however, as it is ultimately up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to shave their armpits.