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lived throughout northeast and southeast asia for 25+ years, inlaws and close friends there. poor dental hygiene in downmarket mainland china is big issue. all folks in east asia tend to bathe alot, and have done so for centuries. cleanliness ranks higher than godliness. appearances count. we in north america are two generations (at most) removed from a weekly bath or shower. west asia, i.e. the indian subcontinent, is entirely another story.
The non-functional ABCC11 allele is predominant among East Asians (80–95%), but very low in other ancestral groups (0–3%).[5] Most of the world's population have the gene that codes for the wet-type earwax and normal body odor; however, East Asians are more likely to inherit the allele associated with the dry-type earwax and a reduction in body odor.[5][19][21] The hypothesized reduction in body odor may be due to adaptation to colder climates by their ancient Northeast Asian ancestors.[19]
My observation is that here in Thailand, which is SE Asia, they try their best not to sweat. Walking to do errands is rare. One told me it was the bread that makes foreigner's skin stink, and that is rarely eaten by Thais. Heard many claim that the mosquitos don't bite the Thai's because of their usually low cholesterol.
My experience in China is that the whole "no body odor" thing is not true, and anyone who's on a crowded bus or metro can probably attest to this. Or, maybe I'm just more sensitive to it... B.O., butt, and bad breath.
Most people are less concerned with breath odor here than in the West, especially the US/Canada where people have an oral hygiene fetish. I've heard it said that hot beverages make your breath worse, and don't know if that's true, but there have been times where I have to fight not to wretch when I'm close to someone.
In hot climates like South China or SEA, due to humidity, northern and central european-descended people tend to sweat more and people who are native have adapted to sweat less; sweat smells, so you tend to smell more. I sweat less here after a year or so but still usually carry a spare shirt in my bag if I know I'm gonna be out all day.
In SE Asia, when you have people eating durian, body odor doesn't really matter. The odor of the fruit overpowers all.
I know we are talking east asia but comment on India. Whew. That's like the body odor capital of the world.
We can also talk about the French who seem as a whole not too bathe too often and think that perfume covers everything, but that is not even the right continent.
Don't know about body odor, but some apparently have bad breath according to Big Ed on 90 Day Fiance:
dragon breath
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