There was a time when people considered body odor “normal,” and they went around carrying a typical normal body smell.
The tides have turned, and this generation has seen massive acceptance of deodorant.
Most people are now conscious of how they smell and use deodorant or antiperspirant to mask their smell.
However, that seems not to be the case for some certain Asians.
There’s a stereotype that Indians don’t use deodorants and antiperspirants.
While this is not entirely the case, a large percentage of them, especially the Swadeshi tribe, don’t use these products, which is enough to make a sweeping generalization.
Why don’t Indians wear deodorant? Is it forbidden in the country? Do Indians smell?
If you want answers to these questions, this article is your best option.
Read along as we uncover the misery around body odor and deodorant in India.
Why Don’t Indians Wear Deodorants?
From our study, we realize there are multiple reasons for this and that the answer isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
To start with, most Indians see deodorants as a western thing.
The belief is that deodorants are a western aversion to typical body odor created by deodorant companies seeking to increase their sales.
For centuries, Indian households have depended on fragrant Talcum powders such as Santoor and Ponds to smell nice.
In most cases, these people are comfortable with their normal body odor.
However, while deodorants are not popular in the country, the significant reason Indians don’t use them could be their affordability.
This is justifiable since India has one of the highest poverty rates in the world.
Please tell us, do you expect most people living on minimum wage to spend mainly on Deodorants?
In a recent study in India, a large percentage of respondents who don’t use deodorants or use them infrequently attribute it to the high price of the products available.
The people claimed they would use antiperspirant and deodorant regularly if these products were less expensive.
Summarily, Indians don’t use deodorants because of, but not limited to, the following reasons:
- They are Swadeshi who don’t want to consume western products
- The general belief is that deodorants are harsh skin and cause allergies
- They are comfortable with their distinct body smell
- They can’t afford the products
Why do Indians Smell?
Indian body smell is not linked to their hygiene. Generally, most Indians bathe regularly and maintain good hygiene.
So, we say that your Indian colleague is not dirty because of how they smell. Their body smell is due to the food and heavy spices they consume.
It’s a case of “you smell like what you eat.”
Indian food ingredients are vastly different from what the western world consumes.
We can tell you that if you too consume ingredients such as garlic, fenugreek, and cumin in large quantities, your skin will smell like them, especially if you don’t use deodorants.
These ingredients can wreak havoc on the body’s natural odor and stay in the pores for a long time.
Why Do Indians’ Clothes smell?
Indians’ smell is not necessarily the person.
As we’ve established above, it’s because of the food ingredients and spices they use.
Their clothes smell because they absorb these ingredients smell from the air.
During the cooking process, the odor gets trapped in the air, body, and clothing items within the vicinity. Consequently, they carry these scents around.