Why do Indians smell the way they do?

Question

Could the food the Indians eat be responsible for the way they smell? Is there a reason that can be traced back to their ancient traditions or the society they live in?

I have to ask this question because I have several Indians as neighbors so I believe it might have to do with their diets. I didn't mean that they have a foul smell. I just need to know why they smell the way they do.

Answer 1

Two factors may be responsible for the way Indians smell:

• The first has to do with the type of food they eat – in India, the Middle East and other Asian countries, their foods are always stuffed with a variety of spices, which often make them sweat out after each meal. Since they have always eaten such spicy foods and lived that way for ages, Indians may not know that some other people from other parts of the world notice a difference in the way they smell. According to one old doctor who wrote a book on body odor, "Garlic, curry, fish, cumin, and onion used in several dishes have a way of making people who eat the foods they are prepared with smell in a certain way". The reason for this is not unconnected to the secretions that come out of the pores on their skins for hours after the meals have been eaten.
• Another possible reason is the fact that people from Southeast Asia and the Middle East never use deodorants or perfumes, instead they prefer applying generous amounts of certain type of cologne whose smells might not be too pleasant.

Answer 2

Why do Indians smell the way they do? I will say most because I'm referring to those of them that eat lots of curry.

I always believed that their smells came from the way their homes smelled as a result of the amount of curries and other spices they cook in their homes which often stuck to their bodies. A few days ago, I ate some curry for several days on a stretch and I was taken aback at the way my body odor changed to curry! I got home and smelled my armpits to know how they smelled and they smelled like curries, even the armpits of my shirt smelled like curries. This smell has hung on for some days now.

Answer 3

Humans do have their different smells due to the different body chemistries we carry. Some humans have foul odors while some smell really nice. The people who smell worse than others do so because their sweats contain lower amounts of salts. This gives bacteria the convenient environment they need to create very foul-smelling acids. Obese people sweat profusely. People who often take spicy foods also smell worse than others. Certain medical issues such as diabetes can also alter the natural body and sweat chemistry, which consequently results in body odor. Some drugs also contain certain side effects that can give rise to body odor.

However, this is not only applicable to Indian nationals – even people from some Arab nations do eat loads and loads of spices so they could be expected to have some unique smells as well, which could be either good or bad.

But in all sincerity, I agree with people who say "Indians smell because they don't use deodorants". Perhaps Indians who have had embarrassing odors mostly are the ones that never used deodorants or body sprays.