Why Indian People Smell So Bad? - Raakhee On Quora

I am an american and over here I have seen Indians in buses, trains etc and they just smell so bad I am talking about the body odour. Is taking a shower or wearing perfume prohibited in their country?

Answer by Raakhee Venugopal:

I write this answer due to two reasons – I am an Indian myself, and I can’t stand body odor. Personal hygiene is strictly personal. But it’s rude to ask if showering or wearing perfumes are prohibited in India. Just saying. Body odor is highly dependent on the food we consume. Indians traditionally consume a lot of spicy food, plenty of fish, garlic, curry, cumin….essentially all the ingredients to set off a killer pungent body odor. It really isn’t our fault if our bodies behave this way. This is the food we’re used to and all other food tastes bland to our taste buds. This doesn’t seem to affect a lot of people. And they are innocently oblivious to the fact that they are putting people off. This is the truth. And if you tell them that they smell bad, or if you show some bad reaction to this, bear in mind that they are going to get deeply hurt. Because they genuinely don’t know what’s wrong. So please don’t openly show any form of disgust. It is very hurtful. It works that way not just for us but for everyone else as well. We all have certain aspects of our culture that may seem perfectly normal to us but may be perceived as downright disgusting to some others. For example, Indians (and South Asians,in general) have a major issue with people in the West NOT washing up with soap water after pooping. I have been met with some very disgusted faces whenever this subject comes up. And mind you, it comes up a lot! It is something we just don’t get about the West. ‘How can they just wipe poop with paper?…..Won’t it smell?….Do you shake hands with them?….Ewwww!….Poopy hands!….I hope you don’t accept any food prepared by them!‘ 🙂 We’re all part of the same big family and we’ve all got to live together without judging each other. It’s just not going to work out if we keep doing this. About showers and perfumes…yes, almost all Indians shower once a day. A large number shower twice a day. Many of them are not particular about perfumes though and growing up in a culture that doesn’t give much importance to smelling like a jasmine flower 24×7, they don’t give it much importance either. Personally, I have a need to smell good all the time. I remember some friends back home criticizing me for this and even spreading tall tales about me that I take my morning bath in perfumes and not with soap and water like everyone else. Duh! Post a shower, many Indians powder themselves generously with some talcum powder and that’s about it. Perfumes are often reserved for ‘special occasions’. Don’t ask me why. Just another Indian thing. Closing note….we do shower, we do use perfumes, we eat lots of spicy food, we wash up after pooping! 😀

Why Indian people smell so bad?

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