My ex-husband never used deodorant, and no that's not why we are divorced. He doesn't need to, he has no body odor. Even if he had been working outside all day sweating in the heat the only smell he had was from working outside not from BO. It's strange though his sister, who is 4 years older than him had to start wearing deodorant at the age of 8. She smelled so bad from BO family members started complaining to their parents.

I grew up in a very large family where a bath was only taken every Saturday. I cannot recall anyone in my family smelling bad or others commenting that any members of my family smelled bad. However, I didn't raise my family the same way and was quite obsessive about daily showering. I have no idea what caused me to go from one end of the spectrum to the other, but I have discovered there was nothing wrong with it and it was the way most families handled bathing in that era.

I no longer believe in the shower every day consensus. If you are not out in the world working every day, but spend most of your time at home and indoors there is really no need to waste the water, bathing aids, time and energy showering every day. Instead I have taken a page out of the Amish way of life. I use soap and a wash cloth on the four (on a man it's only three) important body parts that can become odorous once a day. In addition I shower once a week when I wash my hair. I do use an antiperspirant every day because I have a tendency to sweat excessively.

No one I know (and believe me my grand children would let me know) has mentioned I smell. It grosses out my youngest child because she is an excessive bather, bathing twice a day, but she has never said I stink. I believe advertising made a big deal out of being clean and since I was young and impressionable I fell in with their beliefs. And I think that when I started having children the hospital staff put such an emphasis on bathing your baby every day it influenced my thinking too.

I personally take frequent showers because I find them relaxing, almost meditative. If you don't stink, then I suppose it's okay to shower every other day. However, I still prefer living in a culture obsessed with cleanliness as opposed to some foreign countries I have visited that brought a whole new meaning to the term BO.

I can't stand my own smell, let alone feel the need to subject others to it. My wife, however, has never worn deodorant in her life (she has no smell and rarely even sweats). A shower to me is not only essential for staying unoffensive but hot water on the body aches is a necessity most days.

We all know everyone is different, so we all just need to make good decisions according based on our own environments. I just hope more people start brushing their teeth on a daily basis. I'd much rather smell stanky pits than yukmouth.

Yeah, I don't care how much it "saves the planet" not going to do this.

If we want to go greener and still have our daily bathing, why don't we simply use buckets and big cups like the rest of the world? Anyone can fully bathe using 5 gallons of water this way (unless you have long hair to shampoo). That is far better than the 5 gallons a minute that are used in a shower!

I currently live in Asia, the average Farang smells different according to the average Asian. This is mainly due to the different diets, the Asians have a fish based diet and the Westerners have a tomato/wheat base diet. There is a basic difference in acceptable body and cultural odors.

Plus many Asians take frequent showers to cool off. Where I live A/C is a luxury and seldom needed. Also, do not come to Asia and expect to cover up your smell by deodorants. You will be noticed, probably not commented on, but YOU will be NOTICED. Even if you take a shower two or more times a day.

The Romans and Arabs developed perfume, because they did few baths due to little water. When I smell someone heavily perfumed, I blame their bathing habits.

Most people cannot smell themselves until they are unbearably stinky. So just because you can't smell yourself, that doesn't mean other people can't smell you! Especially those of us with extra sensitive noses. And some people might be lucky enough to stay dry without deodorant, but many people sweat enough to smell at least a little bit within hours of showering.

Like the previous comment suggested, the same body odor can be perceived differently by different people. Your personal smell might not be noticeable at all to person A, it might be attractive to person B, and it might be downright repulsive to person C. But nobody wants to be assaulted by someone else's body odor if it smells disgusting to them.

I must shower daily or I will break out very badly, about two weeks later. this achene laden skin will persist for weeks longer sometimes months longer. if I shower twice a day the skin clears up faster. up until 35 my hair would be greasy by days end and noticeable so. now I can go 1.5 days without being to greasy to go out in public. I wear deodorant for a just in case, plus it smells good, not to cover any smell, its to prevent it from happening in the first place. odor is caused from bacteria, I can't imagine the amount of bacteria on someone if they didn't shower for three days. I'll agree that the older a person gets maybe the less oils the skin produces so maybe the less they need to shower, also winter months (maybe), but each person is different. But old people that don't shower enough well smell not that great also in a different bad way. transmittal of germs and staph is also a concern. Who is going to carry a lemon with them when on the run? keep a knife on your belt to cut it? And before you can smell it other people already have and have not said anything because they are trying to be polite. they just talk about you behind your back.

And these same filth mongers wonder why disease's are so abundant, u that dang important or special u can't take three to five minutes to scrub your ass, so those of us around you don't have to smell your funk, how pathetic, and they call the long haired kid a hippie, hah, least the hippie kid washes his ass and don't stink, and you gas station attendants-its called DEODORANT/ANTI-PERSPIRANT, jeez o pete's use some, some of you even sell it, cripes man put it on a few customers might come back, if you stink fix yourself, its not hard, and it don't hurt, cheapskates buy some soap

I shower every day to wake up. I'm not a morning person.

I lived in a community without running water for five years. People didn't bathe daily. They showered at the laundromat as often as they did laundry. But no one smelled because they still cleaned themselves. It's not that hard. You don't need to stand under running water or submerge yourself to get clean, but a wet cloth sure helps. Sure, you don't "need" to cleanse yourself daily to survive, but in a society where body odor is considered offensive, you just seem lazy and rude if you don't.

I personally bathe daily because it's relaxing, I love the smell of scented soaps, and I like the fresh, clean sensation of toweling off. I think most people do it because it's enjoyable, not because they "need" to.

A person is a poor judge of their own odor. In a society where it is rude to tell people they stink, you can't really wait for others to alert you when you need to bathe. Besides, if someone says you stink one day, maybe it's just because you stink that day. You can't expect daily feedback to determine when you need to shower. You just do it. Or bathe. Or use a wet cloth to wipe down and towel off. You don't need to scrub very inch of skin to smell decent; only a few areas produce body odor. Still, you should try to smell civilized if you live in civilized society. If you subsist in the forest, then it's okay to smell like an animal!

I know something that smells worse than a long dead animal? A long dead Human (Animal). You can smell it a mile+ away depending on the wind. If your a buzzard, even farther. Look up in the sky!, It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Super--, I mean a buzzard. Buzzards are scavengers, they like well done meat.

I noticed that too and thought the same thing. Not a very good use of advertising dollars, huh? LOL

Speaking of body wash... these people are griping about wasting money on products we don't need. Really?

Body wash - $1.99

Shampoo - $1.99

Deodorant - $1.99

Six whole dollars for products that will last you a good 3 months or more. That's like 7¢ a day. And if you're really low on cash, get them at Wal-Mart or a dollar store and save a couple bucks.

Nobody is going broke from buying shampoo and soap.

I would like to know know how you figure that 1.99 body wash and shampoo will last you three months. I buy the cheapest stuff there is and it lasts me maybe three weeks. A month is a stretch, and I only shower every other day.

How much do you use each time? Or are you buying sample sizes?

Obviously a woman would need more shampoo if she has long hair... but a blob the width of a quarter works fine for my short hair. A 22oz bottle of $1.85 Suave lasts for what seems like forever.

22oz is equal to 44 tablespoons... so if I estimate a "quarter-size blob" to be half a tablespoon, then 22oz is equal to 88 blobs... or almost 90 washes.

Even if you use three times as much, you're still spending about $2 for an entire month. It's not like cost is really an issue for being clean, for most people.

I interviewed at a company that places ads like the Dove ad next to whatever you are talking about.

One time I was shopping and the item I had put on a wish list kept following me around the internet.

James 82,

where do you live that those items cost that little? Here is what they go for where I live:

body wash: $7.99

shampoo: $5, minimum

conditioner: $5, minimum

deodorant:$4

A typical-sized bottle of body wash should only cost $7.99 if you live in Manhattan or something, or you're buying some fancy brand. Obviously if you're buying Pantene or Garnier (or a gimmicky brand like Axe), you're going to pay a premium. But you can find generic brands of these items in any store, or even go to a dollar store and find them for... a dollar.

P.S. I didn't include conditioner in the list because it's not necessary for keeping clean (but yes, I use that too).

Amen, by the way, where did you park the Enterprise??

No, someone will tell you and you can tell anyway. Smokers can't smell, because their olfactory nerve is half dead. I work with first graders and they will tell you anything in a flash. Hey Mr. so and so why do you have that spot on the side of your nose, why does your tooth on the side look yellow, how come your hair sticks up, what are those spots on your face, how come you walk that way, why is your skin like that, did you know i can see through your shirt, and so on and on.

Coffee breath in an elavator really kills me.

hmm ok

Khimchi breathe when you have a hangover...NOT the best thing to encounter first thing in the morning.

There is a difference between showering every other day and skipping bathing. Why do people have to turn everything into an extreme? I can assure you if you missed a day your nieghbors won't drop dead.

My doctor is from the Middle East, not sure what part. But she bathes once a week, and let me tell you she stinks to high heaven. We live in Texas and when we go through our 100+ degree summers I have to take a nose plug when I see her. After a visit with her I feel like I need to come home and take a bath. As for changing docs I can't right now, stuck with no health insurance since my company closed. So I am stuck with county health care. She is a good doctor she just smells. So anyone that thinks they don't stink if they don't bathe has a few nose screws loose. I am going to shower, bathe, scrub, and use deodorant every day.

I agree... I will shower and bathe and use deodorant and cologne everyday. I am always afraid that i will smell . Thats the reason why they make shampoo and deoderant and soap..

And I thought that it was only my imagination. I try to avoid crowded situations whenever possible. As my father who grew up very poor during the "depression" used to say, "soap and water are the 2 cheapest things on earth." If your out in public, show a little consideration for others, wash up!

I once worked with a French foreign exchange student. He smelled so bad that we insisted the manager of the restaurant insist that he bathe, wash and change his clothes, and basically come to work smelling like an American, not a Frenchman. Did you know that strong BO can taint food?

My doctor is from the Middle East, not sure what part. But she bathes once a week, and let me tell you she stinks to high heaven.

Then why haven't you talked to her about the problem? If she's any kind of decent doctor, I'm sure she would want to know that she is making her patients uncomfortable. There are certainly diplomatic ways to address this. If you don't want to address her directly, speak to the head of the clinic where you get health care.

James--you are right. Smokers think that the only thing wrong with their cigarettes is the "smell"--I have had to tell family members repeatedly that it isn't just a nasty smell, there are particulates that one inhales and can be allergic to (I am very allergic). The same particulates cling to their clothing. My FIL smokes like a chimney--if he comes in the house to use the facilities, the bathroom smells for several hours because so many particulates get in the air.

It's the same with those who do not bathe--they become immune to their own odor. Most people are way too polite to say anything (and few of us come into contact with children who don't have a parent around to shut them up if they start to).

I completely sympathize with those who don't want to use aluminum-based antiperspirants, or who don't want to use antiperspirants. But that's a long way from not using a deoderant. There are plenty of organic-based deoderants (Tom's of Maine makes a terrific one), and I even have a recipe for making deoderant (I have to use it when the store is out of Tom's because my husband is allergic to most anything else). It only calls for baking soda, corn starch and tea tree oil (or lavender oil). You can use it as a powder or combine it with coconut oil to make a regular stick (and put it into an empty stick applicator container).

Seriously--one doesn't have to use deoderant soap and heavy-duty antiperspirant every day. But, a gentle body wash (or at least a sponge bath) and some baking soda isn't going to kill you, and it will make everyone else a lot happier. Be considerate, people.

Ok so whats the big deal? We have known for a long time that we have some stanky, nasty, smelly, funk filled, rotten egg smelling, skunky breathed, low down, wet dog, rotting corpse, odoriferous, chunks of up-chuck, fumunda cheese, toe jam, naval lint, six day old used tampon smelling individuals here in the US. Hey at least we don't stink as bad as the French!!!!!!

Vicki, its not easy to tell someone they smell. its easier to talk about them behind their back. I know that is wrong but thats the way it is. I totally understand why he doesn't tell the doctor she stinks. it embarassing to tell the person. To people who think they don't stink don't be so sure. Some people might not smell. I, myself have a naturally sweet smell ( though no one can really explain it to me) and people always think I am wearing deoderant or colongue especially when I'm not. I can't smell it but girls especially do. I presume its a phermone and is why animals like me and why I do well with one on one business deals. Ive even had a girl try and steal my pillow because she said it smelled like me. Despite that fact, I shower everyday so it doesn't turn to a funk. plus I will break out if I don't, I have very oily skin. telling everyone they don't need to shower is not really good advice, everyone is different.

So those of you who just use a soapy washcloth on the smelly parts - how do you rinse off? Wouldn't a quick shower be simpler? Just sayin'.

Speaking of smelly French people, I had to fly from Paris to Los Angeles on a non-stop flight and lucky me got stuck next to the au naturelle French person.

I don't drink alcohol except on that flight. I drank so much wine so I would fall asleep and not smell her.

It was a packed plane. I couldn't move. The stench was incredible.

Do you realize that Paris DOES NOT HAVE POOPER SCOOPER LAWS? Don't visit in the summer. It stinks like dog crap.

Coffee breath in an elavator really kills me.

Your nose is way too sensitive. I never smell coffee but I do smell cigarettes.

"This is like the smokers that I know that think they are somehow magic and don't smell like smoke because they only smoke outside. Yeah, you still smell like smoke."

James - You are correct and there are different levels of smoke smell, take for example someone that smokes a pack a day in a leather jacket, that smoke obsorbs into leather and sticks. However, Smokers don't really give 2 sh*ts if they smell like smoke, It's all that nicotine and addictive chemicals they put in themselves that keeps them from stopping smoking.

Rkaralius, when I lived without running water (or when I camp for several days), I use a soapy cloth to scrub, then I wring it out, and either swish it in a cup of water or squirt some water over it to rinse off the soap, wring it out again, and use the same wet cloth to wipe the soap off my body. Then I use a dry chamois to towel off. It's simple, and you can do it with as little as one cup of water. Same amount it takes to brush your teeth.

Vicky, I'm curious what your diplomatic approach to mentioning someone's body odor would be. Most polite people just say nothing, but if there was a truly dignified way to bring it up, I'm sure many people would love to know it.

In vietnam during the war u never dry out. Taking a shower or bath? just promotes jungle rot that much faster. Use rubbing alcohol like for injections. Now days u have scented alcohol. Put it on a wash cloth, sit in front of a fan and give yourself a sponge bath. Refreshing, clean & dry, and you smell good. Carry a bottle in your pocket with a wash cloth for those unexpected pleasing encounters with others. Girlfriend came home fron mardi gras (Louisiana) with rash. Doctor said use this lotion, no work. Rubbing alcohol=dry skin. Rash? (Jungle Rot), gone in 3 days, Bingo!

Or maybe people are too nice to tell you that you smell like a dirty a$$?

I stopped using deodorant when I was 16, and in the past 19 yrs, I have never been told I stink. Not once. I also don't shower every day either, and there have been times I went 2 or 3 days inbetween, especially if I did nothing but sit around all day and do nothing.

I think that some people-very few-don't really have a need for deoderant. My father has never worn deoderant & has never smelled bad. But my 2 grown children...YIKES! They better never skip a day of bathing or using deoderant because they are both rank, stinky people!

It is a personal choice & preference, and a person has every right to not bathe or use deoderant. By the same token, don't get mad when someone tells you that you smell bad.

I had to endure a situation in the catalog section of a well knwo chain department store in Dover, DE where one of the sales clerks smelled SO bad my granddaughter gagged. I tried holding my breath until my business was completed by came close to passing out. There is no excuse to smell like something crawled inside you and died. I bet if I had called this person out everyone around me would have felt I was being rude but geesh how much is a person supposed to take??? Her management supervisory should have done something but apparently they would rather run customers away. Needless to say I do not shop in that part of the store anymore.

Kathy, if someone smells THAT bad, they are a public menace and you DO need to complain about it. If you are a customer, you have a right not to have to wear a mask with a menthol inhaler under it to pick up your catalog order. If you are a co-worker, that sort of smell creates a hostile workplace. Either way, this person needs to bathes, wash their clothes and stop trying to asphyxiate people.

I spoke to another worker who tried to help but she said this person was a supervisor and they just let her stink. That was my last visit there.

For me personally, BO doesn't nearly drive me as crazy as an itchy head. And doesn't going to sleep with an oily head stain pillows?

maybe the general consensus should be: "bathe as needed." If you have natural antibacterial powers like silver, great! But if you stink or your head flakes off, please shower.

But I do feel as if there are a lot of people here that do not like camping.

if you even payed attention to the article nlsk3 they mostly talked about how only certain parts of the body really need to be washed as the parts that give off the most BO like the armpits or the feet and in between the legs and not every 1 has oily hair after a while but it dosnt become oily right away my hair actualy lasts about 2-3 days before becomeing oily it all depends on how much u relay pay attention to the most dirtyest parts of your body instead of haveing to waste so mutch water and money on products we dont even need.

Some years ago I worked in a department store. One of the women there had the worst body odor. She was very nice and quite helpful and we all felt guilty about how quickly we tried to finish conversations with her or find reasons not to stand by her for very long. Finally we nominated someone to tell her about it. She was amazed that we could smell her, she said she showered, if not everyday at least every other day, and never used deodorant. She didn't know she needed it. But she took the advice, showered more and started using a deodorant and she never smelled again, at least at work. Thankfully she wasn't offended, just a little embarrassed. She really had no idea that she could be smelled so strongly by those around her. Just a thought to those who assume they are fresh as a daisy.

nisk3- I love camping but I do have an outdoor shower setup if I am staying in one place for awhile to camp in a place that has facilities. If I had to not bathe I would do it I guess but will chose to be clean if there is a way to do that.

i take a bath on friday (bad back), metal in spine. on tuesday i take a shower, but dont wash my hair except 1 time a week. gets to dry and frizzy, fly away, can't do anything with it. dry hair and scalp=dandruff and itch. hair sprays are the killer. a little shampoo, listerine in case it itches, cream rinse and done.

Just had to get the fat comment in, didn't ya! Did you even read the article? Nothing about fat people in it...Not one reference! Get a life!

Hey PUGSLY, since you can only imagine what its like for us somewhat slim people, you have no reference to understand what MOMO was explaining either. Yes, you fat jelly rolled individuals do stink up our air each time one of your fat slabs opens up and vents on us. It is the smell of rotting flesh.

Tip of the Day: Gravy was never intended to be a beverage nor a blood type. So put that biscuit down, clean out all the jelly and crumbs between your keys and hit the reply button.

It will be the most excercise you will get all day.

I don't take the bus. Too slow, to dangerous, too long.

Airplanes?, I used to build 'em (Engineer). U would be surprised who worked there. Example: some ones last job b4 that was a theatre attendant?. Don't use those either.

I call you weird.

Napoleon wrote a letter to his wife:

"Dear Josephine, I will be arriving home in three days. Don't bathe."

Gross.

20 years ago, I was often told that I have no body odor and did not need to waste money on deodorant. However, one's body chemistry does change over time. I may not shower EVERY day, but every other day it's a given. I do NOT want to be able to smell myself - if I can, I know everyone else can... ick.

Cappy - I agree totally! Women, some women, smell better with NO deodorant or perfume. I will not date a woman that wears something to MASK her natural smell. Perfumes make my head hurt. I have never worn deodorant and have NEVER been told I stink. My women have always commented on how GOOD I smell. I shower 2 or 3 times a week and wash the cracks and pits daily. There is nothing better smelling than an aroused woman without the heavy hanging perfume or deodorant.

I feel the same way about men. Nothing smells better then when my husband first begins to sweat and I can smell his soap and sweat together. Did you know that the primal reason you are attracted to someone in the first place is the smell of their sweat? Pharamones!

So true, the whore down the street said the very same thing to me about your husband.

Pheromones are produced by insects, not humans. PEOPLE DO NOT PRODUCE PHEROMONES!! Just smells. If you like someone's smells, then fine. But please don't call them pheromones, as that term refers to specific insect physiology which does not occur in humans.

JLM - You're an idiot, people DO produce pheromones. Quit passing bad information.

Why do you think this, EZPikins? Did you see a perfume ad in the back of a magazine claiming to contain pheromones? Show me ONE article from a scientific journal showing that pheromones have been found in humans. Good luck, because they don't.

Well, for starters:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9515961

http://www2.fiu.edu/~qbic/readings_1s_2010/Grammer%20et%20al.%202005.pdf

http://www.nel.edu/22_5/NEL220501R01_Review.htm

http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/images/human_pheromones.htm

http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/pheromones.aspx

Some current work:

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/staffinfo/jacob/teaching/sensory/olfactres.html

http://precedings.nature.com/documents/4477/version/1

Care for some ketchup with that hat?

Thanks Liutgard, some people watch a nature show about insects and their pheromones and deduce that insects are the only ?species? that exudes pheromones, probably ants. That is the problem with most people, they see something and try to apply it to everything without researching. Gee, I saw a show about horses that walk on all four legs, therefore ONLY horses can do that...

There is no evidence of the ability of a human "pheromone" to produce a predictable physiological response in humans. They do in insects.

I suppose you didn't bother reading any of those links, because it might not jibe with your pre-conceived notions.Facts be damned, eh?

I haven't used shampoo since I can remember. I do wash my hair when I shower but I briskly rub and massage my scalp to cleanse it and then use conditioner. I've found that my scalp is healthier and my hair much easier to manage and style. Shampoo dries the hair out which is why we use conditioner.

Most people don't need showers and baths more than about 3 times a week which works out to about every other day. Wash when needed. You will know unless you are completely alienated from your body. Hair too. Wash when needed. It will let you know. I found this out during winter. Summertime is pretty humid in San Diego and I shower every day then.

I don't care if it takes it or not. I enjoy a nice 30 minute shower every morning. Not giving that up.

30 minutes of wasting water is pretty Silly, Tired.

I'm just the opposite. I would rather smell a cheap, heavy, nasty perfume than someone's natural, unwashed pit stench.

Don't you know that your body has bacteria on it ALL THE TIME!! Most bacteria is not harmful, but actually protects your body from being colonized with bad bacteria that CAN hurt you. BTW diana - the best way to prevent the cold and flu is to keep your HANDS clean and cover your face when you sneeze, preferably not with your hand. And if you ARE sick STAY HOME! Hate to tell you but not showering everyday is NOT going to transmit the cold and flu more.

your right it won't transmit it more, but like you said, actually depends on where you sneezed and if you were sick. BUT, not bathing will allow all those other peoples flu, common cold, virus and germs to fester on your body and cross contaminate making you more likely to catch something. on second thought, maybe you would be the one transferring the germs to everyone else. yes people should stay home but they don't.

Fester? Are you running around naked so that all these germs attached themselves to you? Silly thinking.

Or just mabey the oversaturation of anti-bacterial products in the last 30 years has led to higher rates of asthma and allergies. You never heard about fatal peanut allergies back in the 20's and 30's, they were too busy worrying about polio and rhubella. They had planty of other things that could kill you before you reached 5 years old. Guess what, I never get a flu shot and I never get the flu. Perhaps if some people weren't as OCD about being free of germs (especially with their kids) then mabey we wouldn't have these antibiotic resistant pathogens floating around.

I also shower every 2 - 3 days and wash well in between. I use deoderant and do not smell. Unless it is in summer and I get very hot and sweaty, then I do shower daily. I raised my children the same way and stayed away from all this new anti-bacterial crap. My kids were always the healthiest around and never got lice. Even now that they are grown, they are still very healthy and rarely sick. I did work with a man once who did smell very badly. It was in a hot factory with no a/c. One of the girls finally spoke politely to him and found the problem was that he was a recent immigrant who came from a country without an abundance of water and no electricity. He was wearing his pajamas under his clothes and the same uniform every day plus no deoderant. She kindly explained the customs of bathing and deoderant over here. He was very grateful to her as he did not understand. Before she spoke to him nobody wanted to work with him. Afterwards, we found him to be a very good man and were happy to work with him.

Yeah, I'd much rather sit next to someone doused in Axe. Yuck.

Spice, I agree with you there is nothing worse than a long a$$ flight sitting next to someone who smells like the bottom of a Gym bag, but I definatel would not want to be near someone who bathed in Axe. Those are two smelly extremes. Come on people there is a middle ground.

What do you guys think caused a hole in the plane last week? It was a stinky French man's hair care product made from cheese and brealcream. "A little dab will do ya" Dippidy Do.

Oh they wanted to say something plenty of times....

Not necessarily. Sure, there are people who smell and are oblivious about it. But for those who live essentially sedentary lives on the northern side of the country, for at least three seasons of the year, they're not likely to sweat enough to require daily deoderant or showers. Now, if it's summer or for someone who does manual labor or works out, all bets are off!

Are you married? Have you ever heard of fromunda cheese?

Damn, I misspelled Fumunder in an earlier reply.

Of course there probably are many varieties.

Most people, especially if you don't know them well are just not going to tell you you smell bad. They just aren't. I have a really good nose too and one of the things that I notice alot is the smell of unwashed hair and the smell of someone who is older, both are very distinctive and neither is pleasant. A quick shower or bath is not that hard to do, unless you dont have running water.

He said he uses a clean cloth and a little soap. I doubt he smells.

I'm 62. My father grew up in Sioux falls, S. Dakota?, & northern Montana. Born Oct. 31, 1897 (Boo!). Got up 5 a.m., washed with a bucket cold water real quick. 20% outside not counting wind chill. Did his chores, walked to school 5 miles. Couldn't afford a horse, only had 2 to pull the wagon. Grandfather was a blacksmith and built horse drawn hearses (Magnificent 7?). Good trade, when u r the only game 4 hundreds of miles. Sometimes took bodies, already frozen, no smell, to undertaker. Thaw them out, paint them up, sit them outside to re-freeze while waiting 4 the relatives to show up 4 the funeral .

They might have done that some, but mostly they used olive oil as a skin moistener. Of course, the Romans practically invented baths as we know them. When their fancy baths were not available, which was for most of them most of the time, they would rub themselves with lavender flowers, hence the word "lavatory" as a synonym for bathroom.

Nice try, Scott - but "lavatory" comes from the Latin word "lavare", to wash, and has nothing to do with lavender.

Actually, both "lavatory" and Lavender" have that same Latin root, so yes, there is a definite relation.

From Wikipedia: "Lavender was commonly used in Roman baths to scent the water, and it was thought to restore the skin. Its late Latin name was lavandārius, from lavanda (things to be washed), from the verb lavāre (to wash)."

Yes, and the use of a strigil or stlengis was an effective means of cleaning the body. The olive oil softened the skin and the strigil scraped away dead skin cells and dirt. Used this way, the oil may have had an anti-bacterial effect.

I actually know a couple of people who use the strigil method a couple of times a week and then use the usual bath/shower with soap once a week. It conserves water (they're on a well and this is a concern) but they've also found that the usual winter dry skin is significantly less.

And I have not noticed any particular smell about them.

Maybe? Olive oil is a food product. If not refrigerated it stagnates. Not good unless u live right next to Mt. Olympus? or other. 3 mo. old bacon grease, not refrigerated ,smells good! Our dogs like it too in their dry food. Makes killer bacon flavored onion rings!

My wife is of Italian descent & Spanish (Not Mexican). She showers almost every day or night. Drives me crazy when I total up the water bill. Can't water the yard and pay 4 showers at the same time. Not so much of an issue now, Winter Time?. It was 87% yesterday. Today 91%?. When is winter in L.A.!

Yep the most discusting thing to smell is people with dreds...and then they put some kind of obnoxious crap on their hair and that only makes it worse...let me tell you it stinks to high heaven.

You people are ridiculous. People with dreds still wash their hair. The people I know who have dreds or braids are extremely careful about keeping them clean, and anything they put on them isn't any worse than the overperfumed shampoos that a lot of people use.

I know people with dreds too- they keep them clean. My GF said she washes her hair dreds and all.

I too have had a few friends with dreds, and they never smelled. I'm sure there's a few individuals out there with dreds that smell, but that's mostly likely because they are one of the hippies that feel that BO isn't offensive. Shower if you don't need to...fine, but if you smell...hop on in and do a little scrubbin', please.

do you all mean dread locks?

Those are not a real hair style of any kind. They are produce by the total lack of hygiene and any hair care or effort of any kind. And Hell yes, they do stink but apparently only to those who do not wear them. Not cool at all!!!!!

sbunney, I agree with you. I can't stand the smell of BO and since I live in Texas and it is hot if people don't bathe here we will need to wear clothes pins on our noses.

So let's destroy the earth and your skin and hair at the same time sbunney-- perfect! This terrifying fascination Americans have with germs is what is leading us to "Superbugs". And as you age, your skin dries out -- showering with hot water and soap daily, as well as shampooing, leads to all sorts of uncomfortable skin conditions, especially in winter. I agree, I don't like rancid smelling people, but there is a difference between people who don't bathe enough, people who bathe when needed, and obsessive compulsives like you!

My skin is fine :) No dryness, no skin conditions. It's soft and it smells good.

I'm not obsessive compulsive about it - my cleansing is no more or less than any other normal person. I don't want to risk smelling and offending myself - why is that a bad thing?

No need to destroy the earth to smell clean. Like the woman in the article - a quick swipe with a fresh lemon slice kills most odors and lasts a while. Cornstarch powder helps reduce perspiration without causing cancer like the aluminum-based anti-perspirants can. Natural soaps are easy to find (though often expensive) and not hard to learn to make, either. As for destroying the earth, Sal gal, we've been doing that with overuse of chemicals. Return to more natural ways of staying clean - one needn't waste 30 gallons of water to have a shower. Buy a showerhead with a cutoff valve. Wet your hair and skin, shut the water off or slow the flow way down. Lather up with the water off, then turn the water back on to rinse. No fuss, no muss, no stink - you're clean and you've used less than 10 gallons of water. Got a drip from the faucets? Put a bucket under the faucet ifyou can't fix it right away and use that wtaer to water plants, wash dishes and flush the toilet.

LOL sbunny! I think most of us share that feeling!

sal gal...Uh...Would you mind taking a couple steps back when you're talking?...Oh, and please turn your head when you speak?...Hey, thanks loads...

You are an idiot. You have personally smelled every single person in the world? You personally know that if every human being does not shower and shampoo their hair at least once a day they "smell rancid"? Maybe it's because YOU "smell rancid" if you don't shower twice a day? Does your body produce that much disgusting by-product? If so, by all means, PLEASE shower twice a day.

Napoleon Bonaparte was a homosexual...

That's the first I've heard of it, and he was married twice (not that that proves anything). Are you getting him mixed up with Alexander the Great?

Actually Alexander the Great was also married twice but he was bisexual. Bonaparte was as far as I know straight. Both were EXCELLENT generals although I would say Alexander had the edge.

I "seen"????

stop being a pr**k, norgold. Did you get the point? If it is that big a deal for you I am sorry but please don't humiliate the writer. Geesh, it is not Eng101 here.

Norgold

"I 'seen'????"

LOL. Actually, you'll see a LOT of that kind of "language", if you watch for it. I guess they missed vocabulary, grammar and other important classes.

As for bathing, I enjoy the water running down my back when I shower, so turning the water off to lather, doesn't get it for me. I enjoy the little tickle I get when the water runs through my hair, too.
But, I too, would rather smell a little "ode d'naturelle" to the stinky, stifling perfumes and colognes people use. That's the killer, right there.

The lemon suggestion sounds pretty good. It's nature's deodorant and how refreshing I bet that smells! Though, I guess if you have trouble with acid in your body, that might spark a rash.

I couldn't go two or three days without a shower. Good grief...if I didn't smell like I died, I'd certainly LOOK like I died! LOL

I guess you and Norgold missed the manners class too. Why people think it is ok to humiliate other posters is beyond me. Not everyone has had the educational advantages the two of you obviously have enjoyed. Give the person a break will you?

ConwayTwitter, if you are interested in proper grammar, and the like, it would behoove you to proofread your comment, before you post. "It's nature's deodorant and how refreshing I bet that smells!", is not proper grammar. Sentences beginning with: LOL, but, and prepositional phrases, bely the depth at which you understand, or care about, grammar. I truly hope this has deflated your oversized ego, if it has not however, I would be more than willing to pick your comment apart - word for word.

Using proper spelling and punctuation demonstrates respect for your readers. And it also shows that you respect yourself and believe that you have something to say that is worth reading.

whats with all the tards? does it really matter if something is grammatically correct if you understood what was meant? but, I guess that could be the problem? not smart enough to decipher?And I didn't know this was an English class.

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

see, not real important is it?. why can't we all get along?

Napoleon asked his first wife Josephine not to wash. No word on second wife, doesn't look good for her.

Josephine was older than Napoleon and could not have children after the miscarriage she had while Napoleon was in Egypt. Josephine also had an affair while Napoleon was having an affair while invading Poland. Double standard at work in the divorce proceedings.

Josephine was also Creole, interested in divination, and remained friends with Napoleon after the divorce.

I believe the second wife, Maria, was much younger, had children with Napoleon. But she was more of a political marriage with the Austrians to gain alliances before the British came in and kicked butt.

@ Conway Twitter: Sorry, but "ode d'naturelle" is really "eau de naturelle."

People in glass houses....

As for the hygiene issue, I shower 6 days a week and give myself Friday night off since I know I'll shower on Saturday anyway. Got coarse, thick hair which gets shampooed twice a week - any more than that and it would dry out terribly, especially since I use a lot of heat to make it cooperate.

Personally,

I don't CARE what the proper this and that is. I was simply making a hee haw out of someone else's comment so to lighten the effect of the snag.

Go to **(&* France if you want to speak French. I said what I wanted to say. I don't care if it was according to your Ivy League upbringing or not. It was a friggin play on words. Don't you people have ANY sense of humor or were you all born with a stick up your un-sun-shined orifice? (go ahead...hit me. It's not a word. I know all about it. LOL)

I don't think I should have to be exact to please everyone on a board. As far as I remember, I am not in school here. During the day, please feel free to contact my college professors and tell them how horribly I spell on a message board. LOL I'm sure they will care.

If grammar was that important to all of you, you surely would be doing something much more significant with your time, than nitpicking everyone to death on a message board. Look how many people had to throw their two cents in over a sentence's structure...and for what's it worth, that's all it was worth.

Have a nice evening...and gee, if you can find some humor in life, you might even have a nice "being" here on Earth!

P.S. To cs-1954950
Thank you for putting that so eloquently! LOL

I think there is a correlation of people bringing the bedbugs in their suticases from other countries and giving the nasty little buggers a new foothold in this one, whether or not they are non-bathers. Might be a major correlation between all the illegal immigrants working at hotel housekeeping and bedbugs too. Lot more likely than the not bathing thing.

rfaber, I actually went to high school with a girl who was allergic to her own sweat.

I cannot put on fresh clothes unless I shower first...I tried once or twice, and I was miserable...

Funny. I just stopped wearing a watch too. The time is everywhere you want to be.

Great response, Dr Noo --- it's time to simplify. Those who are comfortable doing with less, or being creative with resources will be the survivors.

I stopped wearing a watch in College. I took public transportation to class, and stressed out about being late. Since I had no control over the buses, if I left for class in plenty of time, I would get to class in time, Checking the time was a stress. Leave in time, arrive on time. I had no control over the buses.

Totally off topic (which I addressed in a previous post), but I'm fascinated by those who can get away with not having to wear a watch. While I would love to not have to wear a watch, working for a boss (years ago) who would dock his employees every single minute they were late and send them home if they were "late" more than once per week, cemented my policy of always wearing a watch. There were other factors involved which didn't allow for getting to the office super early and that meant my time in the morning had to be governed right down to the minute. That lesson stuck and is why you can almost set your watch (if you wear one) by my morning routine to this day.

Always had techinacal jobs. Couldn't wear jewelry or watches around machinery. Didn't have much use for them anyway. Wife wears lots of nice jewlery. Throw her in the water and she would sink to the bottom real quick. On second thought, great shark bait. All that glitter thrashing around behind the boat? As 4 watches, clock watchers= bad employees.