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What’s That Smell? Body Odor, Bias & Biology
In this surprising and deeply human episode of The Culture Hug Podcast, we take a nose-first dive into the world of body odor—and discover it’s about so much more than hygiene. Through personal stories and science-backed insights, we explore how poverty, metabolism, and even genetics shape the way we smell—and how we’re judged for it. From the misunderstood science of "old people smell" to cultural taboos around scent, we unpack how aging, microbiomes, and deodorant ingredients all play a role. Did you know some populations naturally produce less body odor? Or that showering might not solve the problem for everyone? We break stigma with empathy, explore fascinating research, and challenge the assumptions we make about each other—one whiff at a time.
Sources:
• Mitro, S., Gordon, A. R., Olsson, M. J., & Lundström, J. N. (2012). The smell of age: Perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e38110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038110
• Mogilnicka, I., Bogucki, P., & Ufnal, M. (2020). Microbiota and malodor—Etiology and management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082886
• National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer.
• National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Alleviating body odors. Smithsonian Institution.
• Tanoko, M. (2024, June 10). Armpit rash? It might be contact dermatitis from deodorant. National Eczema Association.
• Tiara Blue. (2017, March 9). ‘My family was too poor to afford deodorant’. NonDoc.
• University of Bristol. (2013, January 17). Deodorants: Do we really need them? ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130117084928.htm
• World Population Review. (n.d.). Deodorant use by country 2025.
• AgingCare.com. (n.d.). The truth about “old people smell”. AgingCare.com.
• Dean, L. (2013, March 25). Roses, noses, and underarms: how one variation in our DNA influences underarm perspiration (and ear wax). National Center for Biotechnology Information (US).
• Debczak, M. (n.d.). 8 ways people made themselves smell good before deodorant. Mental Floss.
• Dennis, S. (2017, October 8). Cultural deodorant differences. Truly's Natural Products.
• Kassel, G. (2024, February 20). Menopause and body odor: Causes, treatment, prevention. Healthline.
• Kuo, K. (2019, July 8). Why Chinese people don’t need deodorant. The China Project. https://thechinaproject.com/2019/07/08/kuora-why-chinese-people-dont-need-deodorant/
• Luntz, S. (n.d.). Old people’s smell is a real thing, but it’s not everyone’s destiny. IFLScience.
Sources:
• Mitro, S., Gordon, A. R., Olsson, M. J., & Lundström, J. N. (2012). The smell of age: Perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e38110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038110
• Mogilnicka, I., Bogucki, P., & Ufnal, M. (2020). Microbiota and malodor—Etiology and management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082886
• National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer.
• National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Alleviating body odors. Smithsonian Institution.
• Tanoko, M. (2024, June 10). Armpit rash? It might be contact dermatitis from deodorant. National Eczema Association.
• Tiara Blue. (2017, March 9). ‘My family was too poor to afford deodorant’. NonDoc.
• University of Bristol. (2013, January 17). Deodorants: Do we really need them? ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130117084928.htm
• World Population Review. (n.d.). Deodorant use by country 2025.
• AgingCare.com. (n.d.). The truth about “old people smell”. AgingCare.com.
• Dean, L. (2013, March 25). Roses, noses, and underarms: how one variation in our DNA influences underarm perspiration (and ear wax). National Center for Biotechnology Information (US).
• Debczak, M. (n.d.). 8 ways people made themselves smell good before deodorant. Mental Floss.
• Dennis, S. (2017, October 8). Cultural deodorant differences. Truly's Natural Products.
• Kassel, G. (2024, February 20). Menopause and body odor: Causes, treatment, prevention. Healthline.
• Kuo, K. (2019, July 8). Why Chinese people don’t need deodorant. The China Project. https://thechinaproject.com/2019/07/08/kuora-why-chinese-people-dont-need-deodorant/
• Luntz, S. (n.d.). Old people’s smell is a real thing, but it’s not everyone’s destiny. IFLScience.
View all episodes
By Culture HugIn this surprising and deeply human episode of The Culture Hug Podcast, we take a nose-first dive into the world of body odor—and discover it’s about so much more than hygiene. Through personal stories and science-backed insights, we explore how poverty, metabolism, and even genetics shape the way we smell—and how we’re judged for it. From the misunderstood science of "old people smell" to cultural taboos around scent, we unpack how aging, microbiomes, and deodorant ingredients all play a role. Did you know some populations naturally produce less body odor? Or that showering might not solve the problem for everyone? We break stigma with empathy, explore fascinating research, and challenge the assumptions we make about each other—one whiff at a time.
Sources:
• Mitro, S., Gordon, A. R., Olsson, M. J., & Lundström, J. N. (2012). The smell of age: Perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e38110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038110
• Mogilnicka, I., Bogucki, P., & Ufnal, M. (2020). Microbiota and malodor—Etiology and management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082886
• National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer.
• National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Alleviating body odors. Smithsonian Institution.
• Tanoko, M. (2024, June 10). Armpit rash? It might be contact dermatitis from deodorant. National Eczema Association.
• Tiara Blue. (2017, March 9). ‘My family was too poor to afford deodorant’. NonDoc.
• University of Bristol. (2013, January 17). Deodorants: Do we really need them? ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130117084928.htm
• World Population Review. (n.d.). Deodorant use by country 2025.
• AgingCare.com. (n.d.). The truth about “old people smell”. AgingCare.com.
• Dean, L. (2013, March 25). Roses, noses, and underarms: how one variation in our DNA influences underarm perspiration (and ear wax). National Center for Biotechnology Information (US).
• Debczak, M. (n.d.). 8 ways people made themselves smell good before deodorant. Mental Floss.
• Dennis, S. (2017, October 8). Cultural deodorant differences. Truly's Natural Products.
• Kassel, G. (2024, February 20). Menopause and body odor: Causes, treatment, prevention. Healthline.
• Kuo, K. (2019, July 8). Why Chinese people don’t need deodorant. The China Project. https://thechinaproject.com/2019/07/08/kuora-why-chinese-people-dont-need-deodorant/
• Luntz, S. (n.d.). Old people’s smell is a real thing, but it’s not everyone’s destiny. IFLScience.
Sources:
• Mitro, S., Gordon, A. R., Olsson, M. J., & Lundström, J. N. (2012). The smell of age: Perception and discrimination of body odors of different ages. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e38110. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038110
• Mogilnicka, I., Bogucki, P., & Ufnal, M. (2020). Microbiota and malodor—Etiology and management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2886. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21082886
• National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer.
• National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Alleviating body odors. Smithsonian Institution.
• Tanoko, M. (2024, June 10). Armpit rash? It might be contact dermatitis from deodorant. National Eczema Association.
• Tiara Blue. (2017, March 9). ‘My family was too poor to afford deodorant’. NonDoc.
• University of Bristol. (2013, January 17). Deodorants: Do we really need them? ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130117084928.htm
• World Population Review. (n.d.). Deodorant use by country 2025.
• AgingCare.com. (n.d.). The truth about “old people smell”. AgingCare.com.
• Dean, L. (2013, March 25). Roses, noses, and underarms: how one variation in our DNA influences underarm perspiration (and ear wax). National Center for Biotechnology Information (US).
• Debczak, M. (n.d.). 8 ways people made themselves smell good before deodorant. Mental Floss.
• Dennis, S. (2017, October 8). Cultural deodorant differences. Truly's Natural Products.
• Kassel, G. (2024, February 20). Menopause and body odor: Causes, treatment, prevention. Healthline.
• Kuo, K. (2019, July 8). Why Chinese people don’t need deodorant. The China Project. https://thechinaproject.com/2019/07/08/kuora-why-chinese-people-dont-need-deodorant/
• Luntz, S. (n.d.). Old people’s smell is a real thing, but it’s not everyone’s destiny. IFLScience.