While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
The frequencies of the A and G alleles vary markedly across different ethnic groups. The A allele is very common in East Asians, and as expected, most people in this population don't need to use deodorant. And so they don't use it—it's estimated that only 7% of North East Asians regularly use deodorant.
Scientists in recent years have shown that many East Asians, a group that includes China's ethnic Han majority, have a gene that lowers the likelihood of a strong “human axillary odor” — scientist-speak for body stink.
Like brushing your teeth or washing your face, putting deodorant on every day might seem like one of those rituals crucial for basic hygiene. But your decision is most likely based more on personal and cultural preferences than any potential medical necessity, dermatology experts say.
The simple answer is yes… and no.
2% of the population on Earth doesn't even need deodorant because they do not produce any odor. Developed countries are much more likely to use deodorant than developing countries.
"This key gene is basically the single determinant of whether you do produce underarm odor or not," Day said. While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
Buying Deodorant in China is Hard Because (Most) East Asians Don't Have Body Odor. DID YOU KNOW – It is estimated that fewer than ten percent of Chinese people use deodorant.
However, three quarters of those who do not produce an odour regularly use deodorants; we believe that these people simply follow socio-cultural norms. This contrasts with the situation in North East Asia, where most people do not need to use deodorant and they don't."
Two percent of people carry an unusual form of a specific gene (ABCC11) that means their armpits never smell.
The survey from YouGov, a polling firm, found that approximately 40% of people ages 18 to 24 don't typically wear deodorant, according to TV station WISC. The percentage is almost as high — about 30% — for people ages 25 to 34. The reason? Most people surveyed said they don't believe they need it.
In a TikTok video, he explains: "If you have a mutation in the ABCC11 gene, your body doesn't produce a particular protein found in armpit sweat that bacteria feed on which causes bad underarm odor. About 2% of the population have this genetic mutation including most Koreans.
They do sell something they call “deodorant” but it's basically perfume. Antiperspirants aren't sanctioned by the Japanese version of the FDA, so Japanese deodorants just try to cover up smells, not prevent them.
Orthodox Jews are forbidden from doing anything that's considered work – even using a deodorant. And that makes Sabbath prayers in packed synagogues a very smelly affair. What they needed was a powerful deodorant – one with advanced 48-hour protection. But Gillette wasn't even considered by the Orthodox community.
Aside from being as clean (purified) as they are for prayer, male Muslims are expected to cut their nails, and trim their hair and beards. They must also not wear any scent, including deodorant.
Body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat on your skin. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
By the end of the study, researchers concluded that men who removed their armpit hair by waxing it off or shaving it with a razor had the least body odor. Those who simply trimmed their armpit hair had the next smelliest, with the strongest armpit odors coming from those who left their pit hair untamed.
One large study failed to find any significant differences across ethnicity in residual compounds on the skin, including those located in sweat. If there were observed ethnic variants in skin odor, one would find sources to be much more likely in diet, hygiene, microbiome, and other environmental factors.
Good hygiene can help prevent smelly armpits by getting rid of the bacteria that cause the odor. People should shower or bathe once a day and after exercise. They should also wear clean clothes every day and change their clothes after exercising.
While the Ancients may not have understood this scientific explanation, they went to great lengths to mask their body odour. The Egyptians and Greeks bathed frequently in water liberally scented with fragrant oils, applied aromatic oils to their bodies and used incense to perfume the air.
Aerosols are used by 50% of European men and women; roll-ons by 27% and sticks by 13%. Once again, it is in Russia and Spain where usage varies significantly: 18% of Russians prefer to use deodorant sticks, while 37% of Spaniards choose roll-on as their preferred format.
Rapidly growing bacteria give sweat its smelliness, and people with the rare gene variant appear to produce less of an animo acid that engenders bacteria growth. This particular study examined just how many of these remarkable individuals still wear deodorant despite their lucky genetic inheritance.
With summer just around the corner, many Koreans are worried about body odor from sweaty armpits. But it turns out that Koreans are "genetically mutated" to have less of a sweating problem than others, according to research.
The gene variant is known as ABCC11 and the study authors said that the consistency of earwax is a good indication of those who have it. People who have dry earwax as opposed to sticky earwax are highly likely to have the ABCC11 variant and therefore do not produce under arm body odour.
Today most East Asians and nearly all Koreans lack a chemical in their armpits that bacteria munch on to make body odor, because they carry this variant of the ABCC11 gene. About 98 percent of Europeans have the smelly-armpit version of the gene, and along with it comes stickier and smellier earwax.