‘I don’t smell ’ Meet the people who have stopped washing

I stopped using soap 6 years ago, but I usually don't tell people because there's still such a stigma attached to it. But the reaction of those I do tell is always the same "Wow, but you don't smell like anything at all!"

There was this Korean guy that I used to work with that told me that Koreans have a gene that prevents body odor. The thing was he basically smelled like a high school gym locker room 247. I really didn't know what to say to him.

Not exactly a message you want to spread around programmers who already lack basic hygiene.

Body odor can be greatly affected by the foods you eat:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.allure.com&#x2F;story&#x2F;diet-body-odor-causes" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.allure.com&#x2F;story&#x2F;diet-body-odor-causes</a><p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;nutritionfacts.org&#x2F;2014&#x2F;08&#x2F;19&#x2F;how-eggs-can-impact-body-odor&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;nutritionfacts.org&#x2F;2014&#x2F;08&#x2F;19&#x2F;how-eggs-can-impact-bo...</a><p>I learned about the effect of eggs when I tried a high protein, low carb diet where I ate 2 fried or scrambled eggs every morning. Within 3 days of starting the diet I developed an unpleasant fishy body odor, especially in my armpits. Normally I would eat 2 eggs once a week, at which level I did not develop the fishy smell. Even washing my armpits with soap did not eliminate the odor. I stopped eating eggs daily and within a couple of days the odor cleared again.<p>Similarly, I do a 10-12 day self supported pack hike most years. For lunch on these hikes I typically eat some form of processed meat (cacciatore sausage, salami etc) with processed cheese and dry biscuits. On these hikes I can usually swim or bathe in fresh water a few times each day without using any soap. I notice a slow increase in body odor, again mostly from my armpits over the course of the hike. I suspect the body odor may be caused by the garlic from the sausage. The other foods I eat are things I eat regularly without issue. Unlike with the eggs, this odor goes away with the first hot, soapy shower when I get back to civilisation.<p>Note that in the past I have had girlfriends comment that I had very low body odor compared to other guys they had dated.<p>So I suspect that successfully switching to a no or very low soap hygiene routine might be challenging for people whose diet and genetics mean they excrete odorous, non-water soluble compounds.

I remember at Carnegie Mellon&#x27;s orientation for the CompSci majors they handed out soap. Perhaps premature?

Had a colleague that stopped using shampoo. Fortunately he still bathes. He claims that he doesn&#x27;t smell. I think he&#x27;s just used to it.

For me, and I assumed most others, the primary goal of washing is to not feel &quot;icky&quot;, not smell.

I&#x27;m pushing 50 and haven&#x27;t washed my hair with shampoo or conditioner since I was around 20.<p>When I tell hairstylists, the reaction is shock&#x2F;disgust followed by surprise when they can&#x27;t help but do the smell test, and it doesn&#x27;t smell, and then with the unprompted admission that I have &quot;abnormally&quot; thick and healthy hair.<p>I also just use unscented, clear, vegan, glycerin soap on the important bits, but I&#x27;m going to experiment with stopping that after reading this article.

Click-baity title? Not using soap isn&#x27;t the same as &quot;not washing&quot; (i.e. not showering) is it?

Anecdotally, the biggest change that made a difference for me was switching to a more natural deodorant (Dr. Schmidt&#x27;s bergamot+lime) from some of the big brands. I used to be able to smell body odour by the end of the day or go into a panic if somehow I forgot to apply in the morning. The odour has drastically been cut down, even if I did not apply the deodorant.<p>Apparently, when switching to natural deodorant it&#x27;s supposed to get worse before it gets better which didn&#x27;t happen for me.<p>I&#x27;ve asked my partner who has a pretty sharp nose and she agrees with me.

they still wash, they just stopped using soap