Can Body Odor Reach A "limit"?

AlexIsHere13 | 02:44 Fri 08th Jan 2016 | Science

22 Answers

I know this is a really weird question, but could a human's body odor reach a "limit" in how badly/strongly it smells, reaching a point where there is so much bacteria in the skin/swear that the smell would not get any worse even if more bacteria was added? If so, what exactly would it smell like if it reached its limit, and either way, what would happen if someone were to literally never shower or wash themselves?

Ionic Bonding

The Tree Of Life

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Svejk

Our 'obsession' with daily showers & deodorants is quite a recent phenomenon. I worked with an engineer a few years ago who never bathed and can't say he smelled particularly.
Likewise, as a youngster in rural Ireland, where baths would have been monthly/yearly affairs. Maybe one becomes inured to the pong, lol.

Svejk

The engineer believed that other bacteria 'killed' the BO, degreased the hair, etc.
Whether he's still alive I couldn't say.

1ozzy

I've never tried to find out.

But I've had the bad experience of spending time with a person who obviously wanted to know, via trial and error.

I made that time as short as possible.

AlexIsHere13

Question Author

@1ozzy

Tell me about what happened.

1ozzy

I was watching a footy game my son was playing in. A rather smelly person I knew of sat next to me, up wind. I made an excuse and went else where. Ten minutes later they turned up again, I made another excuse and moved again.
After observing all the parents watching the game it was obvious that nobody wished to be within a big radius of the person.

Personal hygiene and clothes washing was not a priority for this person.

Are you considering performing the same social experiment?

AlexIsHere13

Question Author

No, at least not in public.

1ozzy

I suggest you don't try it in private either.
You may grow to despise yourself.

AlexIsHere13

Question Author

What do you mean?

waterboatman

Unless your sense of smell is faulty you will soon want to have a shower!

Old_Geezer

I think the first limit would be your nose's ability to detect more. Over the longer term your mind would filter it out so you'd not notice too. (Which is why folk find it difficult to detect their own odour.)

Cloverjo

It's surprising what you get used to. I work in a place which has a quite a lot of "the unwashed" coming in. The smell makes me gag, but they have their children cuddled up under their armpits with no bother. Bleeugh!

Mosaic

Many variables to consider. Some people aren't naturally smelly. Some folk have a naturally strong body odour - no matter how much they scrub. Your occupation and environment play a aprt - sitting around in overheated rooms, working hard under pressure, labouring in cool temperatures and relatively clean air - all will affect how your body sweats, and the type of scent exuded. The 'smell of fear' (no giggling at the back please) is a real phenomenon, as severely frightened people have a signal sweat response. Another operative factor is how often clothing is washed that is in direct contact with the body.
Find some of the books about the original Jack the Ripper investigations, as the police reports on some of the victims concern people who had never washed or changed their clothing.
erm....this isn't a bit of a 'thing' you're exploring is it? AB isn't quite that 'specialist'.....

ToraToraTora

dunno but I have smelt several people lately who seem to be giving it a go!

AlexIsHere13

Question Author

Anyway, back to the original question.

mikey4444

This may be slightly off-topic, but now that I am 62, I never seem to need underarm deodorant, whereas as a teenage boy and young man, I needed lashings of it !