Why don't we like the smell of BO?

[duketheduck]

It is a natural smell and it contains pheremones that are attractive to the opposite sex, so why is Body Odour so offensive to us?

[incitatus]

Partly a cultural thing. But also the pheromones etc. are present in fresh sweat. BO is caused by rotting sweat, basically. Poor hygeine in any animal is a sign of ill health and poor breeding potential, so this could be an evolutionary source for the dislike. But certainly previous generations hardly noticed. George the ivth is the first mmonarch to have complained about it...caroline of brunswick was a bit niffy. But Elizabeth famously only had one bath a year "wether we need it or no" so must have reeked. And you dont catch Spenser mentioning it

[vittoria]

If I understand Incitatus correctly, I think I agree with him. Actually when a clean person sweats it usually is not unpleasant - the unpleasant small comes from people who sweat and don't wash and then sweat again, and also from people who sweat in conditions of fear/stress etc. Another thing: they say that Napoleon used to send a message to Josephine when he was coming back from his battles: don't wash I am on my way!