Why do certain cultures have diferent bodt odors?
92658
Body odors are certainly affected by diet : I once lived on dried fish (the cheapest - shark) and began to have a very strong and disgusting body odor.   Some South Pacific men (Fiji, or Samoa, I think) eat sweet-smelling flowers to improve their b.o.  \nHowever, race also plays a big part.  Dark-skinned people smell strongest, Europeans are about middle and Orientals perhaps least smelly.   Black Africans, whatever they eat, have a strong and (to most people) very disagreeable b.o.\nMany people don't know this because Africans are careful to wash often - and indeed they need to - far oftener and more thoroughly than whites.   This odor-gene will carry over to the children of a mixed black-white union.  Sad, but true.
205259
Some Buddhists in China and Vietnam also avoid eating strong-smelling plants such as onion, garlic, chives, shallot, and leek, and refer to these as wu hun (五葷, 'Five Spices'). One theory behind this Buddhist dietary restriction is that these vegetables have strong flavours which are supposed to excite the senses and, thus, represent a burden to Buddhists seeking to control their desires. Another theory is that these are all root crops, and harvesting them requires killing organisms in the soil.\n\ngood question aaron!
288458
you probably have some sort of fungus that produces the smell.  kill the fungus, stop the smell.
247610
Yes, of course, I believe that all man and women have different smells and when ever you find the right one is not because you liek the way they look or the way they talk or anything like that but is because of the way they smell to that specific person, my mom used to say that all the time, our body hair releases that smell, and that's the reason why some people just fall in love with each other without paying attention to appearances and that is also the reason of why some super hot people are still single, because no one has yet find their smell, it may sound a little too ridiculous but that's just the way I see it!!!!
1148173
Very interesting point, I hadn't realised that farts came in so many categories!\nI once wrote a thesis on Gronnels (German mathematician) discover that smell is amplified by heat, he discovered this by farting in a hot bath tub! \nHe found that when the resulting bubbles burst the smell was much stronger than usual! This is actually where the term 'Smellrika' stemed from! \nI was unable to prove a use for this phenomenon in my thesis , and I fear the same would apply to yours.\nHowever thanks for bringing it to our attention, I am sure the question will be debated for years to come.\nHope this helps??
584975
If there is a foul type odor, then there is some type of infection going on which needs to be treated by a doctor.
468212
I'm Indian and I'm offended by what you said. People of any race, creed, color, or nationality can have a stinky smell. It doesn't matter what race that person is. The cause for anyone would be a lack of hygeiene, not taking a shower, not brushing properly, not using mouthwash. If I wasn't such a nice guy, I would report you. Someone ought to though.
1154142
could be "honeymoon syndrome" scientifically known as Gardonella...which is a bacteria you can get from sex...doesn't mean someone is skipping out...you created it together, that is why it is jokingly called "honeymoon syndrome!!!  Will cause a fishy foul odor...a simple antibiotic.....OR maybe it could be a std...you didn't give much info.
50571
Most people who come from asia live in a very polluted environment. Maybe its the smell of factories and dead fish mixed with his fart that you smell?\n\nThe fart of the white man is usually from burgers and beans and meaty objects. Some people get their farts from vegatables. Our food is fresh, maybe asian people food is polluted?
154113
In some cultures, body odor is actually preferred to products that cover up or prevent the smell.  There is no hygienic reason to use it.
481934
Most of the odour comes from molecules released by bacteria in the gut.  Some are facultative; they can live with or without oxygen.  Some of these release hydrogen disulfide (rotten egg gas.)\n\nOthers are anaerobes; they live only in the absence of oxygen.  Many of these release fatty acids and amines from the larger molecules they digest for food; fats, proteins, nucleic acid, etc.  Some fatty acids are very pungent; some smell like butter, or strong cheese, or dog faeces etc.\n\nThe anaerobes are even pungent if cultured in our laboratory!  When we are culturing from some samples, the stinky ones generally contain anaerobes.  A good sense of smell is very handy in Clinical Microbiology.\n\nYears ago, I read research (that was done in inbred mice strains) showing that the genes of the animal had an influence on the types of bacteria that remained in its gut.  They said this was part of the reason why different strains of mice could recognise close relatives by smell; genes resulted in smells.\n\nI think this explains why different people make different odours, though fed the same foods.
746094
Certain things give off a different smell when heated but mostly I don't think you can differentiate. The sensation of smell is caused by particles of the thing in question not by chemicals released.
728886
Because they contain methane in them.  Also, Beta-mercaptoethanol is the substance that makes them stink.
641220
You need to see your doctor.  Different illnesses can cause the body to exude various odors. Get it checked.
1033725
Simple evolution my boy... those of us who think poop and all its relatives smell bad have been naturally selected for survival because we avoid things that smell "bad" and therefore we aren't as exposed to all the nasty germs and bacteria that come along with excretement as much as a person who thinks it smells like roses.
16459
Basically everyone has bacteria on their bodies that can smell.  Bacteria like to be in warm and wet places, like feet, so on feet they tend to multiply more, and cause more smell.  This is the same reason your armpits usually smell.\n\nHowever, athlete's foot (a fungus) can cause smell as well.
405675
The distinctive odor of feces is due to bacterial action. Bacteria produce compounds such as indole, skatole, and thiols (sulfur containing compounds), as well as the inorganic gas hydrogen sulfide. These are the same compounds that are responsible for the odor of flatulence. Consumption of foods with spices may result in the spices being undigested and adding to the odor of feces. Certain commercial products exist that can reduce the odor of feces.