I never get body odour - AMA

[cuminpotato]

I have a genetic mutation which means I have no body odour and dry earwax instead of wet and sticky.

Any questions?

Lots of SE Asians have that missing gene. Not unusual at all here in Japan 🤷‍♀️

I am not Prince Andrew, or Korean!

I had a genetic test done which showed I have the mutation, which 2% of Caucasians have. Both of my parents have the mutation too - neither wear deodorant and neither smell. Growing up I thought dry earwax was normal as they had it too.

I do sweat, although minimally. Personally I wear deodorant when exercising or on hot days as I like the smell of the ones I use.

But I could not shower for 2 days, not use deodorant and then exercise and still not have smelly armpits (confirmed by my partner who is always in disbelief!)

I didn't say anywhere that I don't wash 😐and yes, my intimate areas would smell if I didn't wash them! I still shower like a normal person but don't worry at all about smelling.

Oh my goodness! My husband has this! Never smells, even after exercise, and doesn't wear deodorant! Also has dry ear wax. You learn something new every day...

This isn't that impressive and is seen in a majority of East Asians if I remember correctly

It might be difficult to answer as obviously you don't know others experiences but:

You say you do strenuous exercise, do you think it's harder for you as you don't have the sweat to help take the heat away from your body? Basically do you think you get hotter quicker than most?

I’m the same and been told it’s connected to my thyroid

Do you happen to know what the genetic mutation is called and does it have any other effects? Interesting to know it's more prevalent in Korea.

I will admit I primarily came for the Prince Andrew comments.

This isn't that impressive

Trust me, it's impressive to those of us who spend the summer purple and sweaty and need to research the most effective deodorant!

came on to see if somebody said this!

I'm the same. I do sweat but I never get b.o.
I never use antiperspirant and I have dry earwax.

@Animalism the gene with the mutation is called ABCC11- lots of info online if you're interested. Main coding is for no sweat odour and dry earwax but there is some thoughts it may affect drug metabolism and decrease risk of certain types of breast cancer.

Yes, the gene mutation is very very common in East Asians

@JauntyJinty I do tend to feel much warmer than most people, but not sure if it's linked to sweating less. if exercising in hot weather I do sweat a lot more

I have not implied this is impressive- it's built in to me, nothing I can do about it - hardly a special talent 😂

I am very similar. I barely sweat at all, even after exercise (like a spin class or a run) and it’s a right pain. I wish I did. In the warm weather I cannot control my body temperature very well and feel ill. If I do get hot, I have to drink loads of water to feel cool, and then I bloat something chronic and need to wee all the time. The best action is not to get hot in the first place (preventative) but that’s not easy.

I like the smell of fresh sweat on a sexy man, like after a run or doing some heavy lifting. 😏

So does this mean that body odour and ear wax are linked? That's very interesting

I presumably don't have the gene because my feet smell in summer but my armpits very very rarely smell even after exercise, and I hardly ever wear deodorant. Dh is the opposite his puts smell but his feet never do. I guess people are just different.

😂😂😂

I'm interested that you think this is interesting enough for an AMA!

Well, I think it's interesting.

I've heard of this gene and wished I had it, so lucky you, OP!

Congratulations on your mutated ABCC11 gene.

I am the opposite and pretty much always sweat a bit, even on cold days my armpits will be a bit clammy.
Need to be careful what I wear, and use special deodorants. But without i would be majorly pongy.

@IllDoItButOnlyForTheAttention I think genetics arereally interesting! It really is luck of the draw isn't it- I wonder at what point these mutations get triggered.

@A580Hojas glad you found my post interesting, have a great day 😊

I read research somewhere that says “sweaty people” are at a genetic advantage when it comes to sport/exercise because they are more efficient at body temperature homeostasis. They can exercise for longer because their bodies are more efficient at cooling themselves and thus they do not overheat so quickly.
Do you find this to be true? Does not being able to sweat have downsides for you?

I only recently found out that SE Asians tend to have dry, grey earwax. It came up in my dna traits on ancestry. I did know a bit about body odour as I remember reading that when Japanese people first started meeting Europeans they found the smell of them disgusting and overwhelming. I assume this was partly to do with large differences in hygiene levels too.
I don’t sweat much at all, or smell sweaty very easily, but I do have “wet” type earwax so I don’t have that gene.

Can I ask re the dry earwax @cuminpotato
How do you get the build up out? Or what do you use to prevent build up?

I have this (not the gene) and suffer with build ups all the time. Sometimes I'm not able to hear then have to do 10 days of olive oil and get the dr to syringe my ears
What works for you?

What made you get the genetic test? Seems a bit of a random thing to get. I suspect I have it, but probably wouldn’t pay to know. I am East Asian.