Is it possible that my 17yo son has no body odour?

[frankiewentto]

17yo DS plays a team sport at a competitive level at least 3 times a week, yet he only showers about once a week or less and sometimes only changes his socks once a week or less too (despite my protestations). I don't have the best sense of smell, but neither DH nor I have ever noticed our DS having any body odour. Is this possible?

Yes, its more common in Asians, and most common in those in East Asia. I’m south Asian, I have dry ear wax, I don’t have BO even after a really sweaty day. Its noticable after a holiday, my bag of dirty clothes doesn’t smell, and everyone elses stinks.

That's a very fortuitous combination!

My DH never gets smelly feet or BO, he doesn’t sweat I get so annoyed he wears grey t shirts all the time for work and there are zero sweat patches despite him doing a physical job! How?! I cannot wear grey tops at all I’d have sweat patches under my arms and boobs 😂 His socks genuinely smell the exact same after a day’s wear. The only place he sweats from are his hands 😅 He also never wears deodorant, and has zero smell, if I don’t apply within about half an hour of washing my pits I can smell them already. He’s a lucky bastard!

ABCC11 gene.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/a-lucky-two-percent-of-people-have-a-gene-for-stink-free-armpits-2508106/

He's had a couple of long-distance relationships with girls via social media and video-call that have fizzled out after the first meet-up. Maybe there's a connection.😁

I also have a smell-free DH. Never the slightest whiff from him. His brother was the same, but when in the midst of serious personal problems he did smell of greasy hair and smelly feet; just not BO/armpit smell!

DH doesn’t have body odour either. It’s very, very rare if he’s been out on his bike on a very hot day but it’s more of a musty smell than a fox in a bin smell. He also doesn’t sweat and can wear T-shirts etc without sweat patches which really annoys me. I’d still make your DS get into the habit of showering though, if only for the rest of his bits and bobs!

I have no body odour and also dry ear wax, they can be linked. it’s a recessive gene and is explained possibly by my heritage. I never use deodorant, I’m also allergic to all perfume so good job I do not need deodorant really.

I've been pondering why my. 15yo ds doesn't need deodorant. Maybe this is why. If it's a recessive gene then does it skip a generation?Because the rest of the family definitely do need deodorant.

There is a gene for it, very common in East Asians. So you do sweat but you don't produce the bacteria that makes sweat smell.

Regardless of whether he does have that gene, wow, that's gross. The sweat is still on his body. And I'm pretty sure your crotch and asshole would stink in any event.

You need to tell him to wash if he's living in your house.

entirely possible. I have never had BO and I dont think DS1 has either

interesting, I have also only had dry earwax and have never had bo!