Truth is, that to my knowledge most French people do wear deodorant. I won't say that everybody does, that would be a lie, but most urban people do.
Indeed, bathing is not so much a French thing: it takes time and it's not great for the environment. Though children bathe a lot, adults tend to only do it when they feel stressed and want to relax. It's also true that many smaller apartments in France are not equipped with a bathtub.
The vast majority of Europeans are very hygiene conscious. Antiperspirants and deodorants are some of the top selling personal hygiene products on the continent. Yes, of course, there are some people who do not bathe regularly or use antiperspirants in Europe, just like in any other place on the planet.
Most French People Don't Shower Every Day, Study Shows
24% said they shower once every other day; 11% said once every three days. The remaining 8% shower just once every four days... or less. And when the French are in the shower, it's not for very long, either.
This is a particular problem on the Sabbath – Judaism's holiest day running from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Orthodox Jews are forbidden from doing anything that's considered work – even using a deodorant. And that makes Sabbath prayers in packed synagogues a very smelly affair.
There's another reason few Chinese consumers buy deodorant: basic biology. Scientists in recent years have shown that many East Asians, a group that includes China's ethnic Han majority, have a gene that lowers the likelihood of a strong “human axillary odor” — scientist-speak for body stink.
The Roman Catholic church forbids contraceptive use because it is a sin against nature. Some Protestant denominations have allowed contraceptive use.
Across the channel, 86% of people in France wait until after they've had breakfast to brush their teeth, while 10% brush before and eat after.
Most French femmes only wash their hair two or three times a week to avoid damage, since the sudsy sulfates in most shampoo formulas can strip the hair of natural oils. “Our French hands-off approach comes also from our general taste for a natural look,” Jackel says.
When it comes to showers, Brazil is the leader of the pack, and the cleanest. While only 7% of Brazilians take a bath, 99% report taking weekly showers. How many showers? On average, Brazilians take two showers a day or 14 showers a week.
Who uses the most? The people who use deodorant the most are young Americans. 90% of Americans age 18-29 use deodorant daily, as opposed to only 78% aged 60 and over. America is currently the leader in both deodorant sales and usage, however Brasil is in a very close second and is expected to overtake America soon.
Deodorant is not common in Italy and is very difficult to find, so pack your own ahead of time. Some people suggest bringing a silk scarf along to cover your arms for a church but you will only look silly.
Modern deodorants
In 1888, the first modern commercial deodorant, Mum, was developed and patented by a U.S. inventor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edna Murphey.
Indeed, French building codes require this separation. The location of French toilets is tied to a number of cultural issues, especially public vs. private space and concepts of clean vs. dirty.
A new poll conducted by BVA and published in French newspaper Presse-Ocean reveals that only 57% of the French shower daily. 24% said they shower once every other day; 11% said once every three days. The remaining 8% shower just once every four days... or less.
In France, it is quite common to find gants de toilette in the bathroom. This is basically a washcloth in the form of a pocket or mitt without a thumb. You can put your hand inside and use it in the shower to wash yourself. It's definitely more practical than the square washcloths used in the United States.
French women wear their nails (les ongles) short or with a little length, neat and with or without polish. Nails are real (fake nails are considered vulgar in France), rounded, classic looking, and are either painted in clear/ neutral or red colors. Super long nails (fake or real) are not fashionable in France.
“French women actually don't tend to re-touch their hair frequently with a brush. They use their hands and massage the roots to get lift, giving it a more organic, softer effect,” says Mallett. “Over-brushing breaks hair and leaves the ends more fragile.”
The French tend to use cleansing lotions versus soaps, gels or foaming cleansers to wash their face. I think this has to do with how few people in France struggle with acne. (More on this below.) Because of this, I think they don't see the need to use any products that are harsh or stripping.
Denmark: In the top spot, with an impressive DMFT Score of 0.4 At the very pinnacle of the list have Denmark. The data indicates Denmark has the best oral health of all the countries in the entire world.
And while bidets tend to be incredibly popular in France, it is another European nation that has adopted the bidet like no other: Italy.
Most religions, however, frown on the use of condoms by its members. They believe that condoms encourage adultery and promote early sexual debut in the youth. Some religious groups only advocate for condom use by married people as a contraceptive not as protection against sexually transmitted infections or HIV/AIDS.
As traditional Catholics see it, using condoms is wrong, even as a prophylactic against disease, because they prevent conception. Life, from the moment of conception to death is, Catholics believe, sacred. Only God can terminate life.
In sub-Saharan African societies, one of the greatest deterrents to condom use is its association with fertility prevention.