As it turns out, a percentage of the population lack the gene that prevents stinky pits. According to researchers from the University of Bristol, that special gene is called ABCC11.
What's with the lack of quality deodorant in Korea? Basically, most Koreans don't actually need deodorant. Several years ago, scientists discovered a gene that was dubbed “ABCC11”. The team who discovered the gene found that it was a key determinant in whether a person will produce dry or wet earwax.
This study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and according to it, the gene is the only determinant of whether your underarm smell or not. What's interesting is that almost all Koreans lack the ABCC11 gene. In other words, they are “genetically mutated” to have stink-free pits.
“A high percentage of Korean patients have the mutation called ABCC11 which alters the composition of sweat so that they do not produce body odor,” he confirms with Very Good Light. “Body odor is produced when sweat is broken down by bacteria that live naturally on the skin.
Japanese people tend to sweat less and have a weak body odor. There is some quantifiable science behind this statement. The skin contains two types of sweat glands; the eccrine glands (that secrete through pores) and apocrine glands (which secrete through the hair follicles and hair).
Although there is some controversy on the subject of "racial" variation in body odor, it is determined that African blacks probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
Most of the world's population has the gene that codes for the wet-type earwax and average body odor; however, East Asians are more likely to inherit the allele associated with the dry-type earwax and a reduction in body odor.
In Japan, the cultural state of mind around fragrance simply doesn't exist. In fact, it's considered culturally offensive to wear strong scents, so light, clean, dry, understated scents are the preference.
But it turns out that Koreans are "genetically mutated" to have less of a sweating problem than others, according to research. The University of Bristol research suggested only 0.006 percent of the Korean population have the ABCC11 gene, a major culprit behind the odor problem.
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.
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.
Is it true that Japanese don't need deodorant because they don't smell as bad as Western people? It's because of the apocrine sweat gland.
Although there is some controversy on the subject of "racial" variation in body odor, it is determined that African blacks probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
A study has shown that people with low levels of apocrine glands smell less and among them, Koreans have the lowest amount of these glands. This means that most Koreans don't have bad body odor!
The Roman Catholic church forbids contraceptive use because it is a sin against nature. Some Protestant denominations have allowed contraceptive use.
"I remember that Matthew McConaughey said that he did not use deodorant and that he didn't have an odor. So my first thought is, 'I'm going to get as close as I can to him to see if he's right,'" she said of her time on the 2008 film.
Is deodorant halal? Muslims can wear deodorant even if it contains alcohol. Depending on the way the individual Muslim interprets the Quran, he may choose not to wear deodorant.