What ethnicities have the least body odor?

Genetics and Body Odor: A Natural Variation

Body odor varies from person to person, and a significant part of that difference comes down to genetics. While hygiene, diet, and lifestyle play roles, science shows that our DNA has a major influence—particularly when it comes to a specific gene linked to both earwax type and sweat composition.

Most people around the world carry a gene variant associated with wet earwax and moderate to strong body odor. This is common across African, European, and many South Asian populations. However, a notable genetic difference appears in East Asian communities. A higher percentage of people of East Asian descent—such as Chinese, Korean, and Japanese—carry a mutation in the ABCC11 gene, which results in dry earwax and significantly reduced body odor.

This genetic trait means many East Asians naturally produce less of the compounds in sweat that bacteria feed on to create odor. As a result, they tend to have a milder scent, often eliminating the need for strong antiperspirants. In fact, studies estimate that up to 80–95% of some East Asian groups have this low-odor variant, compared to less than 10% in European or African populations.

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean other ethnicities have “more” body odor in a negative sense—just that natural variation exists. Sweating and scent are normal biological processes, and what differs is the chemical makeup of that sweat, shaped by generations of evolution.

So while no ethnicity is entirely free of body odor, East Asians are statistically more likely to have a genetic advantage when it comes to staying naturally fresher. It’s a subtle but fascinating example of how human diversity manifests in everyday life.