get dirrrty

Here's an interesting article about the international history of bathing. The point? "Good" and "bad" smells are social constructs, and individual cultures determine what makes a body odor appealing. Or not.

Check this out:

Most ancient civilisations matter-of-factly acknowledged that, in the right circumstances, a gamey, earthy body odour can be a powerful aphrodisiac. Napoleon and Josephine were fastidious for their time in that they both took a long, hot, daily bath. But Napoleon wrote to Josephine from a campaign: “I will return to Paris tomorrow evening. Don't wash.”

To what extent is your daily hygiene regimen dictated by what you think is socially acceptable? In other words, would you only shower every other day if all your friends agreed to do the same?