On: How Advertisers Convinced Americans They Smelled Bad

[sarchertech]

I wonder how much our attitude towards body odor changed because of advertising and how much was a direct result of indoor plumbing and urbanization.

Around the same time as some of these advertisements started, indoor plumbing was becoming popular. Until then it wasn't really practical to bathe every day.

Additionally, odor didn't matter as much if you worked on a farm, but urbanization meant Americans spent more time indoors in close proximity, where smell was more of a problem.

[colomon → sarchertech]

Also body odor is going to be less noticeable if everyone around you is smoking up a storm...

[_delirium → sarchertech]

Possibly A/C also. A/C both makes it easier to avoid perspiration (which may make that more of a norm) and makes it more necessary because you no longer have fresh air from open windows.