Do Farangs Really Smell Bad?

[JingerBen]

"Farang men". I've heard that countless times in the past 30+ years I've been coming here.

Sure, there are many dirty Farangs, but I shower twice a day, three times a day in the hot season, and I know many other Farangs who do likewise. We're not all pigs. Yet Thais say we smell bad. What possible racial difference could account for this?

Is it because we sweat more?

Any ideas?

[krisb]

plenty of fat sweaty falang who perspire alcohol. perhaps thats it.

[poanoi]

Some do, roll-on don't seem to be common in Russia

[Pseudolus]

Everyone smells different and if you live in one country where most people smell the same that becomes your base smell; you do not recognize it as smelling. For example, people from south asia with their pungent spices and onion rich diet have a rather unique odour, and yet they do not find it offensive in each other as they are accustomed to it. A Thai or westerner on an Air India air plane though can find that smell over powering. The Farang smell is more often than not fungus growing on their skin because their bodies are not used to very humid environments. A wash down once a week with an acid solution such as lime juice or vinegar lowers the pH of the skin and kills it all off. Then the only smell comes from the food they eat. Thais smell as well, but because they are accustomed to the smell, they do not notice it and thus believe everyone smells except for them.

[submaniac]

Do Falangs in Thailand smell bad? Depends on if you consider the smell of alcohol and broken dreams to be an offensive odor.

(Smiley indicates this is a joke...don't get offended...unless you do actually smell of alcohol and broken dreams...at which point you should have more significant worries than what is posted on an internet forum)

[DP25]

Some do. They don't shower often enough and they don't use antiperspirant and deodorant so they stink. You have to shower at least once a day, use antiperspirant, and change your clothes often and wash them. Stinkers are more common among people from certain countries than from others. People from the English speaking countries usually don't have this problem but there are a few stinkers among them too. You will get treated badly here if you're a stinker so don't do it.

[Payboy]

Do Falangs in Thailand smell bad? Depends on if you consider the smell of alcohol and broken dreams to be an offensive odor.

(Smiley indicates this is a joke...don't get offended...unless you do actually smell of alcohol and broken dreams...at which point you should have more significant worries than what is posted on an internet forum)

I smell of alcohol and broken nightmares.

[carmine]

They doubtlessly smell bad just like ant other human being if they don't wash.

Stupid inane topic

[doggie888888]

Some do. They don't shower often enough and they don't use antiperspirant and deodorant so they stink. You have to shower at least once a day, use antiperspirant, and change your clothes often and wash them. Stinkers are more common among people from certain countries than from others. People from the English speaking countries usually don't have this problem but there are a few stinkers among them too. You will get treated badly here if you're a stinker so don't do it.

Gee, thanks for this gem. I shall firstly have a good sniff before I shake hands with new people. If they stink, they probably can't speak English, so I won't bother with them.

Actually, given the types of English speaking people here, I am better off shaking hands with stinky people: at least they are nice and friendly and less likely to whinge and carry on about the weather, the air we breathe, the locals and their strange foods and customs, the wicked police, the Russians, Indians, Germans, Chinese, Koreans, Thais, etc etc etc etc......

[LennyW]

I have heard that some Thais seem to think that Europeans smell of butter??

[kennedy]

My only problem with thais is bad breath, so the solution is deodorant for one and mouth wash for the other.

[KeyserSoze01]

It's your diet. If you eat what the Thais eat, after a while you will smell like they do.

[Shot]

I have heard that some Thais seem to think that Europeans smell of butter??

You are right. The smell, they smell, is from dairy products. Cut back or do away with dairy, and like KeyserSoze01 says, "eat what the Thais eat", which is mostely dairy free.

[nietzche]

They doubtlessly smell bad just like ant other human being if they don't wash.

Stupid inane topic

Most western men I have met here are fat and drink a lot of alcohol.

That'l do it!

[GuestHouse]

I'm not sure if foreigners do smell bad to the Thai nose, if the do it would seem the sweet aroma of money almost always overcomes the stench.

[hedonist44]

Do Falangs in Thailand smell bad? Depends on if you consider the smell of alcohol and broken dreams to be an offensive odor.

(Smiley indicates this is a joke...don't get offended...unless you do actually smell of alcohol and broken dreams...at which point you should have more significant worries than what is posted on an internet forum)

He probably posted just to see how many people here had the time to waste on a reply. Opp's, I just replied didn't I?

[robblok]

Actually a higher body fat % and being overweight does make people sweat more. Seeing that many foreigners are fatter then Thais in general id say yes they smell a lot worse.

Add to that the fact that many Thais seem to stay dry and don't sweat at all and you got a winner.

I used to sweat a lot more when i was heavier, now i still sweat more then the average Thai, i just make sure i shower enough or have a spare t shirt with me.

[draggons]

The MIL (RIP) use to tell the Mrs she smelt like farang when we use to come back to Thailand. As said you smell of what you eat.

[hands22]

Some smell like dog poo!

Ok...I am just joking. ....since dog poo seemed to be a 'hot' topic this week.

I think generally farang smells good as they like to use colognes and aftershave more than the local.

[BngkkB]

Pseudoius instead of viniger or lime juice which can irritate the skin why not use something that especially made for the skin such as Hexene which can be bought in any pharmacy. Use this on whole boy once every couple of weeks and on the armpit area every few days and you will find that overpowering body odors are gone.

[mjj]

Just shower or wash properly!

I never use anti-perspirant, just deodorant. I sweat a ridiculous amount - shirts you can whring out after 3-4 hours, but I shower at least 3 times a day, mostly just to cool off and I don't smell.

[GreenSnapper]

Of course many farangs smell bad.

Body odor comes from your food intake and personal hygiene.

Koreans, for example, have a good hygiene, but bad smell due to high garlic intake (Kimchi especially).

Indians have strong smell from their curries and often also bad hygiene.

For Farangs it is mostly bad hygiene only.

Thais know this and because they are not PC indoctrinated, they can comment on it freely.

I'm always amused when some Western PC advocate is shocked about Thai "racism" when it's only the truth.

[carmine]

They doubtlessly smell bad just like ant other human being if they don't wash.

Stupid inane topic

Most western men I have met here are fat and drink a lot of alcohol.

That'l do it!

You need to get out more or change the company you keep

[theblether]

Being easily influenced by everything that I read on Thaivisa I tried the vinegar tip. I made my way quickly to the local chip shop so that I could blend in with the surroundings and proceeded to procrastinate about my choice of takeaway for about half an hour until the vinegar dried in as advised.

I then chose a beautiful freshly cooked special fish with large potato fritters doused in vinegar, salt and chip shop brown sauce.

It was delicious.......

I went back a couple of days later and I was disappointed to be served with a Restriction Order barring me from approaching the chip shop or any member of the female staff. Apparently they were freaked out by the weirdo doused in vinegar who spent ages mumbling to himself.

When I explained it was Thaivisa wot made me do it a scream of terror went up as I confirmed all suspicions. I was now the mumbling vinegar doused weirdo who spent time in Thailand.

After spending a night in the cells ( solitary confinement because obviously I like ladyboys according to the Urban myth mindset ) I was released with a caution.

The policeman concluded his business then asked " is it true wot they say about ladyboys in Thailand?".

So thanks for that TV........I've gone from being a fine and upstanding member of the community to a vinegar doused chip shop stalking ladyboy loving weirdo.

Reputation ruined........

On the bright side the vinegar tip worked.

Just sayin'

.

[F1fanatic]

I have heard that some Thais seem to think that Europeans smell of butter??

You are right. The smell, they smell, is from dairy products. Cut back or do away with dairy, and like KeyserSoze01 says, "eat what the Thais eat", which is mostely dairy free.

I've heard this too - but about the Japanese disliking the smell of milk coming from Westerners.

It sounds likely, as the smell of old milk is unpleasant and, likely to come from our pores.

Obviously, general body odour will be washed off as long as you shower enough - and I think this requires at least 3 showers per day for a Westerner who will sweat more than a Thai, being unused to the heat.

I HONESTLY don't mean to be racist here, but I found (back in the UK) that SOME black people smelt terrible (in the confined environment of a tube train) - so yes, I can easily believe that we smell offensive to Thais unless we shower extremely frequently.

[carmine]

Of course many farangs smell bad.

Body odor comes from your food intake and personal hygiene.

Koreans, for example, have a good hygiene, but bad smell due to high garlic intake (Kimchi especially).

Indians have strong smell from their curries and often also bad hygiene.

For Farangs it is mostly bad hygiene only.

Thais know this and because they are not PC indoctrinated, they can comment on it freely.

I'm always amused when some Western PC advocate is shocked about Thai "racism" when it's only the truth.

Morning grennsnapper.

Your last three lines are a comical nonsense.

Please explain to all of us "with farang its mostly bad hygiene!" and how you know this to be the case. If you can do this, i'll consider taking you a little seriously.

[Jessi]

I thought of a good reply to the op but never mind its just a waste of time.

[GreenSnapper]

Your last three lines are a comical nonsense.

Please explain to all of us "with farang its mostly bad hygiene!" and how you know this to be the case.

If you have ever lived for a considerable time in a Farang country and/or have banged a lot of farang chicks, you would not ask such questions.

The level of personal hygiene in most of east Asia is well above that in Europe, US etc. I remember there are some surveys that a high amount of people even don't brush their teeth regularly. Not to talk about brushing their tongue, which I'd guess less than 10% of farangs do.

Farangs smell. Every Thai know that.

[carmine]

Your last three lines are a comical nonsense.

Please explain to all of us "with farang its mostly bad hygiene!" and how you know this to be the case.

If you have ever lived for a considerable time in a Farang country and/or have banged a lot of farang chicks, you would not ask such questions.

The level of personal hygiene in most of east Asia is well above that in Europe, US etc. I remember there are some surveys that a high amount of people even don't brush their teeth regularly. Not to talk about brushing their tongue, which I'd guess less than 10% of farangs do.

Farangs smell. Every Thai know that.

Oh dear

[richard_smith237]

I just asked my Wife if she thinks Westerners smell... her answer: "mwhhh, phff, pwrrr"...

I've no idea what she's saying through her gas mask....