Why don't French people shower?

Question

Hello! I'm an Aussie businessman who travels quite often. I've stayed in France six times in the past two years. I noticed that most, if not all, Frenchies smell awful--like rotten cheese. I was wondering if anybody knew why don't they bathe themselves?

The mate with the best explanation gets 10 points. Cheers!

Answer 1

I know what you mean.  My son was in Europe visiting relatives recently and wanted to bathe daily.  They finally asked him, "didn't you already bathe"?  He was there for a week.  I think the water bill is very expensive and they're trying to conserve.  The fact that it's common for them to "smell that way", they've become accustomed to it and it doesn't bother them.  I guess it's an acquired taste/smell type thing.

Answer 2

It boosts their economy to buy expensive French perfume/cologne. They've made laws against hygiene in order to force citizens into bathing in cologne instead of water. The cheese smell is really just all of the snails they eat.

Answer 3

For centuries the French have had to worry about pollution, and long ago  thought that to bathe would make one sick. As for the cheese smell, they eat a lot of cheese, maybe that is why they smell like that? I'm sure they bathe now. Maybe it's just the areas that you are staying?

Answer 4

I think it might have to do with what they eat. Maybe when they sweat they just smell worse because of the types of food they eat.

Or maybe they just don't like to shower.

Answer 5

I don't know, do you think it might be linked to why Italian males always scratch themselves?