1.
body odor; body smell
The natural smell of a person's body. Often used when the smell is noticeable or unpleasant, but can also refer to body scent neutrally.
A neutral medical/scientific term for body odor, though in everyday conversation it often carries a negative nuance (implying the smell is unpleasant). Japan has a strong cultural sensitivity to body odor, and products to combat 体臭 are widely marketed.
Common collocations
- 体臭が気になる: to be concerned about body odor
- 体臭を抑える: to control body odor
- 体臭が強い: to have strong body odor
- 体臭ケア: body odor care
Similar words
- 口臭: bad breath — specifically mouth odor
- 加齢臭: aging smell — the particular body odor associated with middle-aged and older people
- 汗臭い: smelling of sweat — more casual and specific to sweat