What did people smell like in the middle ages?

In the Middle Ages, personal hygiene was not as highly valued as it is today, and as a result, people generally smelled quite different than they do now. There were a number of factors that contributed to this, including:

* Lack of bathing. Most people in the Middle Ages did not bathe regularly, and some even went years without taking a bath. This was due to a number of reasons, including the lack of easily accessible water, the belief that bathing was unhealthy, and the fact that clothes were often made of wool, which was difficult to wash.

* Use of natural ingredients. People in the Middle Ages often used natural ingredients to clean themselves, such as herbs, oils, and vinegar. These ingredients were not as effective as modern soap, and they could sometimes leave behind an unpleasant odor.

* Poor sanitation. The streets of medieval cities were often dirty and full of garbage, and there were no effective methods of sewage disposal. This meant that people were constantly exposed to unpleasant smells, which could linger on their clothes and bodies.

* Disease. The Middle Ages was a time of frequent epidemics, and many people were infected with diseases such as the plague, smallpox, and tuberculosis. These diseases could cause a variety of symptoms, including foul-smelling breath, body odor, and skin infections.

As a result of all of these factors, people in the Middle Ages generally smelled quite different than they do today. They were likely to have a strong body odor, and their clothes would often be dirty and smelly. However, it is important to remember that not everyone smelled bad in the Middle Ages. Some people, particularly those of the upper classes, took great care to maintain their personal hygiene, and they would use a variety of methods to keep themselves clean and fresh.