You can’t guess right away.
Various types of cosmetics and perfumes were not yet widespread in Rus’, and a specific smell emanated from people. It may seem that the matter is a simple lack of proper hygiene, but the peasants were not at all unclean.
It was abroad that they might not wash for several months, but the Russian people had a bathing day once a week. But if the body was washed regularly, then the situation with clothes was different.
When doing hard physical work, a person sweated and the sweat was absorbed into his clothes. It was quite difficult to completely get rid of the pungent aromas. In addition, the robes themselves were quite specific. There was no need to talk about the development of the woven industry, so they were made from animal skins and leather, which had a unique smell.
Food also played a role. The peasants’ diet for the most part consisted of vegetables, in particular onions and garlic, which emit a pungent aroma. It was quickly absorbed and simply did not have time to erode. In addition, many people rubbed onions on their bodies to get rid of the smell of sweat. But this did not help solve the problem. Nobles and boyars often complained that serfs smelled bad.
