I hope I may answer this as a historical reenactor.
It really depends on where you were spending time, worked, which upbringing you belonged to, etc.
Of course, after a while you get used to smells and perceive them less, if even.
Throughout most of history, businesses with a bad smell where often put in one place to aboid them easier, tanners for example who handled many foul smelling things. Since smells generally stick to fabric, especially wool, hair and even skin, you would probably be able to spot someone who has worked as a tanner for a long time if you stood close to them. Same went for street cleaners.
People who could afford it dabbed some perfume on themselves, but they were pretty expensive (from what I know, 'The Perfume' is a good source not for facts, but for a general 'how-to').
Also more of a personal anecdote, but you surprisingly stop smelling the sweat of the people around you if you spent enough time in front of a fireplace. The smoke sticks to you and after two days you smell of mostly nothing else.
After a week of reenacting especially my hair will still smell of smoke for a week, despite daily washing.
GlacierFall t1_j1lf2jc wrote
Reply to comment by xSicilianDefenderx in Simple/Short/Silly History Questions Saturday! by AutoModerator
I hope I may answer this as a historical reenactor.
It really depends on where you were spending time, worked, which upbringing you belonged to, etc. Of course, after a while you get used to smells and perceive them less, if even.
Throughout most of history, businesses with a bad smell where often put in one place to aboid them easier, tanners for example who handled many foul smelling things. Since smells generally stick to fabric, especially wool, hair and even skin, you would probably be able to spot someone who has worked as a tanner for a long time if you stood close to them. Same went for street cleaners. People who could afford it dabbed some perfume on themselves, but they were pretty expensive (from what I know, 'The Perfume' is a good source not for facts, but for a general 'how-to').
Also more of a personal anecdote, but you surprisingly stop smelling the sweat of the people around you if you spent enough time in front of a fireplace. The smoke sticks to you and after two days you smell of mostly nothing else. After a week of reenacting especially my hair will still smell of smoke for a week, despite daily washing.
I hope that's somewhat of an answer to you :)