Chinese Man Explains Why Some Locals Cover Their Noses Around Africans

A viral video shared on X has sparked discussion about why some people in China may cover their noses when around foreigners wearing strong perfume.

The video was posted by a social media user who was travelling on a train in China when she noticed some passengers covering their noses and mouths.

She appeared to question whether their reaction was linked to her being a Black African woman or whether they thought she smelled bad.

In her post, she wrote that China is one of the countries she would never live in as an African Black woman, even if she were offered a free visa. The video, however, does not establish why the passengers covered their noses.

A Chinese User in the Post Blames the Strong Perfume

A Chinese user responding to the post offered a different explanation.

“IT’S YOUR PERFUME,” the user wrote.

The commenter said they had seen similar situations involving foreigners visiting China and other parts of East Asia. According to the explanation, some people may cover their noses because they are not accustomed to strong perfumes.

The user argued that many East Asians produce less typical underarm odour because of a genetic variation involving the ABCC11 gene.

The Chinese man claimed that about 95% of Chinese and other East Asians carry the variant and therefore do not produce body odour after sweating.

While the response points to a real genetic difference, the claim needs some clarification.

Photo collage of someone spraying perfume on herself and different fragrances
PHOTO/File

What Does the ABCC11 Gene Do?

Scientists have established a link between the ABCC11 gene and the production of compounds responsible for typical underarm odour.

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that a particular ABCC11 variant is extremely common in some East Asian populations and is associated with significantly reduced underarm odour.

However, this does not mean that 95% of Chinese people have no body odour at all. The gene mainly affects the production of certain compounds in underarm sweat.

People who carry the low-odour-associated variant can still produce other body smells. Research has also found that people with two copies of the variant have significantly lower levels of the compounds associated with typical underarm odour.

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Why Deodorant Use Can Differ

The genetic difference may partly explain why deodorant use is less common in some East Asian populations.

Research has found that people with the low-odour-associated ABCC11 variant are much less likely to use deodorant than people with other versions of the gene.

However, the claim that deodorants cannot be found in Chinese supermarkets is an exaggeration. Deodorants are sold in China, and the country’s deodorant market continues to grow, although their use remains relatively low compared with some other countries.

Image illustrating how ABCCII/Genetics work in human body
PHOTO/Grok

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Can Perfume Be Too Strong?

Yes.

A fragrance that smells pleasant to one person can feel overwhelming to another. People’s reactions to smells can be influenced by their previous exposure, personal preferences and cultural environment.

Research comparing people from different countries has found differences in how they perceive the intensity, familiarity and pleasantness of everyday smells.

This means that someone who regularly uses strong perfumes may consider a particular scent normal, while someone who is less accustomed to it may experience the same fragrance as extremely strong.

In a confined space such as a train, a strong fragrance can also become more noticeable because there is less ventilation.

Does Covering the Nose Prove it Was the Perfume?

No.

The video does not show the passengers explaining why they covered their noses. Therefore, it cannot establish that they were reacting to perfume.

It also cannot establish from the footage alone that their actions were motivated by racism. The explanation given by the Chinese user is therefore one possible reason for what happened, rather than a confirmed explanation.

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Photo collage of deodorants in a Chinese supermarket
PHOTO/Reddit