People also wore clothes made out of natural fibres which stink a lot less than artificial fibres.
Let a slightly smelly woollen shirt air outside overnight and it’s as good as new the next day.
Also, undergarments with full body coverage were not just for modesty, they wicked away the sweat from the body and kept the outer garments clean for longer.
I am only aware of one thing, Potassium Alum, https://www.razorus.com/alum-the-miracle-used-for-centuries Other than that, perfumes, herbs, or bathing. And remember, people smelled different than they do now. 300 years ago, Humans were not consuming all kinds of chemicals, preservatives and overly processed foods. You really do sweat what you consume. And, just like today, body odor is a genetic thing. Some people sweat less and stink less. And here is an article about how many Asians do not sweat, or sweat very little. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/east-asians-no-body-odor-dont-need-deodorant-rcna156778
People also wore clothes made out of natural fibres which stink a lot less than artificial fibres. Let a slightly smelly woollen shirt air outside overnight and it’s as good as new the next day.
Also, undergarments with full body coverage were not just for modesty, they wicked away the sweat from the body and kept the outer garments clean for longer.
Would Ganges River stink even more were that not the case?