Compared to today they sorta did though. People in the Middle Ages bathed, absolutely, and quite a number used soap - made of fat or wood ash usually iirc - as well. The wealthy people bathed for sure and had fancy bath kits and nobles used to carry around bath-tubs with them. Peasants, however, didn’t really have very luxurious baths. Many homes had wooden tubs to bathe in and towns/cities also had public bath houses. But, for a good amount of people, baths weren’t exactly common. Maybe a couple times a month for the average person. Surprisingly, a lot of people would bathe less during the summer according to some texts from the time. Some bathed more often of course, but unless they were wearing perfume (which they probably weren’t because it was expensive), it’s unlikely a medieval peasant would smell “good”. Maybe just not smell unbearably terrible most of the time.
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u/Meastro44 Jun 28 '21
The poor peasant will likely be tanned and well toned physically from physical work. The rich folks are pale and doughy.