16th century bathing habits?

by AclockworkWalrus

How often did people of the 1500s wash themselves and their clothes? Was it really common to bathe once a week or less? Did everyone just smell bad? What was the general state of hygiene?

macoafi

Historian Ruth Goodman addresses this in her book "How to be a Tudor." Handily, that chapter is actually excerpted online! It seems kind of silly to repeat what's said there given the length of the article, so check it out.

Short version: scrub-downs were preferred over full body immersion baths, and if your clothes aren't full of sweat, you won't reek of BO (at least, not enough to be noticed over the smell of everything else).