Asides from normal body odor, it would depend. Bathing was more common than people nowdays think and most Medieval people tried to keep clean as much was reasonable. A richer noble or merchant might also use perfumes or other such things to smell nicer while others would likely smell of their surroundings.

Contrary to the myth that people never bathed, medieval society had sophisticated ways of managing body odor using botanicals and linen. While full-immersion baths were less frequent for the poor, most people washed their "smelly bits" (face, hands, and underarms) daily with water and ash-based soap. The primary defense against odor was linen undergarments (chemises or braies); linen wicks sweat away from the body and is easily laundered, preventing the outer wool garments from absorbing oils. To mask odors, people used pomanders—perforated metal balls filled with musk, ambergris, or fragrant herbs like lavender and rosemary—which they wore on belts. Wealthier individuals used rose water or scented oils, while churches and homes used "strewing herbs" like meadowsweet on the floors to release fragrance when stepped upon. In 2026, historians emphasize that while their standards differed from our "deodorant culture," medieval people were generally aware of hygiene and used a combination of regular laundering and aromatics to stay presentable.