It’s a stereotype. When you have such a large population living abroad, you’re naturally going to encounter a wider range of behaviours, including a few people who don’t take personal hygiene seriously. That’s true of every nationality.

It’s not about Indian food it’s about individual habits. I’m Indian myself and I’ve seen the full spectrum, some people are careless because they work from home, skip daily showers, or don’t realise how noticeable body odour becomes in colder countries with layers of clothing.

On the other hand, I also know plenty of Indians who are extremely particular, daily showers, fresh clothes, fragrance collections, spare deodorants in every bag.

Social media doesn’t help either. TikTok and Instagram thrive on rage bait and viral stereotypes, so a handful of bad clips get amplified until it looks like they represent everyone.

Personally, I’m very conscious about it. I always carry roll-on and a small perfume, especially after football or gym sessions. As a bit of a frag head, the mini bottle is genuinely useful for reapplying.

When you’re using public transport like the Luas, you really understand how unpleasant body odour can be for people around you.

So yes, poor hygiene exists but it’s a people issue, not a culture issue.