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Sweat and Soap #1

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 1

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In an office romance, there's a fine line between sexy and awkward... and that line is where Asako -- a woman who sweats copiously -- met Koutarou -- a perfume developer who can't get enough of Asako's, er, scent. Don't miss a romcom manga like no other!

Yae's living her dream, working at the toiletry maker Lilia Drop. Little do her coworkers know, the reason she loves the company so much is that she's ashamed of her body odor, and their soap is the only thing that does the trick. So when the company's lead product developer, a perfuming genius, approaches her in the lobby and wonders what "that smell" is, she's terrified... but could it be... that he likes it? And, even more surprising to Yae... does she like him?

The hilarious ups and downs of an office romance at a personal care products company are the subject of this sexy, strange romp. Sweat and Soap combines the odd-couple chemistry of Wotakoi, the "too real!" workplace comedy of Aggretsuko, and a heavy dollop of office steaminess!

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2018

311 people are currently reading
7084 people want to read

About the author

Kintetsu Yamada

27 books221 followers

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5 stars
4,331 (46%)
4 stars
3,304 (35%)
3 stars
1,318 (14%)
2 stars
273 (2%)
1 star
121 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,436 reviews
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,171 reviews6,342 followers
May 22, 2021
Was this weird? Absolutely. Did I enjoy every single page? Definitely. I have a few friends in the community that have read this manga and I’ve been curious about it for the longest time and it didn’t disappoint. Asako has a perspiration problem and she tries her hardest to cover it up with different soaps and fragrances. Ironically, she works in the finance department of a soap company. Everything is pretty normal until she meets Koutarou who smells her and can’t get enough her scent. What happens next is a cute rom-com. I thought it was going to be a turn off for me to read about a man constantly smelling a grown woman BUT the way the story unfolds is heartwarming and they are absolutely cute when they interact with each other. Asako doesn’t appear to have had any serious relationships before but Koutarou is really patient and understanding and creates room for Asako to be honest and open with him at all times. The time they spend together is charming and you can tell that they really are a great pair. I loved the artwork and I can’t wait to read the next volume.
Profile Image for Gabby.
1,751 reviews29.8k followers
October 26, 2022
Okay so, the premise of this book is really strange and I wasn’t sure if this was gonna be my thing. The beginning was also kind of like, hmm? what the fuck is this guys problem he’s so weird and creepy?

And then somewhere along the way I absolutely fell in love with this story and these characters. They actually have a really cute, genuine, wholesome romance, and yes — it does feel a little insta love at times, but it just made me feel so giddy and happy and I ADORE them. So much that I just dropped so much money buying all the rest of the volumes as soon as I finished it.

Reading this felt like watching a cute k-drama office romance, and it’s just what I was in the mood for, so yes it’s kind of weird, but I don’t CARE I love it and I can’t wait to read more soon.
Profile Image for Mel.
165 reviews12.9k followers
August 30, 2023
between a 3 and a 4 star? idk, this was weird, but i enjoyed it????
Profile Image for destiny ♡ howling libraries.
1,988 reviews6,164 followers
February 14, 2022
Volume 1 ★★★★★
Volume 2 ★★★★★
Volume 3 ★★★★★
Volume 4 ★★★★★
Volume 5 ★★★★★
Volume 6 ★★★★★
Volume 7 ★★★★★
Volume 8 ★★★★★
Volume 9 ★★★★★
Volume 10 ★★★★★
Volume 11 ★★★★★

I'm just going to echo all the other reviewers who said it: this entire premise is so bizarre and I genuinely expected something painfully cringe-inducing, but... instead, I got a really adorable, laid-back slice-of-life romance with two very lovable characters?

I dunno, but I'm definitely continuing the series.

———
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Profile Image for Mareeva.
382 reviews9,967 followers
November 21, 2021
THIS IS THE FUNNIEST SHIT I'VE EVER READ🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The hero is obsessed with sniffing her sweat.

That's all, that's the plot.

Anyway, this was me trying something new.... I'll just stick to good old-fashioned novels for now💀
Profile Image for Nina Quill.
164 reviews2,078 followers
March 26, 2022
Le principe de base est…particulier ! 😅 une jeune femme qui transpire beaucoup et un monsieur qui est « nez » pour une compagnie de savon et qui adore son odeur !! Et l’air de rien ce sont des thèmes qui me parlent beaucoup (notamment la scène où elle n’ose pas lui tenir la main parce que ses mains transpirent trop : on relate !)
Leur relation est hyper mignonne et ils communiquent super bien tous les deux 🥺❤️
Profile Image for Mehsi.
14.7k reviews440 followers
May 1, 2019
A girl with a sweaty problem, and the guy from her work who doesn't mind her smell he just gets inspiration from it. A bit awkward at times, but you will also root for them as they get together.

I bumped into this one while browsing for new manga, the cover was quite hot and I was also interested by the premise of the book. How would this romance unfold and would he really not mind her sweating so much?

Ara ara this was just the cutest! Sure, at times a bit cringy and other times also a bit dicey. But quite quickly they became a couple and I was just rooting for this adorable couple.

Our girl has a small, well big problem, she sweats from even the slightest of things and is quite bothered by it. She remembers that as a child she was bullied for it and even had a nickname. She tries to cover it with all sorts of products, a lot of them from her work (though she is just an accountant there). So with that she is quite knowledgeable on what to use, how to use them best, and when to use them. She even has some tricks and tips (which she will later share with scent guy). One day at her work while drooling over new products she gets sniffed by a random guy who turns out to be from the product development team. You may imagine her reaction to it.

And yes, in the beginning I was quite uncomfortable with him just sniffing the girl, even pushing her against the wall, or holding her tightly. I just wasn't happy and I was thinking that he was quite creepy for doing this. Can't he just think of another way to get ideas for smells? He even has the guts to ask her if it is an unpleasant feeling having someone sniff you. Um, dude. Duh. How would you find it if the roles were reversed?
But as soon as they fall in love (pretty fast even) I didn't mind the sniffing that much. Weird how that works, right?
I did think it was funny that he was able to discern her feelings by her scent. For instance when they had a fight he could tell she was hiding something/acting like everything was fine.

I loved that they didn't take super long to get into a relationship. Yes, maybe it was a bit fast, but as someone else also said somewhere and I agree, it is good that we finally have a relationship that doesn't take ages and volumes to happen. Sometimes relationships happen fast, and this couple was quite cute together. There were even some sex scenes that were very swoony and nicely done.

I was definitely rooting for this couple and I am curious to see how it will go. I am happy that the guy doesn't mind her sweating much, and that he is sweet about it. Even gives her new products to try out because he knows she is still bothered by it and knows that she will be happy to try out new things. :)

The art is just fabulous! The expressions on the characters are so well done.

All in all, this is one series I will be continuing.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Katie Colson.
787 reviews9,748 followers
March 18, 2023
I'm glad this exists. This is going to do THINGS for people. I'm just not one of them. And that's okay. This is the epitome of "I don't want to yuck anyone else's yum".

When talking about this series, everyone says "It's about a guy who's obsessed with this girl's sweat. But I swear it isn't weird." Okay, let's be real. It IS weird. It is. Full stop. But that's a kink and good on them for thriving in their own consensual promiscuities. It's not for me and it doesn't need to be. I'm happy that it exists for others to enjoy.

I would definitely suggest picking this up. The characters are so wholesome and sweet. Their relationship is mature and sexy. It could absolutely work for you. Don't take my rating as a deterrent. It just didn't do for me what it could definitely do for others.
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
7,102 reviews266 followers
October 11, 2021
Remember how Edward thought Bella just had the best aroma ever in Twilight? This book drops the vampirism but has a scent designer for a toiletry company becoming obsessed with and inspired by the body odor of our heroine, Asako Yaeshima, a shy office worker in the accounting department of the business who compulsively polices her body for sweat and smells as a result of childhood bullying.

Their meet cute crosses into sexual harassment but quickly becomes consensual. It's a little rom-com-ish, but really it's just soft-core porn for people whose kinks are office ladies, big boobs, and/or shy women. The cover pretty much tells the story.

And it's a story I'm okay with right now, but I'm not sure if it will be able to hold my interest. It was originally produced as a one-shot, but the creator was asked to make it into a series, and I think they are struggling a bit to manufacture some plots that can sustain such a thin hook. But, hey, look how far it got Stephenie Meyer.
Profile Image for daph pink ♡ .
1,229 reviews3,238 followers
January 20, 2023
It didn't come as a surprise to me because after reading hundreds of comics, I am used to people in manga having distinct quirks. The ML going all on FL and sniffing her here and there at first made things a little awkward, but eventually it became agreeable. But he ought to have approached her more tactfully. I enjoy the basic idea, however since they only started dating in the first volume, I'm interested to see what other volumes contain.
Profile Image for myo ⋆。˚ ❀ *.
1,288 reviews8,799 followers
July 12, 2024
will continue!

this was so weird but it had the angst i was looking for, the second chapter threw me off because he said he loved her and i felt like it was too soon but maybe that’s common in manga? idk but i sweat a lot so i relate to the main character and i just love how obsessed and unhinged the main character was. i think a big reason i loved this is because it reminds me of snotgirl with how weird it is and im so obsessed with that graphic novel
Profile Image for nidhi :).
332 reviews717 followers
June 10, 2021
BIG THANKS TO MY GIRL RACHEL FOR THIS REC.

this is definitely the most superior office romance i have ever read, the hating game could NEVER. i binged up till ch.50 in one night (it's currently 4am lmao guess i'm skipping school) and ahhh the whole time i was overcome with so many butterflies of emotions!!!
Profile Image for Jillian -always aspiring-.
1,861 reviews536 followers
March 3, 2020
2020 Read #275

This is the most surprising manga I’ve read in ages. I had so many low expectations: I thought the smell fetish would be gross, and I thought the guy would be a dickwad. BUT NO. This manga shows a growing relationship that’s actually healthy and supportive. And even the inclusion of sex scenes doesn’t make this manga seem like just a plain smutty series. There’s depth and nuance here as these two great characters, who actually interact like real people AND a real couple, are trying to build a lasting bond between them. It’s sweet, sexy, and all around wonderful. I cannot wait for the next volume!!
Profile Image for Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany).
2,693 reviews4,616 followers
April 13, 2025
2025 reread - I still feel similarly about this volume- I kind of like it but the heroine seems so stressed out all the time it makes me feel anxious! But the concept of a romance with someone who loves a thing you're self-conscious about is nice.
Profile Image for Dilushani Jayalath.
1,016 reviews196 followers
August 20, 2021
Uhhhhh what did I just read? I am so confused. Should I like this one or should I not? My feelings are confused so I am gonna give this a mid value as 2.5 stars. I truly am confused.
Profile Image for libby.
213 reviews506 followers
October 2, 2022
Weird but not too weird to stop reading??
Profile Image for L Ann.
704 reviews155 followers
July 15, 2024
THIS WAS SO ADORABLY AWKWARD AND WEIRD, BUT I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!!

I relish the idea of a person’s scent being the first thing that attracts someone to them. Asako, a 26 year old woman working in finance for a cosmetics and toiletries company, has always been self conscious about how much she sweats (...which is a lot) and whether she smells bad or not. Who would have thought that the company’s lead product developer, “a perfuming genius,” would catch one whiff of her and find her smell irresistible? Natori Kotaro could not keep his hands and nose off of her, and I found the whole thing incredibly sexy. I know that makes me weird, but I don’t care. It was great and I ate it up.

And then how intense Natori could be! 🤣🤣 He’d be so serious, so completely lost in whatever he was doing or thinking, and Asako would just be there looking all confused or embarrassed. It was so funny! Anyway, I already own the next couple of volumes so I’ll be reading them very soon. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next. Easily 5 stars
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,194 followers
January 6, 2021
SUPER CUTE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has got to be one of the biggest surprises I've read in awhile. Thanks to a few reviews on here from friends I decided to finally pick this up because they were raving about it. SO GLAD I DID. Okay so you can read the summary here but to cut it short, Asako Yeshima is a toiletry maker for a company where an inventor of soaps and such, Kotaro Natori works. One day she's passing by and Natori smells her and can't get enough, it's one of the best smells ever and he has to keep getting sniffs.

Now it sounds weird, I know. You're like "Ewww. I don't like to smell body Oder." but here's the thing. It's done in a non-gross way, with actual adult conversations, ranging from having sex for the first time, dating, being okay with other people they work with, and so on. On top of that the relationship is so dang cute, both characters are just to adorable for words, and while the whole "super shy woman" thing can get boring it's worked well here and Natori keeps giving her the space and time to accept things in a relationship.

I really enjoyed their first date and also the fact when there was someone who worked for Natori, Asako was jealous, and they dealt with it in a very ADULT way that was so refreshing in anime/manga.

So I bought volume 2-5 right after I finished volume 1. This is my feel good series I need in life after 2020. A 5 out of 5.
Profile Image for Rowina.
212 reviews377 followers
September 19, 2022
Estoy muy confundida, ¿fue cute? más o menos, ¿fue raro? un poco ¿por qué tanto hype? no lo entiendo, ¿quiero seguir leyéndolo? no
Profile Image for a.
1,291 reviews
August 17, 2021
4.5 stars

Oh god I can't believe I actually read this...and loved it 😳😂

I'm sorry but the title is so damn weird and the premise is even weirder. I put off reading this for so long because I just thought there was no way I'd like such a weird manga but omg I actually had such a good time reading this. Not going to lie, I low-key hate myself because now I need to own up to the fact that I judged this manga hardcore and it's actually really good...and I'll need this on my bookshelf.
Profile Image for Dani(elle).
584 reviews8 followers
August 18, 2020
The premise? Really weird. The couple? Really cute. The execution? Really unexpected.

I guess I didn't think there would be themes of open and healthy communication in a mildly smutty manga about a dude with a smelling fetish ( idk if that is even the appropriate way to describe it), but that goes to show you cant can't judge a book by it's awkward cover copy.

I kept expecting this to go full hentai when it becomes clear how into the smelling our main guy is, but it's kept PG-13, fading to black before things get to graphic.

The only issue I had, and it's a Me Problem, is the main guy sometimes reminds me of Mirio from MHA which makes some scenes REALLY awkward. I kept wanting to yell "Lemillion, no! What would Erii think!?"
Profile Image for Jessica ❀.
527 reviews18 followers
August 2, 2024
If you told me a year ago that I would read and love a manga about a girl who sweats a lot and a guy who loves to sniff her. I would have laughed and laughed and laughed.

But here we are…
Profile Image for Darlene I read WAY to many books.
3,645 reviews2,372 followers
February 16, 2021
3.5 ⭐

I saw a few Recommend this one to me and this one i felt was very romantic then steamy. More plot lol

Asako has a problem and she sweats pretty fast and because of that she sorta smells but not to bad and she has sorta taken care of the problem but that doesnt stop her boyfriend Kotaro and I mean this man was ALL UP ON HER! he loved the way she smelled because the products that she used where the soaps that Kotaro made! So he is addicted to her scent and at first I gotta admit it was alittle creepy lol

It was cute between the two. Now Kotaro has to prove to Asako brother who is super overprotective of her. I think I might read another volume to see if I wanna continue with this series.

Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Profile Image for Althea ☾.
683 reviews2,227 followers
April 26, 2022
i'd rather not comment but it's fun and they're cute 🤣
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,436 reviews

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