Hogwash? Yes, please. Meet the man who hasn’t showered for 12 years but instead sprays himself with bacteria he’s collected in a pigsty, cowshed and chicken coop to keep clean

American scientist David Whitlock spritzes himself with ammonia-oxidising bacteria

First became interested in the power of these micro-organisms when his girlfriend asked why her horse kept rolling around in the dirt.

David Whitlock Whitlock has not showered for 12 years but prefers to spritz himself with bacteria

Most of us spend substantial amounts of time and money washing germs off our skin and hair.

However, according to one chemical engineer, we should be spraying them on instead.

Indeed, David Whitlock has not showered for 12 years but prefers to spritz himself with bacteria: ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB), to be precise.

Mr Whitlock, an American, first became interested in the power of these micro-organisms, which live in soil, rivers and the ocean, when his girlfriend asked why her horse kept rolling around in the dirt.

The scientist eventually discovered that the animals developed this behaviour to ensure they get enough bacteria on their bodies to stop their sweat from putrefying and smelling in the hot summer months.

Human sweat works in exactly the same way, breaking down into ammonia, which smells but which can be neutralised by the presence of AOB.

The problem is that, due to our modern insistence on hygiene, most of us no longer have any of these good bacteria living on our bodies.

Mr Whitlock’s skin, though, boasts billions.

For the last 12 years he has sprayed himself with AOB that he has collected from soil in the pigsty, cowshed and chicken coop of an organic farm.

He washes his hands with a bar of soap before touching food and after going to the lavatory, but otherwise relies on an occasional rubdown with a sponge – and a regular spray of Refreshing Cosmetic Mist as he calls his concoction.

The problem is that, due to our modern insistence on hygiene, most of us no longer have any of these good bacteria living on our bodies

He has also made the product available to other reluctant washers.

‘Bacteria is the new black, wear it every day’ is the firm’s slogan. He promises it will give users softer skin and a smoother complexion.

Remarkably, sales have been so high that the mist is currently out of stock.