Question: Ruby claims that the Mangalores stink. If so, what's the point in disguising their appearance (like Aknot did)? The stench would blow their cover no matter the mascara.
Dangar
27th Sep 2021
The Fifth Element (1997)
Answer: I can't give a complete answer but in the spaceport there seems to be a garbage strike which might mask the Mangalores' smell (although no characters comment on the garbage smelling). Also, Mangalores are thuggish fighters, not clever spies, so they may not have thought of it. But I agree that doesn't explain this mistake fully.
Answer: Maybe Ruby exaggerated. Also, he is really close to one when he says it. So when you just walk by them in a crowd, you could mistake them for smelly humans.