To wonder if smelly people know they smell

[ScariestFairyByFar]

I met an old friend today and she had the most awful BO she's in her mid 40s, professional job, 2 teenage kids, well presented in every other day, but even my dd wrinkled her nose. She kept hugging me and it was awful

[AKissIsNotAContract]

She'll know if you tell her.

[Worriedmumofan8yearoldgirl]

Depends on whether its an ingrained smell that's in their house as well. Usually when a smell is 'new' its easier to spot iykwim. I know I smell at the end of the day so have a bath but if my house also smelled the same is suspect it'd be harder to notice it iykwim

[chocolatespiders]

I would want someone to tell me- I think

[HoHoHoNoYouDont]

Could be a medical condition perhaps?

I worked with a guy once who smelt of shit. Seriously. The whole office stank. Then, he was in hospital for a 'procedure' and it diminished. How awful for him. I always wondered if he realised how bad it was.

[LastMangoInParis]

Yeah, I knew I was a bit whiffy - just yesterday. Or maybe I imagined it.
Not a lot I could do once I was out and about, though.
I didn't ask anyone if I was smelly, just comforted self with thoguht that according to Rupert Everett, both Madonna and Julia Roberts smell a bit sweaty all the time.

[FreyaSnow]

Yes. I know I smell and that my house smells.

[MousyMouse]

I had a colleague once with a kidney disease.
he smellt badly of piss when it was bad.
he knew, was very embarassed and very relieved when I talked to him (hr) about it!

[YoniMcShoni]

Maybe the fabric of her top was the culprit.

I cant wear some things or they stink to high heaven but you cant tell until they are on and smelly. No amount of perfune or anti perspirant/deodorant works to cure it.I know others have found the same with fabrics .

On the other hand though I work with a couple of people who smell the place out with BO to a dreadful level no matter what they wear. Luckily I dont work closely enough with either to have to deal with it myself but its horrible when encountered. One of them leaves an 'after smell' when he leaves an enclosed space and everyone knows he has been there. But its been like this for years and we all put up with it as its not a huge problem (unless you are unlucky enough to work beside him)

I also have a friend whose house I can smell on my clothes after I have been there. Its always been like this even though the smell has changed over the years.

Whether or not it is a problem for you depends on how often you are likely to meet up with this friend . Once in a while wont impinge on you too much if she is good company surely?

[LynetteScavo]

Well, if your friend knew, why would she keep hugging you?

FreyaSnow, what does your house smell of?

[FreyaSnow]

Damp. I mostly notice it if we go away somewhere and I open the suitcase.

[bootsycollins]

My aunties house is damp and it stinks, it's ingrained into everything in the house. When she visits my house and hangs her coat up I can smell her house in the hallway.

[bootsycollins]

No offence Freya

[WallyBantersYoniBox]

I don't think people are aware of bad breath.

But I can definitely smell B.O. on myself.

[Worriedmumofan8yearoldgirl]

How can you not realise you have bad breath? Surely you can taste it? Or is it just me that guesses if my mouth tastes bad it must therefore smell bad and to eat a mint?

[LastMangoInParis]

That's the catch, Worried: bad breath and horrible tasting mouth aren't related (apparently). Not even indicators.
So there's one more thing to worry about...

[Worriedmumofan8yearoldgirl]

Oh right, since when?!

[bootsycollins]

Trouble is my aunties in denial about the damp, it's getting worse though, the cleaning products under the sink have mould on them, ingredients in the cupboards go icky and stick together, the outside of the fridge is rusty.

[LastMangoInParis]

Since always.
I know you'll need time to adjust. I was the same when I first found out.
If you're woried your breath stinks, you gotta ask someone else. No other way of knowing.

[CoolCadbury]

Sometimes, I get eczema under my arms and not able to wear deo and I can feel myself sweating and being itchy and smelly but there's nothing I can do.

[FreyaSnow]

Don't worry Bootsy, I'm not offended! We don't have things rusting and sticking together so we're probably not quite as smelly as your aunt.

[CoolCadbury]

at freya

[HolidayArmadillo]

I'm convinced I have bad breath but I don't dare ask anyone, I'm an avid flosser, use interdental brushes and mouthwash as well as the usual brushing but I also eat a lot of garlic and enjoy the odd cigarette. Nobody has ever said anything and I not see anyone recoil in distaste when I talk to them but I never have things like makeovers or anything that requires anyone to be too up in my face as I'm convinced I stink.

[garlicyoni]

There are lots of diseases that make people smell. (Schizophrenia? Who knew?!)

I know I'm more smelly since my menopause started. It's horrid, but there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. I also have a relative who often smells dreadful - I suspect he's too keen on his Atkins-style diet; ketosis stinks - but afaik he's unaware of it.

I also have a dampish house, and agree with Freya that it clings to everything but I only notice when I've been staying somewhere else.

Sometimes I wish we were all Elizabethans and didn't worry about it :(

[garlicyoni]

... oh, and people who don't wear socks! Or don't change them often enough. That bad foot smell can get pretty pervasive.

[WallyBantersYoniBox]

Yup to some people bad breath is not detectable in day to day life.

You can buy test strips apparently or I got this advice off the net:

Here are a few effective ways to test your own breath at home:

1. The Cotton Test: Wipe the top surface of your tongue with a piece of cotton gauze and smell it. This is probably the most honest way. Also, if you notice a yellowish stain on the cotton, it's likely that you have an elevated sulfide production level.
   

1. The Lick Test: Lick the back of your hand. Let that dry for about 10 seconds and then smell. If you notice an odor, you may have a breath disorder because the sulfur salts from your tongue have been transferred to your hand.
   

1. The Dental Floss Test: Run a piece of dental floss between your back teeth (this is the mostly likely place where you may get food caught) and then smell the floss. This may be an indication of the level of odors others detect.