Why do some people have really bad BO?

[mosaica]

Can they not smell themselves? Do they smell themselves but are deluded in thinking nobody else can? Do they perhaps suffer from some unfortunate condition that makes them smell no matter how much they wash?

All this pondering is inspired by two lovely colleagues I share a room with. They are nice in every way, except their smell. It is horrendous and on a hot day it is unbearable. If they come too close I have to hold my breath- it is that bad.

I posted on the Good Housekeeping thread for advice on how to freshen the office's air. But on S&B, I think I just want to have a moan. Why do I have to suffer this? The smell is so bad it lingers after my colleagues leave the room, and I always panic that people think it's me who smells! Any experience of similar situations? Have you ever confronted offending people and how have they reacted?

[madammecholet]

You need to tell them. Seriously, just be honest, say 'girls, I cannot go another swealtering day like this with this room smelling like a BO nightmare, we all need to use a good deoderant or I quit...'

Something soft like that should do it.

[OddBoots]

It is possible they can't.

I've had part of my genome mapped and I have the SNP rs1953558 as TT meaning I have reduced sensitivity to the sweaty smell (isovaleric acid).

Since finding this out a few months ago I have become slightly paranoid that I smell but I have been reassured that I don't.

[mosaica]

That's hardly chit chat - I wonder how many people in my situation have actually discussed BO to the offender's face?

[nancy75]

ask your boss to speak to them. I have had to tell members of staff that they had a BO problem, it is bloody awful to do but better to tell them and sort it out than let everyone else at work talk about how much they stink

[mosaica]

Hi Oddboots, sorry to hear about your condition. I hope I haven't offended you.

[mosaica]

Nancy75 have you really had to tell colleagues to wash????? That's amazing! How did you actually worded it?

[nancy75]

I was a shop manager, and we had a member of staff with really bad bo (I overheard customers commenting on it). In that environment I had to tell her both from a professional point of view and also because I felt bad for her.
I was quite discreet, said something along the lines of I had only just noticed it, I wanted to say something before others noticed and that if she needed to take time through out the day to freshen up/spray deodorant that it would be fine. I made sure I sounded really caring, but the girl was quite upset and truthfully I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me - It was awful.
On other occasions I have had staff come in clearly straight from a big night out (usually 18 yr old blokes) they had no problem with a more direct (bloody hell you stink, go and sort yourself out) kind of approach!