Why does DH suddenly smell?

I’d forgotten about this thread… but in the 6 months since it was posted my husband has had some High Frequency treatment to destroy a clump of cancerous cells in his prostate, and to clear a blockage in his ureter to enable him to urinate better.

The odd smell he had developed previously has completely gone. I hadn’t thought about it until I realised whilst changing bedding very recently that it was no longer oddly smelly, nor the collars on his shirts, which it hadn’t been until probably the initial development of he symptoms.

So perhaps that visit to the GP isn’t such a ridiculous idea…..

Maybe a skin bacteria @PinkMonday sweat doesn't have a smell but BO is a product of skin bacteria that loves armpits to breed in.

The Ordinary have a product that many have been using (please do your own Googles) to eliminate BO. Apart from going back to the doc (which I also would do) this is a good place to start too

Can we get an update OP??

My mum said dad smelt differently before he was diagnosed with diabetes. He smells 'normal' again now!

Go to gp for investigation - hope DH is ok !

This thread is both fascinating and hilarious in equal measures!
Who knew "old people smell" was an actual thing?! For years we've always said that (not out loud, of course!) about charity shops - which makes sense now as they're usually full of very old/dead people's clothes!
And the "age and decay" is cracking me up! I'm in a communal garden and having to stifle the laughter as I daren't try to explain this to my elderly neighbours!
Is it just men who emit extra oil/ grease as they age? Do we start getting extra stinky too? And if so why has no one cottoned onto this and started manufacturing a product to rectify/mask the issue????
And what purpose does this odour serve?
I hope your DH is okay, OP, and you manage to get to the bottom of it soon.

The naïveté on this thread that the GP is gonna do every blood test known to man because OP thinks her DH smells funny 🤣🤣🤣

@Caramelsmadfuzzytail yes! Brilliant.

I have chronic UTI from kidney problems, only my pee smells really (I dont think 'I' smell) but its VERY strong during a bloom (dont go in the bathroom after me).

It smells sickly sweet but equally overwhelmingly 'chemically' too like you are being gassed... I would discribe it like sugarpuffs mixed with Ammonia.

I've heard tea tree oil is good to prevent smells- people use it on their armpits, under boobs and where they generally smell/sweat. While he waits for tests and results it could be worth a go- you just wipe it on the areas. Also might help rule out where it's coming from. If it makes the smells go, make sure he still gets tests

The Dove adverts say it's 1/4 moisturising cream.https://www.dove.com/nz/washing-and-bathing/beauty-bar.html

Addisons ?

These smells aren’t clothing etc. they are smells emitted by the body that can then be detected.

When clothes and bedding sit too long in a washing machine they give off a smell when they become damp again. Same applies when the weather is damp and clothes don't dry fast enough. Ive showered and towelled myself off with a clean towel that sat a few hours in the machine before being hung and immediately stank! The dry fabrics don't smell, getting them damp reactivates the funky smell.

I have a colleague with kidney issues.
with a flare up they stink smell like piss mixed with bo sweat. only faint because they wash well, but very unpleasant if close.

Nothing has been mentioned about gut health but this is another thing to check? Good probiotics and prebiotics are useful for our system and easy to add in with a quick trip to the shops.
Definitely worth a chat to a gp about other things though.

interesting about the dove soap!! I never knew it wasn’t soap so will be googling this! we love dove in our house.

Does he smell ok naked?! Because if so, it's probably the laundry

Could it be bacteria? I know he is very hygienic but could he trim his under arm and swab a little of 'The Ordinary's, Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution' under his arms and on the back of his neck (literally anywhere you/he might think the smell is coming from) This product is amazing at killing bacteria (which is what gives us BO)

Is dove the elmlea of the soap world?

Persimmon soap is said to be effective at helping neutralise that “old person” smell. Worth a try.

Are you pregnant? Or going through a menopause?

Dead 🤣🤣🤣

I can smell if my DH is unwell or stressed, his body odour completely changes.

Might be daft but have you tried baby powder? My DF strangely never ever smelt and never wore deodorant in his life, despite a physical job. He only ever used baby powder. I use it too for the peri-menopause sweat and smell I get. It’s great.

Sorry I haven't RTFT, the baby's breath smell...possibly a UTI?
Some men get them without any symptoms.
My DH gets a bit of a musty smell, I tend to pick up on it before he does and he often has a UTI.

Just as dogs can smell when a person has a medical problem, so can some humans. He needs a full blood test from GP. Yes seriously as soon as poss