Why people smell bad

They probably don’t know they smell bad. I couldn’t stand going out without a shower it would be uncomfortable. But I think if you don’t wash much the amount you sweat changes

Oh god I absolutely hate this.

I went to aldi and it was volatile. There was somebody walking around with breath so bad you could smell which isle they had been down mouth breathing, it honestly smelt like they had started rotting. BO is commonplace. It's truly disgusting I don't know why everybody has stopped washing. There was a man working, yes working, in the local sainsbury and he was so greasy his hair was stuck to his head and from literally metres away he smelled like nasty crotch and unwashed dick. I'm not even making this up. The town I live in half the population has just decided to stop giving two shits about their stench, it is so antisocial they should get asbos or something.

I've noticed that more people seem to have more of an odour to them within the past year or so and put it down to saving money by not bathing daily so I've stopped being so judgemental.

I work in a charity shop and we get a few stinkers every day. Most of them do look unkempt.

Some people are showered, but they still reek. The bacteria in their pores doesn't wash off. If they don't use antiperspirant, they're gonna reek and sometimes it's bad enough to overcome even antiperspirant.

The fix is to actually kill the bacteria. Hibiscrub antimicrobial wash will kill it. An acidic toner like salicylic acid will, too. For bad cases, I recommend a combination of Hibiscrub salicylic acid toner, antiperspirant and washing all clothes in bio powder.

Unfortunately the people who need this advice are oblivious.

@DupontsYellowDressingGown and perhaps wearing clothes for longer, to avoid cost of washing them

Oh God my biggest pet peeve. Fills me with disgust and it's always when I go to Aldi or Lidl that I meet the great unwashed. I am so close to carrying a spray of some sort in my bag and spritzing them 😂

But seriously in this day and age there is just no need for it at all. And they are people that haven't purposely washed. It's not "fresh" and it's not always BO either. It's an unwashed dirty smell. 😳

For many reasons.
The identical thread earlier this week was deleted btw.

There are lots of reasons for this and I would try not to judge. There are a lot of people around who are really on the breadline and trying to save money - this likely affects buying cleaning products, clothes washing and energy for hot water. If you have a choice between eating and washing you will choose to eat.

Maybe just be glad you or your loved ones have never had physical or mental health problems that cause the perceived level of hygiene you are talking about.

One of the loveliest patients I ever nursed would fall into this category. She had a massive exposed tumour. She was so self conscious at the end of her short life.

I disagree @hylian im on universal credit and wash and have clean clothes every day

Well, I don't think anyone smells bad for the fun of it

Erm

Isn't it dangerous to eliminate all bacteria on your skin ?

I hate this. A few weeks ago I was stuck on a crowded train near someone and the small was terrible. I discreetly sprayed perfume on my wrist (I always carry a miniature in my bag) and had to put a tissue to my nose. I've never smelled anything quite so bad, so an extreme example.

I wonder nobody tells them. It's a frequent occurrence on the train, also supermarkets (naice supermarkets included).

Some poor souls are naturally whiffier. My DC two is a proper sweaty Betty, and finds it much harder to stay fresh than I do. Obviously we don't let her go out stinking, but sometimes she starts to pong at the end of the day despite a shower and decent antiperspirant. I can sometimes wear a top for two days, whereas she sometimes needs to change during the day.

Oh Interesting

In many / most cases bad odour is a sign of other problems and not a lack of basic hygiene

Washing a few times a week should be sufficient to prevent odour - if not then it may be worth seeing a doctor

So the judgements here may be undeserved

I’ve had parents tell me they only bath the kids once a week now to save money. So by Friday, the smell is unbearable. The parents are nose blind. The teachers aren’t!

Maybe adults are doing the same

It's not "fresh" and it's not always BO either. It's an unwashed dirty smell.

Sometimes it is the clothes. It might be connected then to money in some ways.

Though I know someone who meticulously showered at least once a day but they drip dried their clothes and they always had a musty smell. I'm not sure how that happened, as I drip dry some things, but perhaps it was in damp conditions or an unaired room, so taking longer to drip dry.

Some people can’t help it. They still stink of BO despite having a bath/shower and using deodorant.

Ok, but just because you can, doesn't mean every person in the country can.

There are also other factors such as learning disabilities, physical health issues that make it difficult for people to wash, and other kinds of social deprivation.

If someone smells bad I just move away or try to ignore it, and generally feel sorry for the person - even if not washing is a choice they are making for whatever reason - because their life is unlikely to be in a great place.

Though people on a recent thread were talking about how they only had a bath once a week as children and didn't smell.

I think it was more the norm that people washed at the sink in between baths. Even my grandparents had an old fashioned wash stand still in the bathroom in the 80s (ceramic jug bowl in wooden stand as most will know) and I believe it was used fairly frequently at one time.

My Dad grew up in a house without a bathroom. People still washed at the sink. It's no excuse.

People may be showering/bathing less to save money; however, a 'strip wash' compared to a bath or shower is extremely cheap.

I'd rather this than a person stinking of a can of deodorant or aftershave. Why do people put SO much deodorant on ??

Sometimes I smell bad even though I've washed, wear clean clothes, and wear anti perspirant. I'm not a fan of it myself, but what can I do if I'm out and about? If it happens then I'll wash again and change when I'm home. I think for me it's hormonal and/or stress. It's beyond my control anyway. I don't wave my armpits in people's faces but I'm sure some poor buggers get a waft now and then.

I never smell of old sweat. I just smell unpleasant. But if you're standing close enough to smell me then you're standing too close.