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Original poster

Do all prepubescent boys have a weird smell?

60 replies

workworkbloodywork · 19/07/2024 16:29

My son is 12, getting very close to puberty and he smells awful. He wears deodorant and it’s not a normal BO smell. He showers daily but every time he gets in the car after school I get hit in the face by an overwhelming smell that is just awful.

so is it all boys or is mine unique and this is a sign of something more sinister and needing further investigation?

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 19/07/2024 16:42

Normal. It's hormones, and apparently nature's primitive way of starting to separate boys from their mothers - because the mothers find the smell of their sons unappealing. It's a bit yucky really, when you think about it, but makes biological sense.

Daily showers, antiperspirant (not just deodorant, that just disguises niffs) and fresh clothes daily.

It'll pass in a few years. Can you guess I have boys? Three of them were teenagers at the same time, can you imagine the fug when they were all hanging out in the same room together Grin

They grow out of it, thank god. Mine all smell lovely as adults.

timetorefresh · 19/07/2024 16:42

I've got a stinky autistic one who doesn't like to wash. Every shower is a battle. His room also stinks and I can't work out the source.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 19/07/2024 16:41

Yep it’s normal. Smells like hamster cage to me. It’s natures way of making you care a little tiny bit less when they turn into monosyllabic grunting Kevins because they no longer smell like your baby Grin.

HeartandSeoul · 19/07/2024 16:41

If it smells of acetone/pear drops, then it’s a good idea to get him checked out for diabetes.

phoenixrosehere · 19/07/2024 16:41

Moier · 19/07/2024 16:34

It's hormones.. the adrenaline gland becomes more pro active.
Three teen Grandsons here.. all had it from age 9/10. It settles down.
Make sure washing armpits and genitals with soap.. dry thoroughly... antiperspirant.
My 10 year old Grandson is the same.. but has ASD.. so his mum still supervisors in the bathroom.

My nine year old son is the same and has asd. I noticed it starting last year and thought I was going crazy because my DH couldn’t smell it and thought it was pregnancy hormones. Realised it wasn’t when my parents stayed with us and they mentioned it. My mother said the same happened with my sister at his age.

sunlovingcriminal · 19/07/2024 16:39

Three teen boys here, two out of the three have had a mega musty smell at that sort of age. Luckily one is fastidious about hygiene and is the lynx king (not sure if that is better!). The other one is not, and at 13 we're still enduring the whiff. The third one just never got smelly...!

RookieMa · 19/07/2024 16:39

You need to use bar soap NOT shower gel to wash off sweat one previous days anti perspirant ( don't use deodorant use anti perspirant)

Shower gel and Dove soap are too moisturing for washing pits (underarms

WeNeedBees · 19/07/2024 16:37

what kind of smell OP? My 12 year old DS had a funny smell, turned out he was diabetic and we didn't know.

Moier · 19/07/2024 16:34

It's hormones.. the adrenaline gland becomes more pro active.
Three teen Grandsons here.. all had it from age 9/10. It settles down.
Make sure washing armpits and genitals with soap.. dry thoroughly... antiperspirant.
My 10 year old Grandson is the same.. but has ASD.. so his mum still supervisors in the bathroom.

JerkintheMerkin · 19/07/2024 16:32

Yea they do pong. Hormones going haywire during puberty. He'll be fine. Just make sure his hygiene is very good and in a few years it will pass.