Woo Lady or do I just stink?

[weirdexperience]

I am on holiday in a beach area where I don't know anyone.

I have smoked in and off for some years, currently in an on phase. Since being here I've smoked outside after dark at the end of each day, and to my knowledge I'm not visible by anyone as there are no houses close by. Plus it's dark.

Yesterday I had a shower and washed my hair (by mistake), brushed my teeth, put on a brand new clean swimsuit and headed to the beach. I had not smoked at all that day. My swimsuit does not smell to my knowledge as I never smoke in my house at home and if I ever smoke outside, I take off those clothes immediately and wash them. This swimsuit is new so has never been next to those clothes in the wash. I had a dress on over my suit which is also new, so same applies. My suitcases also don't smell of smoke as they've never been in a smokey environment.

I went to beach and got directly into the sea where I swam for about 20 mins.

I got out and as I was walking back to my things, and before I even passed her chair at a good 8-10ft away, a lady said "you really should quit smoking, it's not good for you". I looked at her and then looked behind me to see if she was talking to someone beyond me who was smoking. But there was no one there.

I don't have yellow fingernails or teeth.

So on a windy beach in a clean swimsuit with clean hair after swimming for 20 mins, and at a reasonable distance before I even passed her, could she smell me, the once or twice a day smoker?! Or, is she some kind of guardian angel telling me to quit before I get sick?!

Maybe she thought your heart and lungs could have given you at least another 20 mins in the water if they weren't damaged?

Or you could have sprinted up the beach after tje swim?

She is woo

Smokers don't think they smell of smoke but they do - it comes out through your pores

This.

And it is horrible!

But having said that, it's none of her business.

So what if she could tell that you smoke? Who makes comments to random strangers about their lifestyle?? This behaviour won't end well for her, not everyone will let her get away with it!

@GreyishDays

She probably says it to everyone

Yes, it's a weird thing to say to anyone so I'd guess either she's a bit eccentric. Or maybe you misheard and your guilty conscience over smoking filled in the blanks.

Ignore it. She has seen you smoking previously.

Was she quite old? It would normally be quite rude, but sometimes when someone has been a mum and then a nan they get into the habit of giving advice and it's meant kindly.

Very odd that a random person has the audacity to tell you this. I know in certain cultures people think nothing of making comments like that to anyone including strangers

Secondly, i'm affectionately telling you not to be a mug because she clearly either saw you smoking or noticed something about your mannerisms/looks where you looked like you smoke and maybe.saw your cigs.

Smokers have dreadful skin, it’s obvious in anyone over about 21. It was what made me quit (smoked briefly in teens).

But yes all smokers stink too, it oozes out of you. Non smokers can smell it. Showers make no difference I’m afraid.

If you would like to stop smoking OP, read The Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. I've known several heavy smokers who used it with permanent success, and in January I used his alcohol book to give up booze. It has worked very well.

I don't think it matters how she knew you were a smoker. The point is that you know she is right, whether she's a guardian angel, a clairvoyant or just a standard garden-variety busybody.

There is not a single good reason in the world for sucking addictive, expensive poison into a perfectly good pair of lungs.

My ex was a smoker. He was very clean and smoked outside. But there was always a smell, however subtle, of smoke. And within a few days of clean sheets his pillow would be yellow where it came out through his pores when he sweat (sorry for the gross image). It's not your fault OP. People who aren't used to the smell are likely to notice it. It doesn't make you dirty!

Just realised they were at a distance. As opposed to next to you in the buffet queue or whatever. I think they must have seen you!

I've got a really strong sense of smell (which drives DH mad and he thinks I was a sniffer dog in a former life!) but I'm sure i wouldnt smell smoke from that far away, and after you had been for a swim.
I cant tell by looking at someone if they smoke (unless they are actually smoking of course )

I'm sure the op is well aware that smoking isn't good for them and can also make people smell. I'm not sure why people think bashing those with addictions and making them feel shit about themselves is going to help in any way.

Op I'd say she's seen you smoking and like pp's have said is a mum/nan and can't help herself. One day someone WILL tell her to piss off and mind her own business.

My step father smoked only outside or in the front of the house, and yet when my mother posted us presents for the children when we lived away, I could smell it on the packages and on the contents. She used to put the presents, new items, in the spare bedroom untill she had packed a box, so they were never even near my stepfather. Yet the smell travelled.

I used to smoke and people were always saying how surprised they were I smoked as I didn't 'look like a smoker'. So you can't always tell a smoker by their appearance. The rude person on the beach must have seen you smoke. Don't worry. This is a good time to quit. I recommend it. It is horrible for a couple of weeks and then you're free! Good luck with it.

Was she young enough to be pregnant? When I'm pregnant I can smell cigarette smoke like a bloodhound. I definitely would have caught you out!

She has obviously seen you previously. Smokers definitely do smell of smoke even in circumstances that you describe. I am an ex smoker and I miss it badly but yes you can smell a smoker a mile away. I didn't realise this until I stopped.

Ex-smoker here - unfortunately even if you always smoke outside it permeates your stuff! Huge recommendation from me for the Stop Smoking by Alan Carr program - have a consultation don't just try from the book in my view. Best £200 ever spent!

It's you from the future warning you before something goes wrong. Listen to yourself and give up!

I’m going with woo

But she probably saw you smoking.

To answer some questions

I didn't have any kind of cigs or lighter in my bag, and in any case my bag was much further back from where this lady was sat. Also she couldn't have known it was my bag unless she used the eyes in the back of her head to see me put it down as she was facing forwards. She was much closer to the shore line versus where I left my things.

I am not alone, with my family, but went alone to beach at this point of yesterday.

I'm reasonably young and not all that wrinkly but maybe she could tell from looking at me.

She was probably in her 50s and definitely not pregnant, to the poster who asked.

Her daughter was with her and kind of laughed as if she was embarrassed by her mums comments.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for her today.

woo too

I have the nose of a bloodhound - I can even tell what people have eaten hours earlier (even after mints / teeth brushing and it being non-stinky type foods). It’s a curse as I’m sensitive to smells and there are loads that make me feel sick.

Coupled with the fact that I hate smoking, so it smells really awful to me, I can always smell smokers even from a distance. The smell just does permeate everything, from breath to hair to clothes.

I’d echo the points about you being “nose-blind” as you smell it all the time, coupled with the fact smoking destroys sense of smell (along with other things), as being reasons you don’t think you smell.

The circumstances in your situation would have reduced it but you’d still smell of smoke. To non-smokers, it’s generally an unpleasant smell so more obvious to them.

However, it’s no ones business if you’re not sat blowing smoke on their face. I do generally have to move away from smokers though, even if they’re not smoking at the time. I try to be sure e about it though.

I am an ex smoker and I miss it badly but yes you can smell a smoker a mile away. I didn't realise this until I stopped.

Oh come on, were all of you smoking from birth? Yes fag smoke stinks but surely you realised it before you started smoking

Op you hadn’t even had a fag that day so it could well have been the first day of being an ex smoker. Take the advice kindly.

Smokers smell, from a long distance away, it's a stale, grim stench