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?!

You’ve probably been smoking right outside her window or something at night and she hates you.

Yeah, I'm sorry but you can always smell smokers.

I know they'll be an avalanche of smokers now saying no you cant, people are lying blah blah but you CAN.

The thing is- smoking affects your olfactory capacity to pick up on the smell, its a known fact. Therefore, smokers cannot identify the smell in the same intense way that non smokers can. Hence all the rubbishing of claims that we can smell it. I'm sorry but we can. Ive smelt it on people i had literally no idea smoked at all and its come out later that they are in fact, smokers. This isnt a judgement against smokers at all- you can put whatever you want into your own body. But please dont give me that crap that youve spray impulse on you and have a mint and therefore "noone can tell". We can tell- it seeps out of your pores.

She saw you smoking. In the circumstances you describe, she did not smell smoke on you. Few people IRL have the Mumsnet nose and start spluttering and choking after walking past someone who once stood next to someone who worked with a heavy smoker .

Tell her to mind her own business, you were not affectng her in any way.

I’m not a smoker and I think most of the comments on this thread are just judgemental bullshit because people can’t help being cunts.

Smokers usually only smell if they’ve just had a cigarette, smoke in their home or are serious heavy chain smokers. I know plenty of smokers with great skin.

Smokers do smell a LOT more than they think. She may have been a distance away, but was she upwind of you at any point? I'd bet it was the smell.

It could have been something else, e.g. do you have the smokers lines around your mouth? Or she might just randomly say that to people, and some will go "wtf?" Because they don't smoke, and some will go "wow, it's a sign"! Her kid is cringing because "oh God, not this again mum".

I think it's pretty rude tbh. I'm not a smoker and there aren't many fans of the smell, but still, it's none of her fucking business. You already know it's bad for you, everyone knows, she's well aware she's not offering insight, just waving her unwanted opinion in your face.

Given the choice of walking past a stranger and being able to smell they're a smoker, or walking past a stranger who randomly tells me their worthless opinion and advice on my personal life choices, I'd sniff that smoker right up thanks very much. Don't give them any more head space. But, you know, give up smoking!

most of the comments on this thread are just judgemental bullshit because people can’t help being cunts

How is it being a cunt to say smoking creates a smell? Its a fact. It does. Smoke clings to clothes, it yellows people's hair and fingers and it reduces elasticity in your skin drastically- smokers often get those vertical lines above their lips. Thats not being a "cunt" its the medical truth. Is it also "being a cunt" to say smoking causes lung cancer too? I know its an inconvenient truth to some people but that doesnt stop it being medically true 🤷🏼‍♀️

Does it change your perception of what she said depending on why she said it? Like if it was a ‘woo’ thing you’ve received some sort of positive spiritual message but if she just saw you smoke somewhere she’s being mean and judgmental or something?

Smokers always smell of smoke, they really do. It must be on their breath or skin.

She must’ve seen you smoking or buying them. Ignore her, none of her business. Next time tell her she shouldn’t sunbathe, it’s bad for her.

Whether she could smell smoke or not, she was downright rude to say anything to you.

Did she have sunglasses on? It sounds to me as if it was a part of the conversation with her daughter. Either that or you were out of breathe from your swim and it was a weird attempt at a joke.

She could probably see it in your appearance. I once met a pair of Norwegian women on holiday, in their mid-fifties. One smoked, one didn't. You could tell just by looking at them which was which. The none smoker had clear skin and looked about 40. The smoker was like a shar-pei dog. Just rolls of droopy skin. I quit smoking myself not long after meeting them.

You can always tell if someone’s a smoker, even if you’ve never seen them smoke. Smokers smell; you can’t escape it even with new clothes and a shower.

I’m sorry but smokers do smell of smoke. Even washed hair will smell of smoke.

Take it as a sign and give it up

I'm woo (currently setting up an online 'woo' shop) but I was a nurse for a long time. I get really good hunches about people which I think come from somewhere in the middle of my 2 careers.

She may have seen you smoking(the most boring explanation) or there might be small visual clues in your skin or scent which she's adept at picking up and translating (even if you don't smell of the last cigarette there's something a little acrid in the general body odour. Not judging as I must have the garlic equivalent a lot of the time).

Or maybe she's woo and this was a message that it's a good time to give up. Which it really is with this Covid-shit. You do the smoking and I'll do the excess sugar...

She also can do my party trick!

I can tell if you’re a regular smoker, occasional smoker, just live with a smoker or have Just been in A smoky environment for a while.

All by just walking past you.

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

Do you have a cat’s bum mouth? 🤷‍♀️

No way she could've smelled you. I know people that've smoked for years and can't smell them when they've not got a fag outside. The occasional holiday puff isn't going to mean you have the smell "coming out of your pores" fgs

Do you need a psychic to tell you smoking’s not good for you?

Some of us have a very sensitive nose. Yes I can smell smokers even if they haven’t had a cigarette. I can also smell chocolate inside it’s platic wrapper. I can’t wear perfume or even walk through the perfume counters in a shop without feeling ill.

You can’t smell yourself (unless its really bad), you just get used to your own aroma - and yes smoking deadens your sense of smell.

@weirdexperience I think she was woo and knows something you don't. There's time still to change the future she saw.

I'm sorry but smokers do smell of fags. Whether they only have a few or a lot.
You can shower, clean the house, car etc top to bottom you can still smell it.
People that say they don't are in denial, or have crap sense of smell.