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Original poster

I never realised how bad people smell.

190 replies

Nonplusultra · 16/12/2023 10:24

I’ve had a weirdly sharp sense of smell for the last couple of days and when I’m out shopping, I can smell everyone around me and it’s surprising how few people smell nice or even clean.

I’m not talking about properly stinking - just that mild fug of cooking smells, pets, smoke, sweat, occasional halitosis.

I don’t normally notice, and of course, even now, I’m oblivious to my own pong. I’m not even getting up close to people; this is just the drift of air as you walk past someone who’s a couple of feet away.

OP posts:
Pigeonqueen · 16/12/2023 10:35

I notice it too. I have autism and my sensory awareness is very heightened. It’s been much worse since the cost of living / energy crisis has been a thing, I think people are trying to cut down their energy bill by not washing themselves or their clothes as much.

WhatsInStoreFor2024 · 16/12/2023 10:37

Are you pregnant?

Changingplace · 16/12/2023 10:37

The worst is when I can smell the fabric conditioner people have used mingled in with perfumes, ugh it’s horrible.

Youngersis1 · 16/12/2023 10:39

Came on here to say the same @WhatsInStoreFor2024

WhatsInStoreFor2024 · 16/12/2023 10:39

Actually I have noticed it more due to the weather

I search people daily in my job....look through all belongings in bags as well as a rubdown search on the body.

Smells are worse when it's raining and everything is damp I find

SisterAgatha · 16/12/2023 10:39

I agree you might be pregnant. I used to be able to smell the stream line people left!

megletthesecond · 16/12/2023 10:39

Same. And yes, it seems worse than ever at the moment. I've also wondered if it's a COL thing.

mrsDracoMalfoy · 16/12/2023 10:39

Same here, I work in a shop and I've noticed an increase of smelling, B.O, pets such as wet dog, grass and hay, alcohol, cigarettes and the most unfortunate.... wee.

Sugarfish · 16/12/2023 10:41

I usually get this if I’m about to come down with a cold

Sorrynotsore · 16/12/2023 10:42

I have a really good sense of smell and know what you mean. I think because ofth I wash my clothes including coats and scarves etc a lot and always use perfume on outer wear too.

I recently next to somone theatre who absolutely stank of cooking smells. I do understand it can be hard to smell your own smell but surey you can smell cooking smells?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 16/12/2023 10:42

In the immortal words of Mr Bingley "I wouldn't be as fastidious as you are for a kingdom".

LittleGreenFroggie · 16/12/2023 10:43

WhatsInStoreFor2024 · 16/12/2023 10:37

Are you pregnant?

My first thought too!

ChristmasTreeMagic · 16/12/2023 10:43

I've also noticed this. I was on 4 flights last week & honestly I was a bit shocked at how strong some people's smells were. Mainly that unmistakable smell of hair & clothes that haven't been washed enough.
I moved seats on one flight to get away from the man sitting next to me. There was an empty row behind & I just slipped into it once we were in the air.

I was v relieved not to have to sit next to him for 2.5 hours

Similarly on the way home a younger couple sat next to me in the departure lounge & they had such a strong of musty clothes, like that smell in some charity shops & also unwashed hair. It was gross.

There was another man sitting the other side of me & he didn't smell so that reassured me that it wasn't just me being overly sensitive.

I also became a bit paranoid about how I might smell to others, although I am v clean. Shower daily & wash clothes v v regularly etc

InflatableSanta · 16/12/2023 10:44

I had this when I was pregnant, it was unbearable.

Original poster
Nonplusultra · 16/12/2023 10:46

Ha ha! Not pregnant! Definitely not! [frantically touching wood] I wonder if it could be a peri menopause effect ?

I hadn’t made the link with CoL (I’m usually happily nose blind) but that’s very sad.

OP posts:
Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 16/12/2023 10:47

I've always had a sensitive nose, even worse when I was pregnant.
The worst offenders for me are:
Perfume
Body Spray
Hair Spray
Stale tobacco (can cope much better with a smell of fresh smoke even though I don't like it either)
Other people's un-brushed teeth/tongue/halitosis
I can cope better with sweat, wee, sick etc, because although it's obviously unpleasant, it doesn't 'stick' around so much or make me feel sick like perfume often does.
I hate perfume/scents used to mask other smells too, that's just horrible.

GoatsareGOAT · 16/12/2023 10:51

I have a very strong sense of smell & this is why I try to breathe out as I pass people (& avoid crowds!). There are layers of smells & the horrible fake body spray type thing hits me first (usually with a clashing deodorant), then what ever horrible air freshener they have been near (DH gets put in a shower as soon as he gets home if he's been in a taxi), then cooking smells, then BO etc then whatever animals they have at home.

The fake smells are much worse to me than pretty much everything except strong BO or vomit.

Having said all that we were in a shopping centre recently & it was like being in a fume hood as all the smells were being whisked upwards?!! It was a bit disorienting

Headshoulderscheeseontoast · 16/12/2023 10:58

I can cope with most smells, even bo etc but that musty clothes smell when they've been left wet for too long before drying, I cannot bare that one!

SarahShorty · 16/12/2023 11:07

Unfortunately not pregnant here, but I can smell a lot of BO while in the supermarket lately. I don't think people are washing as much as they used to and I'd hate to think it's because of high energy bills, but I think that is at least a partially contributing factor.

Where I live, it's generally a concoction of weed, piss and BO.

Candycurrantbun · 16/12/2023 11:08

GoatsareGOAT · 16/12/2023 10:51

I have a very strong sense of smell & this is why I try to breathe out as I pass people (& avoid crowds!). There are layers of smells & the horrible fake body spray type thing hits me first (usually with a clashing deodorant), then what ever horrible air freshener they have been near (DH gets put in a shower as soon as he gets home if he's been in a taxi), then cooking smells, then BO etc then whatever animals they have at home.

The fake smells are much worse to me than pretty much everything except strong BO or vomit.

Having said all that we were in a shopping centre recently & it was like being in a fume hood as all the smells were being whisked upwards?!! It was a bit disorienting

You put your DH in the shower if he's been in a Taxi?

Candycurrantbun · 16/12/2023 11:08

Perhaps you all smell too? Ever thought of that?

TheTecknician · 16/12/2023 11:11

Stale cigarette smoke and stale urine. There are no worse bad smells on a person. Even B.O. and sweat aren't as offensive.

oneflewoverthe · 16/12/2023 11:12

I have a cold and have noticed this too. Certain smells are dulled but others are heightened and disgusting!

Sartre · 16/12/2023 11:13

I’m a uni lecturer so I’ve smelt some dreadful students over the years. My students don’t tend to be so bad because they’re mostly female but I’ve stepped out into corridors of male students before and the entire corridor just smells like pure BO.

Spinet · 16/12/2023 11:15

I think it is a peri symptom. I have it at certain times too but it makes me worry how I must smell!

Can you imagine what it must've been like in the past before people washed themselves / clothes much less often?

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