Is it possible that my 17yo son has no body odour?

[frankiewentto]

17yo DS plays a team sport at a competitive level at least 3 times a week, yet he only showers about once a week or less and sometimes only changes his socks once a week or less too (despite my protestations). I don't have the best sense of smell, but neither DH nor I have ever noticed our DS having any body odour. Is this possible?

Prince Andrew has this...its definitely a thing! 😆

My son is the exact same at 18 ! No bo whatsoever even after sports or physical activity. His room never smells bad either like teen boy rooms tend to usually smell . Wish I could say the same for my girls though I definitely found girls way smellier than boys in their teen years

Even if it’s possible to have no BO, it is quite gross to only shower once a week and never change socks. My ds is 11 and absolutely stinks of BO after exercise even after using deodorant. Are you sure you haven’t gone nose blind?

I thought it was a thing that you can't smell the people in your family, or who you were living with as much as you are used to it.

I know for a fact that when I got a dog, my house smelled like dog - but now it doesn't...but it must do. I just can't smell it anymore.

My DH has barely any body odour. Nor has he ever had smelly feet. I’ve known him for 30 plus years and the only time I've ever turned my nose up at his scent is when he’s been fishing!

He can graft away in the garden on a hot day, he used to cycle. Never a whiff of anything unpleasant.

He also has no sense of smell!

Apparently 2% of people lack the body odour gene, so it's possible.

Also there was an article in 2017, in New Scientist where the sweat from the armpits of a non smelly identical twin was transplanted onto his twin, who suffered from bad BO, and the BO problem was cured. The theory was that it replaced the bad bacteria.Perhaps y our son has avoided the bad bacteria

Dry earwax gene!
I think my DH has this too. Never smells bad - just sorting of like moss or stone 😂 but he does shower after exercise

It could be that you just can't smell it for whatever reason.

Obviously it's a tricky one to test out -
"Hi random stranger- does my son smell to you?"

Ah, i have dry earwax and only twice I've had slight BO, both while on holiday in hot countries and without deodorant. I never made the connection

Different age and situation but my DM is very similar - she showers maybe twice a week (!) but never, ever has any issues with BO. She's also not very hairy at all and has only the most minimal amount of hair on legs/underarms etc. Whereas I need to shower every day otherwise I'm pretty sure people could smell me down the street, and am shaving endlessly. Some people are just lucky!

Mt DH also has dry ear wax and never smells of BO. We've been together 20 years and he's never worn deodorant.

My DH has this - he never gets BO ever.

I have very dry ear wax and never seem to have a BO, I keep thinking its kind of a condition, i also dont sweat much as well when i do cardio.

I used to be told off for not drinking enough water. I dont know if there used to be a connection to all

My husband is very fastidious about showering but really doesn’t need deodorant. He would never smell of BO, ever. He could do a 10 mile run on a boiling hot day and his armpits would be completely odourless.

I also don't have BO but interestingly I did during my last pregnancy but gone back to none since. My husbands always commented on it that I never smell or it's very subtle. I do wash often despite this!

Both my DH and DS have no body odour. However that doesn't stop my teenage DS liberally applying the lynx!

Dry ear wax gene.

Me and DS both have this.

He can leave his gym kit in his bag for a week after wearing it and it just doesn't smell. His dirty washing doesn't smell (unless he's been cooking, it smells of food).

I'm the same. I do sweat, but it doesn't smell of BO.

Africa I assume @Katieweasel ? 😆

Dh never smells. It's so weird.

My DH definitely has this!

My late father never wore deodorant or anti perspirant in his life. I don't think he even bathed or showered every day. Probably every other day looking back. He never ever smelt of BO. Maybe some people are just like this. I'd start smelling after a few hours if I didn't put on deodorant or anti perspirant after washing

I had an ex like this - no deodorant and he never smelled sweaty. No idea what his ear wax was like, I'm happy to say.

I take it he has zero interest in girls (or boys!) yet OP? Because changing socks once a week and not showering is just grim. And unusual for a 17 year old.

Mine showers for bloody half an hour every day. I wish it was ten minutes but I'll take it over once a week.

I'd expect this level of hygiene in a 12 year old

My dad is like this. No deodorant, showers a normal amount, have seen him sweat but no BO ever.

However your son should still shower and change his socks more often - even if he doesn’t smell he’s at risk of eg fungal infections.

My DH is like this, his clothes stay in great condition as they smell fresh and clean after multiple wears. I get one use out of a top and it's whiffy and needing a wash 🤢

That being said, regular showers are a non-negotiable. Even if he's not got smelly pits, he should definitely be washing his bits!