My partner smells wrong

[GreenRubberPlant]

I'm generally very sensitive to smells but my partner has always had an agreeable scent.

In the last few months however, I've increasingly noticed a change in his body scent. Something sharp. No changes in deodorant, soaps, shower gels, washing powder. He doesn't wear cologne.

I'm 50s, peri menopause, on HRT.

Is this me? Or is it him? Has anyone else experienced this? Do you know why? TIA.

Hormonal changes affect your sense of smell so it’s possibly you. I am much more aware of my own smell since menopause, and I remember being very sensitive to smell in pregnancy, too.

That said, people’s smells change as they get older, so perhaps his smell has changed. There’s such a thing as “old person smell” (apparently - I’ve never noticed it!) and it can start in middle age.

How is his health? Some people can detect illnesses from a change in smell long before a diagnosis. Here’s one example here, but there are instances of people who can detect cancer and other health problems.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/21/experience-i-can-smell-illnesses-in-people

I was going to suggest illness. Parkinson's is the one I remember can be smelt early but also some cancers.

Yes people can smell it. I would send him for some check ups.
In the mean time try getting him to use persimmon soap - in Asia they say there is an "old person" smell which these soaps help neutralise.

Long read but this article discusses a number of medical conditions that may be associated with a change in body odour:

www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250815-these-scientists-say-they-can-diagnose-health-problems-by-smelling-your-body

What sort of smell is it? Could it be described as sweet?

I can smell when my kids are getting poorly.