To wonder if smelly people know they smell

[ScariestFairyByFar]

I met an old friend today and she had the most awful BO she's in her mid 40s, professional job, 2 teenage kids, well presented in every other day, but even my dd wrinkled her nose. She kept hugging me and it was awful

I have an important form that has to be returned. I am going to hang it on the line and spray it with febreeze, so paranoid am I about the damp.

I'm not sure. I've had a couple of friends who've had quite overwhelming scents. In both cases it has been an issue of personal hygiene (or lack thereof). The first was told in no uncertain terms by another friend of ours that the way she smelled was terrible (not in those words) and she was devastated. I don't know if this was because she genuinely had no idea there was a problem, or if it was more down to the fact that someone had pointed it out. I suspect both tbh. I don't see this friend much anymore (nothing to do with her smell) but when I do, it doesn't seem as though much has changed. I don't feel that we're close enough now for me to say anything though.

The second friend has been told several times by various people that she smells and her house smells, but she thinks people are exaggerating and doesn't see the true extent of the problem.

So I guess in some cases, people know and either can't or won't change, and in some cases they haven't got a clue.

I was on a long train journey today, after a fairly boozy late night last night & not showering this morning in the hotel (did have a quick wash!), because I knew I'd want one as soon as I got home.

Wouldn't say I was actually rank enough to make other people recoil, but I got a distinct whiff of BO armpit as I was strap-hanging on the last train.

I think I'm generally aware if I pong, & it would always be at the end of a long day. If I were meeting a friend & was otherwise 'well turned out', as in the OP, I'd be clean & non-smelly!

I worked with a guy who could not smell so he had to err on the side of caution and shower twice a day, wear fresh clothes every day and use nice smellies. He had no idea when he smelled nicee or otherwise

I'll be sat in my aunties damp stinking house worrying that my clothes will retain the smell, it's bloody awful.

Ew I've just done the Lick test and it's not good. It is first thing in the morning though & I've got a cold, but even so I wouldn't fancy being near my dog-breath this morning! Is it normal to have stinky breath first thing or do I have a breath problem?

I have no idea whether I smell. I shower twice a day, wash my hair in the morning and use antiperspirant.
I imagine my DD would be more than happy to report my malodorous state to me.

I've got a head cold at the mo and my 4yo is more than happy to give me updates on how bad my breath smells after I've spent the night mouth breathing because of my poor blocked up nose.

"Muuuuuuum, your mouth is really stinky. Poo, what did you eat? Was it worms? You smell like a nappy! Don't breathe on me!" Etc etc

At least I know.

I've known two sets of families who stink.

It comes from their homes. They don't clean, smoke indoors and never open windows. They hang washing up to dry inside too so even fresh clothes smell before they've put them on.

I don't think they know.

Both have had SS involvement due to the state of their homes but still don't understand the problem.

I'd love to get in there and clean.

Good point Mrs Raj. My SiL stinks. She is a bit of an ecowarrior and doesn't like to use 'normal' soap powder. She puts something like tennis balls in the sink, waggles them around with her mucky laundry then drip dries it over the bath.
The bathroom doesn't have any ventilation so it smells really musty. She seldom buys new clothes either and shops virtually exclusively at charity shops. Which, IME have a certain smell to them.