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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why does DH suddenly smell?

209 replies

PinkMonday · 31/05/2023 08:32

Help! My DH stinks but I don't know why and I'm desperate for suggestions. He has a bath every evening, cleans his teeth, flosses, clean clothes but he still smells. I change our bedsheets once a week.

It's a really weird smell. Kind of like baby drool. I'm not pregnant so it's not like I am suddenly sensitive to smells.

It's only started happening in the last 2 weeks I think. He said he can even smell it on himself too.

I even started washing his back to make sure he's 100% clean but I notice by the morning he stinks again!

OP posts:
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PollyThePixie · 31/05/2023 14:44

OrbandSpectacle · 31/05/2023 10:06

As you get older you do smell more it’s just ageing and decay.

Fuck me, at 69 I must absolutely reek!

Me too. 🙄

PollyThePixie · 31/05/2023 14:45

Op, it could be his belly button. You’ll have to do a sniff test.

WinterDeWinter · 31/05/2023 15:01

Interesting re persimmon soap.

I went to see where I could buy some for DH and Google served me this ... it's not me with the problem mate 😁

Why does DH suddenly smell?
DeathBecomesHer · 31/05/2023 15:03

"Decay"?

😂

Sensibletrousers · 31/05/2023 15:07

Is there an equivalent smell that middle aged women get? Or do we just get a dry fanny and sick of everyone’s shit?

Whiteroomjoy · 31/05/2023 15:08

arlow · 31/05/2023 13:32

@Whiteroomjoy - What was the condition? My ex also developed this odd slightly sweet musty smell. (Also excessive yellowy sweat on the bedsheets 🤮.) He also developed issues with anxiety and depression around the same time - I'd never connected the two. I wd say he still has those mental health issues from what my DC say, so am interested to know what the link is. (Needless to say I got rid of the mattress as soon as I managed to get him to move out.)

Schizophrenia- it’s one on the list on the links I sent through.

OhcantthInkofaname · 01/06/2023 18:12

Sleep apnea could be the cause of morning odor. Does he snore excessively?

Wheresthisplace · 01/06/2023 18:28

Under his watch strap?

AnnaA89 · 01/06/2023 19:39

@PinkMonday Please please please get your husband checked. Something similar happened to my dad. Only my mum and I could smell it. My sister and dad couldn’t. No one other than my mother and I could smell it. It steadily got worse over the years and stronger to the point we had to change the bed sheets daily. It started to smell almost like sour yoghurt in the end. At this point my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Since being treated the smell has subsided back to how it was initially but yeah. Health conditions have smells before symptoms. Not everyone can notice it either. There’s some weird gene that means you can smell certain conditions. Get him checked!!

Strawberrydelight78 · 01/06/2023 20:15

Pears soap is good as well. I can only use pears and sanex shower gel. Anything else makes me itchy. You can get a stardrops vinegar spray as well for laundry. Good for getting rid of odours and no it doesn't smell of vinegar.

gardenflowergirl · 01/06/2023 20:16

Maybe encourage him to see a doc as certain health conditions can change body odour, like diabetes.

Carpediem15 · 01/06/2023 20:27

AnnaA89 · 01/06/2023 19:39

@PinkMonday Please please please get your husband checked. Something similar happened to my dad. Only my mum and I could smell it. My sister and dad couldn’t. No one other than my mother and I could smell it. It steadily got worse over the years and stronger to the point we had to change the bed sheets daily. It started to smell almost like sour yoghurt in the end. At this point my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Since being treated the smell has subsided back to how it was initially but yeah. Health conditions have smells before symptoms. Not everyone can notice it either. There’s some weird gene that means you can smell certain conditions. Get him checked!!

There is a lady that can smell Parkinsons in anybody - there was a documentary about her. My husband has it and he has a "smell" about him, not too strong but it is there.

JusthereforXmas · 01/06/2023 20:32

I don't have the answer but Joy Milne is famous because she thought he DH started to smell, it drove her insane even though he was really clean. Turns out she can SMELL something secreted in early onset parkinsons.

She only relised much later after her DH was diagnosed and she could smell the same smell on the other patients, after her DH passed away she reached out to medical professionals about it. She is now working with researchers to discover a early testing kit.

Its unlikely to be that obviously but its a very cool fact.

AnnaA89 · 01/06/2023 20:42

Carpediem15 · 01/06/2023 20:27

There is a lady that can smell Parkinsons in anybody - there was a documentary about her. My husband has it and he has a "smell" about him, not too strong but it is there.

We heard about her after my dad’s diagnosis and did some looking into it. Apparently it’s not as unheard of as you think. There was a nurse who also could smell it. It’s a genetic quirk apparently.

321zyx · 01/06/2023 20:47

As others have mentioned - Parkinson's. It was only after ex DH was diagnosed that I realised it was all connected.

SeaSunandSand · 01/06/2023 20:51

My DH suddenly started smelling really sweaty once. We eventually realised he had a faulty can of deodorant. Bought a new can and he was fine! I didn’t even realise deodorant could be faulty!

MamaLazerou · 01/06/2023 20:51

Have you changed anything lately OP? Hormonal contraceptive for example…

Unsure33 · 01/06/2023 20:53

There is not really a definitive test for early parkinsons though .

jjx111 · 01/06/2023 20:59

My dad had a kind of musty sour odour. Turned out he had Parkinson’s. Once he was given Parkinson’s meds the smell disappeared

QuintanaRoo · 01/06/2023 21:06

What temp are you washing clothes at? If you’ve recently dropped down to 30 maybe it’s not hot enough?

sellotape12 · 01/06/2023 21:07

Could you be pregnant? What you're describing was the first symptom for me.... although I only realised after!

jjx111 · 01/06/2023 21:09

Tots678 · 31/05/2023 09:00

Use the orange coal tar soap. Though I don't think it's got coal tar in it now - just smells of it.
There's no tests for parkinsons unless he has tremble in his hand.
Is he stressed?

There are other early warning symptoms of Parkinson’s. Incontinence, anxiety, depression, stiffness, mask like face, IBS like symptoms, restless sleep patterns, impotence . Executive function skills deteriorate.

CoolShoeshine · 01/06/2023 21:22

sellotape12 · 01/06/2023 21:07

Could you be pregnant? What you're describing was the first symptom for me.... although I only realised after!

Yes! I could smell things incredibly strong when in early weeks of pregnancy. Things that I couldn’t smell before or after. Lovey when it was a nice smell (in the car going past Morrisons and smelling the bakery) but not so great for bad smells (walking near a dog and smelling the poo)

C1N1C · 01/06/2023 21:25

Dodo2023 · 31/05/2023 09:03

As you get older you do smell more it’s just ageing and decay.

Definitely get some blood tests though.

My wife is a year older than me, she's turning 40 this year... I'm pretty sure if I told her this, I won't make it to mine.