Honking of body odour!

[Manatee50]

Is it just me noticing but there seems honking body odour permeating the air. Are people just not washing? Or is a thing to reek ? It seems tubes, buses, streets have are filled with people with stifling B.O.

They also tend to eat spicy food which I think can make people stink.

The glycolic acid someone mentioned up thread can help too. Also some people have Botox in the underarms but I think this is perhaps for excess sweating vs a specific smell. Anyway, definitely look into it and consider going to the doctor too, you deserve to not have to worry about this!

I second the dettol laundry sanitizer. I use the sensitive one and it’s got rid of stinky pits in clothing.

Persimmon soap helps with strong BO on pits and bits.

You mean geesist.

The weather is crazy lately. It was really hot yesterday and sticky. Many people ride bikes to work or walk.
But I rarely get the scent of BO around here and I take a fair bit of public transport. I get it hyper concentrated when it happens, yuck. But I do not find it to be a spread issue.

As someone else said, the worst are men and boys. There are ways to combat it, women tend to be socially aware and try when its a medical issue.
I have a bit more sympathy for those vigorously exercising, after my martial arts class some will smell badly, but I would expect those effected to wash, and put clean shirts on afterwards. I suspect one or two just chuck a t shirt on without washing and head off to work afterwards.
I work with a 22yr old who admits to not washing his clothes or bathing/ showering, because he can't be bothered and his smell is our problem not his. You can tell where he has been in the store! Entitled skank.

miraDry
MiraDry works by delivering precisely controlled electromagnetic energy to the underarm area, eliminating the underarm sweat glands.

This treatment is expensive but worth it. It is very effective for strong smelling sweat.

Those solid crystal deodorant sticks work really well on my men. They don't smell of anything, but seem to get rid of pongy armpit smells.
My theory about part of this issue is laundry detergent. I think modern liquids and powders are so strong smelling but don't seem to clean very well. I switched to own brand bio powder and the difference is noticeable. Granted, my laundry doesn't smell of passion flower and sandalwood, but it does smell faintly of "soap" and is fresh.

Wonder if many people stop shaving/waxing their armpits in autumn? Body hair traps odour-causing bacteria, makes antiperspirant less effective.

Agree that washing on low temp results in smelly stale clothes. They smell fine until you warm up! I always use bio detergent now, put dettol laundry in softener drawer and wash most stuff on 40 or higher. Cotton usually washes well on higher temps and can be tumble dried on hot. Even bamboo rayon washes fine on 40.

Perhaps more people own dogs now. My colleagues used to come to work smelling of pets, visible dog hair on their clothes. One had house rabbits too. Rabbit smell in a hot office is similar to old sweat! Awful.

I think there's an element of laziness in autumn too. We cover up more, it's harder to shower on dark cold mornings. People in their 20s seem less motivated to keep clean and tidy than previous generations. I grew up having a morning bath or shower, clean clothes, teeth brushed, hair blow-dried before work. I'm amazed by the number of young people who start a work day with wet hair and say they had no time to get ready. Everyone my age seems to manage this, despite kids to get ready too. It was drilled into us to make time for basic hygiene in morning.

I rub the armpits of clothing with warm water and sunlight soap before putting in the washing machine.
I’m a fan of Nancy Birtwhistle but her remedy took longer and is, imo, not as effective as sunlight soap.

Also try using soap on your armpits and rinse properly before drying.

Yes so many stinky people but it’s not really changed, certain skin types give off more odour and are less likely to wear deodorant or antiperspirant so I just try to avoid them. When I worked at a school those that stank were strategically placed near windows and away from those with sensitive noses. Often if the parents stink the kids do too.

I wouldn't say I've noticed it more, per-se. But your post did remind me of a couple I've seen at least twice in my local shop. Both pretty well dressed, I'd guess mid-50s, but both have a "take your breath away" level of BO. Like, gasp and cover your face levels. I can't fathom how they wouldn't be aware.

That being said, I noticed my own body odour changed massively after my second round of Covid in summer 2023. I went from someone who never really needed to use deodorants, so suddenly being aware that I absolutely STANK. The only thing that really helped was Mitchums mens deodorant. Womens, or any other brand, didn't really do the job.
It was bad for about 6 months, and then gradually faded off. I'm now back to only using deodorant when I know I'm going to have a particularly physically busy day.

Goosephobic

I remember someone on here posting something similar and eventually it turned out to be to do with her laundry. Maybe wash everything you own at 50/60 if you can. Dry really thoroughly. Vinegar through the system to clear it out. Super hot cycle with nothing in to fully clean the machine . Might be worth giving it a go. And see if you can search for that thread. I don’t know how sorry!

I have noticed this since Covid. Did people lose the routine of washing themselves and their clothes? Is it cost of living? I’m possibly more sensitive to smell now I’m early 40s, however it does seem to be getting worse. It’s nearly always males too which gives me such rage. Some cultures don’t tend to use deodorant which doesn’t help. It’s muggy weather at the moment. But even so- my train to work the other day had a male beside me whose coat smelt like old bum. Another male who stank of stale BO. Yet another young male with that bad breath and greasy hair smell. This is about half eight in the morning and they were in ‘work’ clothes; they simply can’t have bothered showering. I pity anyone with a medical condition who can’t help it, and people in scenarios where they can’t wash clothes, but I also think there are a lot of lazy and dirty people around and respect for communal spaces has disintegrated.

They leave a trail of stench deliberately!

Smelling weed on a daily basis but not as offensive as stale sweat

Yes exactly ! Old bum😡

Yes exactly ! Old bum😡

There does seem to be an increase in young male teens smelling offensively of BO. I do also notice that a lot of young teen boys in my area stay wrapped up i hoodies, track suit bottoms and puffer jackets etc.. even when it is warm, which can't help the situation. I recall in early summer this year the air was like soup it was so warm and there were a couple of teen lads skulking at the train station in Canada Goose jackets.

The worst recent experience as on a very hot day in France this July (it was about 37 degrees) and we were on a busy local commuter train and a group of young teen boys got on and they stunk to high heaven. It was a very unpleasant hour.

I'm in peri and definitely way more sensitive to BO. I remember having to leave a shopping centre on a hot summers day as I was feeling physically sick from the stench. Although I noticed the shopping centre had also massively reduced it's air con, which wouldn't have helped.

I was in a small Tescos the other day and the lad stacking shelves reeked of BO. I can't understand why in that scenario a manager isn't saying something. It's very off putting to customers, well it was to me, couldn't wait to get out of there!

But I know it is partially me, as when I ask someone with me if they can smell it they will usually say faintly, where to me it is over powering.

I have noticed these smells my whole life. I seem to have a very sensitive sense of smell and find myself wincing all the time. If I’m having a conversation with someone and they smell of sweat or garlic/onion or general bad breath, even very faintly, I can’t concentrate on a single word they’re saying. I can’t stand strong perfume either, not on myself or anyone else. I used to get told off all the time for smelling things that apparently weren’t there, so I just keep my mouth shut now😆

I know what BO smells like, but what is “old bum” smell when it’s at home? Poo? Farts?

There were men in the supermarket last week that must have had urine dried into their clothes. The ammonia and BO was awful.

But is also smell a lot of BO on women. Polyester work clothes are not good.