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My DM stinks. Is she lying about why?

62 replies

MilchMama · 22/08/2014 06:02

I've namechanged for this.

A bit of background to start off.

To all intents and purposes my DM and I have a good relationship. She left my step-father a few years ago for another man, which caused a bit of an upset in the family. Since she's been with OM, she has radically changed her personality - enjoys different things, acts and speaks differently, moved country, looks different. If that's what makes her happy, it doesn't matter a jot, although I suspect she has had long-term problems with loving herself and always trying to please the man in her life ... But that's a story for another time.

OM clearly favours the "natural" look in women. He writes things on Facebook about how women shouldn't shave their "bush", for example, so he's quite overt about his preferences. DM stopped dying her hair, stopped using shampoo and conditioner, and also stopped using deoderant. (He also doesn't use these things as far I know.)

At first, she was really proud of the fact she had freed herself from the "constraints of consumerism" and waxed lyrical about how much money she was saving by not buying into the beauty industry's marketing cons. Both DSis and I sort of laughed along, but pointed out that without deoderant, she was starting to smell a bit. She assured us she didn't, that only old sweat smells, and that as she showered twice a day and always changed her clothes (not we saw any evidence of this when we were around her), she did not smell. She had previously been fanatical about appearance, by the way.

Fast-forward a few years. The smell has got worse. So bad, in fact, that their whole house stinks when you walk in. The family all talk about it behind her back (not in a bitchy way though). She works in quite a professional setting, and I can't believe that her colleagues won't have noticed it.

I slept in a bed she had been in for two nights the other week (staying with family). Even though the sheets had been changed, the smell made me retch Sad One of my teenage cousins refuses to give up her room for them anymore because the smell is so hard to shift.

I spoke to an aunty of mine to ask whether or not I should tell her. She advised doing it very gently, and perhaps leading with a question about her health, so I didn't embarrass her too much.

The response I got was very weird, but maybe DM was just highly embarrassed. She told me that yes, she knew she had a problem, but that no one had ever mentioned it to her before. She said the menopause was causing her so many problems that she was in hospital for tests. I immediately felt awful for saying anything, and gave her a hug and said it wasn't that bad anyway. She asked me not to mention it again because she felt so dreadful.

So I haven't. But I've seen her once since, and the smell was definitely better. So my question is, does this happen in the menopause often? I know I was very sweaty during puberty, so I can quite imagine the hormones doing horrible things during menopause, too. What kind of tests could she have been having? Or is it more likely that she lied when I asked to save face? I can understand why she would have done, because I would be mortified, too, to be told I smelt. But if she is actually ill, I want to know.

OP posts:
MilchMama · 22/08/2014 10:23

The Neal's Yard idea is brilliant! I'm just putting together a package now. Can anyone recommend one of the remedies specifically for menopause issues? I've got deo, foot cream, body butter and coconut oil in my basket so far.

I hadn't thought about him trying to alienate her from people. He was the one who suggested they moved countries (from UK to mainland Europe). Ironically they are now closer to us anyway as we are also in Europe.

She claims (and seems, in all honesty) to be happier than ever. She works a lot, in a better job than she had in the UK, and appears to thrive on it. He is an artist and, as far as I can tell, very much enjoys the fact that he can potter at home and work on his art while she goes out and earns all the money.

diving, the more I think about it, the less I believe the hospital story.

I like the idea of surreptitiously putting on a maintenance wash Smile I might chuck a load of soda crystals in too, just for good measure.

OP posts:
Ledkr · 22/08/2014 10:26

When I washed dds sicky muslins in non bio they stank!

I just think with sweaty clothes non bio might not work that well.

magimedi · 22/08/2014 10:34

I am now through the menopause - Hoo-fucking-ray - but I did notice that my sweat had a far more pungent smell . I just showered more often. The odour can certainly change & you do sweat more.

I also don't like the sound of her partner much - sounds somewhat controlling.

MilchMama · 22/08/2014 10:48

Sorry, everyone, I didn't mean for a bun fight about washing powder preferences!

I remember the first time I met OM (now her DH by the way). He passed me the big black-pepper grinder in the restaurant and leered at me, "Have a go on that, Milchy-babe." Yuck. I don't know what she sees in him, but love is blind and all that.

Or he's controlling and emotionally abusive. I hadn't thought of that. I just thought he was a dirty old man.

I think DM is probably on the narcissistic spectrum from what I've read on here, but I don't know how that fits with her sudden lack of interest in hygiene really.

When she visits without him, she really is a wonderful mum and granny to my DC. I just wish she a) was like that all the time, and b) didn't smell so bad. When I was pregnant I could barely stand to be around her, and I'm dreading DC1 asking me about it or commenting on it in front of her, which must surely happen at some point.

OP posts:
sweetnessandlite · 22/08/2014 10:55

The Neal's Yard idea is brilliant! I'm just putting together a package now.

Hmmm, am I the only one that thinks that OP's mother may just take offense at this --(as in ''she has bought me a big basket of smellies - is she trying to tell me I stink?)

OP, I know you mean really well, but be prepared for her not to be pleased.

MilchMama · 22/08/2014 11:08

sweetness, I think that ship has already sailed ...

OP posts:
sweetnessandlite · 22/08/2014 11:11

Oh... Good Luck then! (I think you'll need it) :)

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/08/2014 11:58

I am going to add my two penny worth about washing powder. I am allergic to biological powder and work in an extremely dirty environment where urine, faeces, blood and anal gland fluid gets on my clothes regularly.
Used in the correct quantities at 40 degrees with the washing machine no over filled it will get your clothes clean even blood.

TheReluctantCountess · 22/08/2014 12:03

Her chap sounds awful.
Have you given her the Neal's yard stuff? I think you should.

phonebox · 22/08/2014 12:06

I hate bio laundry detergent and deodorant fascism. I've encountered it on MN before.

I use non-bio laundry detergent as I'm sensitive to the bio stuff, and Bionsen deodorant - both perfectly effective for me.

I'm inclined to agree with OP's DM's POV (all those acroymns!) somewhat. All this waste of money on fabric conditioner, expensive deodorants, even bloody femfreshes now...it's sad to see.

TheReluctantCountess · 22/08/2014 12:07

I'm a bit of a sweaty Betty and have to use strong deodorant. I'd love to use a nice gentle one.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/08/2014 12:41

If someone spoke like that in my house they would NOT be welcome OP, please don't have in your house out of some kind of duty, he sounds revolting!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/08/2014 12:45

Oh and non bio is fine! Washing machines can get stinky, but a hot empty wash with soda crystals sorts that out.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 22/08/2014 12:58

Op, you were asking about remedies for menopause; don't know if they sell them at NealsYard, but Vosgel's Menoforce sage tablets are excellent for reducing hot flushes, I find.
I used to wake several times a night in a sweat but it's only a couple of times a week now. Might make her feel generally better and more inclined to make an effort.
It does all sound odd, though.

gingeroots · 22/08/2014 21:20

Could she have some urinary continence issues ? Very common and menopause can make worse ?

I find it hard to see how sweating ,not washing herself/clothes would create the type of smell you describe and feel something else must be going on .

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/08/2014 22:09

I disagree, there's no smell worse than an unwashed human.

Poor you dealing with this OPSad

BasketzatDawn · 23/08/2014 15:52

I suppose you can be menopausal AND stinky through poor hygiene habits. One you can choose, the other is harder to deal with. But even with meno symptoms there are things you can do, e.g. dietary changes.

Mintyy · 23/08/2014 15:57

Bloody hell! This thread is absolutely crazy. I have been through the menopause and found I was a little sweatier than previously. I switched to a stronger deodorant (Mitchum the stick one, if anyone interested) and change my top every day now, whereas before I could have worn some tops for two days. And that is IT. A daily shower (as normal) and a stlightly stronger deodorant are all I need to keep myself smelling nice. My house doesn't smell either! Fucksake Hmm.

Shockers · 23/08/2014 16:11

Pit Rok is very good, my teens and I all use it.
I also use Ecover washing liquid and I don't use fabric conditioner. Our laundry smells clean and fresh, without ponging of perfume.

The problem might be that clothes and bedding aren't washed frequently enough, so the smell has become ingrained.

I wonder about your mum's partner having a fetish for unclean smells.

Bunbaker · 23/08/2014 16:14

I'm with Mintyy. Good hygiene is all that is required.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 23/08/2014 16:24

Exactly, anyone would smell if they don't keep on top of hygiene and wash clothes and bedding.

motherinferior · 23/08/2014 17:01

I use non bio washing stuff at lowish temperatures. Neither I (51 and perimenipausal) nor my fellow-inmates of the Inferiority Complex (including a keen male cyclist and a pubescent 13 year old) smell. We are decorously fragrant, all of us.

hiddenhome · 23/08/2014 20:25

It'll be the non bio washing powder/liquid.

Dh used to use non bio when I first met him and his clothes did smell bad. I got him onto Persil bio and they were fine after that.

I did try non bio once when ds1 was little, but the clothes stank Sad

This, combined with her lack of washing and anti perspirant, would be enough to cause bad smells.

gingeroots · 23/08/2014 21:30

I'm sorry but if I don't post ,I'll burst .

It's perfectly possible to use NON bio washing powder ,no deodorant ,to wash only once a week ,to wear the same clothes for 3 or 4 days and although you will smell sweaty you will not leave an unshiftable odour behind you in a room or permeate the whole house .

My 22 year old son and my 94 year old mother are living proof of this .As am I when I'm camping .

schmee · 23/08/2014 21:43

I think I'm in perimenopause, and I've been really really stinking lately - having to change two or three times a day, even though I bath every morning and use Mitcham. So I do think it is a symptom.

Now you've had the conversation with her, it would be appropriate to get her some organic deodorant. It's a bit silly to be getting upset about smelling whilst not using products though.