Son being told he smells

[TennisBallx]

My son comes home from school most days telling me children tell him he smells, he showers every single morning, clean uniform every morning, sprays deodorant/anti persistent, aftershave, body sprays, brushes teeth etc but he still tells me they say he smells, what is going on?? It’s making him super paranoid and he’s spending ages in the shower in the morning (making all my hot water run out) making himself late for school, spraying deodorant on himself for ages including his hair?! His bag?? Hes now being late for school as it’s taking so much time. Are they just being mean I don’t know what’s going? He doesn’t smell to me

Hi OP feel for you as my gut feeling is that this is nasty unpleasant bullying ... you clearly have high standards! Maybe try and get him to open up more ??? Or tell school?

Is he washing with a proper bar of soap? Is there any mould or musty smell in the house- that can really carry onto garments.

Does his blazer get cleaned?

I rememberthat when DS was in high school I noticed his blazer smelt a little of BO and I was unsure if I could wash it in the machine. I did it anyway and it was fine. Obviously if it is made of wool or something non washable then it's a different matter .

I am very sensitive to smells and do pick up on the slightest whiff of BO. Teenagers (particularly male) have a strong smell and it sometimes takes quite a bit of coaching and explanations to get them to wash correctly. Bar soap, good scrubbing not just under the armpits, but over and around - with a flannel as well to actually scrub. Decent antiperspirant deodorant. Not just lynx body spray.

Yes just not every day, dont think anyone washes their kids blazer daily do they?

Wash the blazer in the machine.

OP the other kids are just bullying him because they're shitty people. They will eventually get bored. If he must, just tell them to quip back that they smell worse or something or other. Better yet just ignore them and at most report them to school if it gets out of hand. I highly, highly doubt he smells. If anything, they could be referring to all the sprays etc being overwhelming, but I really think it's most probable they're just vile bullies.

Could it be rucksack straps? I have to wash my rucksack regularly in warmer weather as it gets sweated on in the same way as the underarm part of my clothes.

Daily? I don’t think most people do that? It’s similar to a coat i wouldnt wash a coat daily either, the rest of his uniform is washed daily

Thanks this is what im suspecting. They’ve also started making fun of his surname which is a totally regular surname but they’ve turned it into a rude word

You seem a bit defensive. It could well be the clothes. When my sons were teens unless I used Detoll laundry liquid and actually washed at 40 degrees or above plus scrubbed the armpits of shirts with vanish their clothes did have a lingering smell.

Bar soap and a good flannel.

I wonder if it's his diet?

I work with the public and sometimes I have to spray the rooms they've been in due to the awful smell of stale food, being sweated out through their pores.

It doesn't happen often but when it does, it's very pungent.

Have they specifically said his clothes? May sound strange but is it maybe his breath?

I doubt he smells, sounds like bullying.
Sorry OP. Kids can be right little sh*ts at times..

Of course he doesn’t smell, these kids are arseholes. Although maybe get him something nicer than Lynx, which gives me asthma.

Yeah coupled together with that they are definitely just being nasty little bullies. Honestly report this to the school early to nip it in the bud before it gets worse. Tell him not to worry about the smell comments and just to ignore them completely. Don't let him give them the attention they so desperately crave, clearly they don't get enough at home, and they will not be getting it from your son, either. Hope he's okay and you get it sorted, just remind him how brilliant he is. They always pick on the ones they're jealous of.

I think you should talk to the school. The thing about his name as well means it's not just one thing. It's a targeted campaign of harrassment aka bullying.

By all means get a friend to sniff him, but actually you are probably going to have to take it up with the school. Make sure you download and read their anti-bullying policy and identify which bits may apply.

You need to tell them that this is affecting his self-esteem and causing him to be late for school because he is so worried about it. You should ask what they will do to keep him safe from harrassment.

School shoes and PE trajners smell of dcat wee ime.
Sweaty feet? Athlete's foot ?

Is it the opposite? Is it too much lynx etc? The other thing is my son used to just smear shower gel on and wash it off, he didn’t scrub under his arms in between his legs etc. I’d say roll on and a touch of spray, no need for aftershave on a daily basis until he’s much older. Hope it gets sorted ok

Nobody applies deodorant properly.

Most people don't know those, but you're supposed to apply it at night before bed so that your body can absorb it overnight.

I noticed a dramatic reduction in sweating since I started doing that.

I would put money on it being the clothes, OP. that's not a reflection on you. I found I was putting freshly washed uniform on for work and an hour or 2 into my shift would be conscious that I smelt. Turns out my anti stain cycle wasnt hot enough to kill the odours and they had built up, the occasional 40 degree wash and/or either some gym wash or Dettol laundry liquid will help. It certainly never smelt when it was freshly laundered, but once I started moving about and got warm the smells seemed to resurface.

People can sometimes neglect to wash coats. Could it be that? But yes, it could easily just be bullying.

@TennisBallx Avoid the aftershave. It doesn't do much to mask odours and some people find aftershave overpowering.

I think if he did smell, you’d know, you definitely wouldn’t be blind to it. I have a teenage son and I can definitely smell him when he comes back from playing sport! BO on hormonal teenage boys absolutely reeks!

I think it’s either bullying or they object to all the Lynx. Either way, I’d probably contact the school.

It sounds like they are bullying him and he doesn't smell. You need to report this to school and if you can name names or at least year group etc that would be incredibly helpful to them.

For your son tell him point blank he doesn't smell and get him to look at himself in a mirror so he can practise looking completely unbothered. Children are complete arseholes unless they are held to account for their behaviour. School can step in and should step in with this.

If it escalates, report that and school should respond which harsher punishments. Keep a diary of events, when you contact school keep it factual, this happened on this date. School may ring you, make good notes and follow up that call with another email to confirm what was said in the call. This is good for your own record of what has happened.

Sounds to me like they are being horrible.
Definitely don't wash the blazer.
Make sure he washes his underarms (ie scrubs), not just stand under the shower. But if he is only 12 and using deodorant I doubt it's this anyway.
Make sure his breath doesn't smell (eg use mints).
But I think it sounds like bullying TBH. Poor thing.