My friend smells a bit

[HelloDenise]

No other way to say it. I don't need any catty comments about not being a good friend or bitching thanks.

She's not mucky, not at all but I noticed this when we were on holiday and today and I think it's bad breath. The only way I can describe it is a mix of tea and horses and I don't know what would cause that.

I can't say anything can I? I couldn't upset her and she only visits once a month, but is it fair to not say anything.

Her breath smells of horse?

I can't explain it but that's what I kept getting a whiff of.

I love the smell of horses

It could be any number of things - dental issues, stomach issues. There isn't a way to raise it directly without hurting her feelings. You could lead a conversation round to health generally which might tell you if there's an underlying problem. If her hygiene is otherwise good, it's likely to have a medical cause.

Sorry I laughed about the tea and horses smell. But seriously, do you mean an earthy animal smell or a grassy horse smell? Has your friend changed her diet recently, is she fasting or only eating certain foods? It could be a tooth thing as well.
You could try talking about diets and see if she’s on one, but yes it’s a tricky one without hurting her feelings.

Methinks the OP maybe referring to the smell of horse shit

No, it's not. It's like an actual horse.

Could be Ketones you're smelling, if she's not eating well/regularly?

Does she drink a lot of tea and eat a lot of horse meat?

Is this her OP?

I have a friend who smells so bad, she makes my eyes water. I've never mentioned it to her. She's a good friend. No advice. Just know how you feel

She might be taking Thamine? I have friends who are pretty honest which I appreciate. Apparently I smelled of beef when I started taking it. It’s more of a marmite smell actually. It’s stopped now but taking it meant I didn’t get bitten to hell by bugs when I went abroad a few months ago so it was worth it.
Just tell her.

Oh right, I dont know many horses personally but they generally smell of straw and wee.
(No offence to horses, who I think are wonderful creatures,) 😆

Brilliant 😂

Haha! I absolutely reeked of manky fatty meat when I was on loads of vitamins in hospital. Loads of B vits, thiamine, banana bag, magnesium drips...you name it. My sweat stank of it, my breath probably did but nobody said.

I didn't know it was an actual thing!

Does she ever smell nice at all like when freshly showered and use decent deodorant, soap or shower gel, shampoo. What does she use for her dental hygiene- electric toothbrush and floss or water flosser? Also poor foot hygiene can cause a dusty scent. You’d say you have been on holiday so should have an inkling to this.

what about her clothes are they clean and regularly changed not. Coats that need washing are a source of many a stench where I work with the general public.

is there any of the above that you know?

a person who showers daily and wears reasonably clean clothes and cleans their teeth daily should not smell ordinary.

not smelling does have many factors to it. I’ve recently noticed an increase in people wearing “pissy smelling” clothes from not drying them properly and it is vile- I can smell it a mile away!

OP she may not realise so if you find it hard to bring up you could gently ask her if she has the beginnings of a sore throat coming on. Just say you also get this when you have the start of a sore throat. It's a way of making her aware of the issue at least.

Does she have horses? My horsey pal would wear the same Stables Clothes for a week at a time. They stank. I always changed mine so I wouldn’t smell!

I thought that was like pear drops? She's not got a horse no.

Is this a new-ish thing? I wouldn’t be upset if a good friend commented that they’d noticed a change in how I smelled and thought they’d give me the heads up, particularly if they thought it might be health related.