How do I smell?

[Linus33]

Prompted by another thread that I didn't want to hijack, there's been a discussion about what deodorant do you use. Some posters suggest that you don't need to use a deodorant if you don't smell. How can I tell if I smell or not? I was always under the impression that you can't smell your own BO!

I've noticed that I've become a bit sweatier recently that my anti-perspirant doesn't cope with but how can I tell if I'm starting to pong? I shower daily BTW.

p.s. And, no jokes about "with your nose stupid" in response to the thread title

I'm sure when bo gets really noticeable you would be able to smell it.

If nothing else when you iron stuff the armpits will stink when they get heated.

I use deodorant regardless of whether I smell because I really hate that sweaty feeling and I'm not particularly sweaty If I never sweated I probably wouldn't bother.

People don't necessarily notice their personal smell because the nose gets habituated very quickly to smells that are constantly present (bad breath, for example). The only way to really know is to ask someone.

A lot of deodorants have decreased the amount of active ingredients because of user preferences ('no alcohol', 'sensitive skin') and various health scares (aluminum does not cause breast cancer but people were worried for a while). I love a good full on alcohol and aluminum-laced antiperspirant but they are increasingly hard to find.

I showered and got dressed as usual this morning but when I got back from the school run, I realised I had forgotten my deodorant because I could smell myself - not hugely sweaty but noticeable to me. I don't want to get used to that smell so I stick to deodorant.

I usually use a roll on deodorant (Mitchum's 48hr one). I have always thought I am not a sweaty person. Then I ran out. It took no time at all to discover that my deodorant is REALLY effective

You can smell your own bo. Unless you don't wash regularly or use deodorant and have become really used to your own smell.

Not 'you' OP. I mean people in general.

Awww I was coming on here to say 'with your nose!'. Oh well

I use Mitchum 48 hour, fantastic stuff.

I sweat a lot and I definitely notice if I smell. Unless you are stinking every single day in order to get used to it then I suspect you will notice.

I can smell if I smell, can't everyone? I suspect that if you shower daily that you will be able to tell if you start to smell.

I can tell when I smell.

I can tell when I smell as well.

I know when I smell. At times when I don't know if I smell, if I haven't showered, I just assume I do.

I also think a lot of people, because there is no sweat on their body in the form of wet or damp patches, beads etc, think they don't smell but they actually do. It may not be the classic underarm BO smell but it's a slightly unwashed body smell nonetheless.

DH showers every day, as do I (sometimes twice) and on the odd day DH hasn't yet showered, I can smell that he hasn't (again, not the classic underarm BO smell).

I can't understand people not showering every day unless for economic reasons.

but they actually do... just to qualify, they don't shower every day that is.

if... bloody hell!!!

Right, I've concluded that although I do sweat and have patches on some days, I probably don't smell (that's a relief) as I can't smell it. But, that I should continue to shower daily (as is good hygiene practice) and wear an effective deodorant just to be on the safe side.

Thanks all

Have you heard of the dry ear wax gene, these people don't have body odour which is very interesting. I think they frequency of this in the west is quite rare but the opposite is true for the eastern world.

Yes, people do get an unwashed dirty kind of smell, aside from bo. I wonder if that is more difficult to smell on themselves?
I travel by bus a lot and there's often someone who has that smell. It can take your breath away so I do wonder how they're unaware of it.

that's a disgusting smell. My mother would say that "but I dont stink" and I'd say "yes you do"

Yes it is a sort of musky smell but not a nice perfumey musk smell.

I actually had to give up on a deodorant that was unperfumed. Either it was not working or had a nasty 'no smell' smell. I wasn't getting sweaty there but it did not smell too nice.

Much happier with the one I have now.

BO is one thing. That rancid smell of people who never wash properly and don't wash their clothes either is the one that gets to me.

I used to work with a woman that didnt wash well, she had filthy hair and black nails. But she had this smell about her like potatoes that have gone old and mouldy. No amounts of hints worked. In the end our boss had to talk to her. It didn't make any difference.

I have the talk about washing thoroughly with DSS2 (16) about a million times. It still hasn't really got through. So I am not surprised that one or two talks from boss to subordinate didn't have the desired effect.

Thorough washing is clearly a higher-level skill

It was a male boss.

Surely the utter cringe factor would have galvanised you'd think.

It wasn't like she didn't have the tools. We used to buy her absolutely gigantic baskets of Body Shop stuff.

My DP runs a large chain of cosmetics/health & beauty products, so we are swimming in stuff! Is DSS2 interested? Is he hell