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

[Coumarin]

My sense of smell was 'normal' until I had been pumped full of hormones during IVF. Suddenly I had super human senses. Everyone stank. The whole world smelt.

It isn't as strong now but my sense of smell has never returned to normal, it's still much stronger than it used to be. I'd make a brilliant sniffer dog.

[Coumarin]

Yes TSS old potatoes is exactly it. Not good when you sit behind an old potato person on the bus with a windo blowing in your direction.
It is sad they don't have anyone who can gently tell them.

[peasandlove]

gross. I couldnt stand it when I was pregnant and things like the rubbish bin really smelled.
I would never be able to use public transport again if I was a super smeller

[TheArticFunky]

A mixture of bodily fluids.

[JazzyCardi]

You can tell if someone has had a poo? Surely only if they haven't wiped their arse properly?

You can tell if someone has had sex? What does it smell like?

[TheArticFunky]

I'm a super smeller it started when I was pregnant and although I don't have such a strong sense now its still there . I can tell if someone has had a shower, had a poo, had sex etc. I keep people at arms length these days.

[peasandlove]

[letsgotostonehenge]

(there has to be one!)

[letsgotostonehenge]

with your nose !!!

[peasandlove]

I feel sorry for those people who are super smellers, they must pick up on that sort of thing all the time.

[Bonsoir]

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

[TSSDNCOP]

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.

[Bonsoir]

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

[TSSDNCOP]

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.

[Bonsoir]

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.

[Deathwatchbeetle]

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.

[peasandlove]

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

[Coumarin]

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.

[WhereIsMyHat]

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.

[Linus33]

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

[Helltotheno]

if... bloody hell!!!

[Helltotheno]

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

[Helltotheno]

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.

[DavidTwattenborough]

I can tell when I smell as well.

[princessalbert]

I can tell when I smell.