EEK... I think I smell.. Please help

LegacyUser

So this is awkward, and a thread I would rather not be writing so please go easy on me. I'm a regular user logging in as a guest for anonymity.

I have an office job, normal 9-5. A few years ago I started to notice a strange 'not-pleasant' smell happening in the afternoons. It's not the office because since I've moved company it's still there. Some days it happens sooner than others and I literally cannot find the reason why. My days are pretty routine, with the same diet and same stress levels (not too much stress day to day). I've varied everything to no avail.

Here's some points just so people know where I'm at:

- I shower thoroughly at least once per day, always in the morning, quite often in the evenings.
- Short hair, always washed twice and with conditioner
- I've changed the brand of soap many times
- I don't drink, aside from a beer here and there, and perhaps wine when I'm out having a fancy meal
- I've done experiments where I wear completely brand new clothes and it doesn't seem to change anything
- I've good dental hygiene, brushing 2/3 times per day, I've never needed dental work
- I've no obvious skin problems or itches anywhere
- I don't sweat a lot, and even so, I've done the "Smell test" at the end of the day and my clothes do not smell of anything bad other than deodorant. This doesn't seem to be a 'sweaty' smell anyways.

When I get it in work, I can took my nose under the button of my shirt and the smell is like nice deodorant and a moderate amount of cologne.

So I don't know. I've gone through all the checklists online and I can't see what it could be.

My question is, would anyone have any further ideas that I could try? And who would be the best person to go see about this? My GP? Dermatologist?

Note for Mods: I'm not looking for any medical advice, which I will of course leave to a qualified expert.

Neyite

Your list looks fine to me

What about your lunch? Would there be a smell that lingers from that?

Or do you have a jacket or coat on your chair that could do with a wash? Or your shoes perhaps? Or a bag you carry?

baby and crumble

Are you wearing natural or synthetic fibres? That might sound silly but I find even though I shower every morning, brush teeth, antiperspirant (FYI it's technically different to deodorant, just FYI), perfumes etc if I'm wearing synthetic fibres next to my skin (or even on top of cotton underwear tbh) I can get a bit funky after a few hours. It's not a "bad" smell, but it's not a good one either. It doesn't happen if I'm wearing wool trousers instead of polyester, etc. Synthetic socks are a nightmare too.

woodchuck

OP I'm confused. You say there's a strange smell in the office, but nowhere in your post do you indicate that it's coming from you. In fact you sniff yourself, and you say you smell fine. So why do you think it's you?! Maybe you're being a little bit paranoid. It could be from one of your colleagues. Or it could just be a collective gradual build up of natural odour from everyone throughout the day. Add to that smelly lunches, food in bins, flatulence etc and it's only natural that the place doesn't smell as fresh in the evenings as it does in the mornings.

Is there really any reason to think that this is coming from you?

IITYWYBMAD

woodchuck wrote: »

OP I'm confused. You say there's a strange smell in the office, but nowhere in your post do you indicate that it's coming from you. In fact you sniff yourself, and you say you smell fine. So why do you think it's you?! Maybe you're being a little bit paranoid. It could be from one of your colleagues. Or it could just be a collective gradual build up of natural odour from everyone throughout the day. Add to that smelly lunches, food in bins, flatulence etc and it's only natural that the place doesn't smell as fresh in the evenings as it does in the mornings.

Is there really any reason to think that this is coming from you?

The OP has stated that they moved job, and the 'smell' is still there.

woodchuck

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

The OP has stated that they moved job, and the 'smell' is still there.

But it could just be an accumulation of natural office/people/food smells building up throughout the day. I still don't see any reason to think it's the OP, particularly as he sniffs himself and it's not him!

Is the office open plan, big, small, ventilated?

It could be a general mustiness about.

I was going to suggest jacket, Cardigan, shoes, gym gear, backpack etc aswell.

Is your desk and office cleaning in general?

Koptain Liverpool

You mention that you have never needed dental work - but have you visited the dentist regularly? Could be some sort of infection maybe?

I can think of literally nothing else - as everyone else says your list seems pretty comprehensive!

seamus

Figure out what kind of smell it is. The smell from armpits and the smell from the crotch are quite different, one being the traditional pungent smell of sweat that we're all aware of, the other is a sharper, more distinct smell.

If it's the latter then this can be something that lingers even after showering, clean clothes, etc. It can be especially bad if you wear tight underwear and synthetic-fibered trousers. There are powders you can get to eliminate bacteria/fungi in the groin area. So if this is your issue, that's worth exploring.

retro:electro

If you are getting home at the end of the day and removing your clothes before you smell them, and there's still no smell off them, then I'd be fairly confident the smell is not coming from you.
Could you be passing gas unknown to yourself? Is there a bin under your desk?

Bambi985

Has anyone ever passed comment or made it obvious in their body language around you that you smelled a bit off?

Do you eat a lot of spicy foods? Do you have any issues with wisdom teeth etc? EG impacted or infected and difficult to brush - getting food stuck there or being unable to brush comprehensively can cause decay that produces the most pungent smell ever.

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The Red m

I know you're a guy but shave your underarms. Apparently it helps and what kind of deodorant do you use. You're actually meant to apply anti perspirant at night before going to bed and it works throughout the night.

Oink

Is there anyone you could ask outright- c'mere, do I smell or what?

Also, many offices smell a bit manly in the afternoon, so it's not impossible that your current place AND the previous one had the problem.

Guest2435464321

Guest2435464321 wrote: »

I've done the "Smell test" at the end of the day and my clothes do not smell of anything bad other than deodorant. This doesn't seem to be a 'sweaty' smell anyways.

When I get it in work, I can took my nose under the button of my shirt and the smell is like nice deodorant and a moderate amount of cologne.

You could be imagining it.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phantosmia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Teyla Emmagan

Can you not ask someone you trust? Some unfortunate family member perhaps?

Are you airing your clothes properly? There can be a rotten smell off clean clothes if they are not dried thoroughly.

Silverfish

Might it be feet?
My feet can be pretty bad if I spend all day in certain shoes.

LegacyUser

Hi All, Op here.. Thanks so much for all the responses. They are very helpful, and actually make me feel better about myself. At least I'm not missing anything major.

It seems to mostly happen in the office environment. Both offices were open plan, air conditioned with 40+ people sitting around me.

Does anyone else that works in a similar place notice a build up of smell in the afternoons?

I haven't been to the dentist since last year, but when I went the last time I still noticed the smell in the office afterwards, and he'd given me the all clear.

I have a plan in terms of asking someone I know.. I'm going to tackle the subject by asking them if I am wearing too much cologne.. For example, Is my cologne too strong? and I'll mention the other thing randomly when they're beside me.

Shoes, jacket, everything smells fine even at the end of the day since I've been using Daktarin in any place where anything bad might normally exist, and I'm washing so thoroughly.

The synthetic fibers is a new one for me. I might try buying wool trousers and seeing if it helps.

This might sound strange, but do people send out a distress smell when they are stressed? I'm not talking about sweat, which happens, but something else that doesn't involve sweat? It seems to elevate whenever someone leans over me at work to view my screen, and then when they're gone it seems to fade away, until I think about that kind of scenario again.

Desk and office are pretty clean, with no bins lying around. Sometimes I do notice it outside office hours, but it's no where near as strong.

Thanks again everyone.

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retro:electro

If you are getting a smell when someone leans over you in work, and then it goes when they leave- they are the smell.

zoobizoo

Some clothes have a particular smell....

Could that be it?

I have one pair of jeans that just smell a particular way. I've a pair of woollen trousers that have their own smell too.

Neyite

zoobizoo wrote: »

Some clothes have a particular smell....

Could that be it?

I have one pair of jeans that just smell a particular way. I've a pair of woollen trousers that have their own smell too.

Actually yes! if it's dark black jeans in particular, the dye gives off a smell that's a bit like hot sand. With my jeans it lasted through at least 20-odd washes. It's something specific to black dye and cotton denim I think.

Dial Hard

Guest2435464321 wrote: »

I have a plan in terms of asking someone I know.. I'm going to tackle the subject by asking them if I am wearing too much cologne.. For example, Is my cologne too strong? and I'll mention the other thing randomly when they're beside me.

There's no need to be so coy about it, just grab a friend or family member and ask them if they ever get a funny smell off you. If it was my family you'd have been told long before you ever even got around to asking!

uch

As Seamus suggests above, perhaps try something like this
https://btbgrooming.co.uk/fresh-dry-balls-3

baby and crumble

Guest2435464321 wrote: »

This might sound strange, but do people send out a distress smell when they are stressed? I'm not talking about sweat, which happens, but something else that doesn't involve sweat? It seems to elevate whenever someone leans over me at work to view my screen, and then when they're gone it seems to fade away, until I think about that kind of scenario again.

Actually yes. My partner does it when she's been faced with a stressful scenario. We call it "skunking" between us, and no idea why it happens, but it definitely does. Again, it's not a sweaty smell, just a particular (not pleasant, but not horrific) smell.

Although tbh op it sounds to me like it's them that's the source of the smell.

LegacyUser

Hi all, thanks again for the ideas. I agree with you all that it is strange that I really only smell it in certain environments which are similar in nature. For example, not only have I moved company, but in my new company I've been sent on site with a client in a completely different country and I'm still getting it! Today I was sitting around clients and it was so so strong. Later, I go back to the hotel, I'm sitting on my bed and nothing. Not even a hint. And I'm literally straight in the door, no shower no change of clothes and nada..

Maybe it's the smell of industrial air conditioning in the office, or maybe it's all in my head when I'm under pressure for a second or two. Either way I suppose I'm just deflecting, I need to ask someone don't I..

I might try going to the dentist one more time (Think I'm due a check up soon anyways since last time was before Christmas), and I'll try the non-synthetic trousers.