Smelly people.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 12-04-2017 5:54am #1

Do you ever comment on another persons personal hygiene?

I would be terrified in case I upset them.

Still though my beliefs have been tested in the last while, I have been dealing with smelly people in both work and social situations.

D'you that stale sweat, stinky clothes, multiple days without showering must.

Very unpleasant.

whoopsadoodles · 12-04-2017 7:00am

There have been two people that the issue has arisen for. One was a contractor from a very big national company who not only didn't seem to wash, but didn't seem to ever brush his teeth either. It wouldn't have been so bad except for the fact that we were in comms rooms with him. Enclosed spaces + smelly person with horrific breath = puke city.

After a few days my manager got onto his boss about it

The other was a cleaner that came into our office every evening to change the bins and I used to leave the office until he was gone it was so bad. I never said anything and now we've another guy who's clean and sound!

I don't understand how people can't smell themselves. It's rotten. If I don't put deodrant on after my shower I'm completely paranoid til I get to a shop to buy some. Ugh.

_Brian · 12-04-2017 7:22am

I had to deal with it once, supervising a group and one lad had a serious bo problem.
We worked in a bit environment and in teams of two/three. The other lads approached me to deal with it.

It wasn't a nice conversation to have but the lad was shocked and terribly embarrassed. He apologised to them over lunch the next day and showered ever morning after.

sbsquarepants · 12-04-2017 7:26am

Couple of old timers I used to work with. Wasn't B.O it was cigarette smoke - they were your typical chain smoking auld fellas and by jaysus the smell was revolting. Luckily I only had to deal with them for maybe an hour or so out of a week, I never said anything because what would have been the point, but it was seriously unpleasant.

12-04-2017 7:27am

The smelly will maintain that showering and changing underwear every 3 days is perfectly fine and there's something wrong with you.

Little point voicing the issue IMO

PopTarts · 12-04-2017 7:30am

I think I'd appreciate being told if I had bad breath. It's often not because someone hasn't brushed their teeth and might be just a trip to the dentist the individual needs.

Some people would probably get offended but I think others would appreciate it.

Even being sweaty, I'd be embarrassed if people were saying it behind my back or if there was a smell from me that I wasn't aware of.

It's not always because people aren't washing themselves.

whoopsadoodles · 12-04-2017 7:33am

PopTarts wrote: »

I think I'd appreciate being told if I had bad breath. It's often not because someone hasn't brushed their teeth and might be just a trip to the dentist the individual needs.

Some people would probably get offended but I think others would appreciate it.

Even being sweaty, I'd be embarrassed if people were saying it behind my back or if there was a smell from me that I wasn't aware of.

It's not always because people aren't washing themselves.

There's a very distinct smell from people who just dont wash themselves or their clothes. It's not sweat. Nothing wrong with smelling sweaty. Kind of a turn on if a hot man has a clean sweat smell if I'm completely honest.

That hum though. That's hygiene.

Hercule Poirot · 12-04-2017 7:33am

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

I don't understand how people can't smell themselves. It's rotten. If I don't put deodrant on after my shower I'm completely paranoid til I get to a shop to buy some. Ugh.

The intensity of a scent, however permanent, will reduce over time as your nose adjusts and it will fade into the background and become unnoticed, this will happen quicker if a new smell comes along to "distract" your nose.

I'm not condoning it but it is very possible that they genuinely aren't aware of just how bad their musk might be to others - usually telling them is the best option (or have their boss tell them if it's a workplace situation)

myshirt · 12-04-2017 7:36am

The worst one is working with a larger lady with that morning fanny smell. Presumably it sustains because of chafing, but with a culture that encourages larger ladies to love themselves whatever they look like, it's harder and harder to broach the issue without being put in the fat shaming bracket.

murpho999 · 12-04-2017 7:39am

This is going to descend into 'how often do you shower and change your underwear thread' isn't it where people will be horrified if you only shower daily.

ibarelycare · 12-04-2017 7:39am

There's a girl I work with who sometimes I get a bad smell from when I walk into her office. It smells like...well, poo. The ladies toilet is near her desk so at first I thought it was coming from there, but it definitely comes from her. She's a really well-turned out girl, always very preened and well-dressed so it was surprising that she could smell bad. I looked it up (on my work computer - "why do people smell like poo" :pac:) and it turns out it could be to do with IBS or some other bowel issues. Or it could also be bad hygiene but I doubt that's the case with her.

I feel bad for people who have issues where they smell bad through some illness or disorder, it must be awful to live with. Bad personal hygiene though? No excuse!

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 12-04-2017 7:42am

I used to work with a guy who had a wang of BO off him. Unfortunately, for him, his name happened to be Gene; so anytime someone walked past him they'd wave and say "Hi Gene".

mrsdewinter · 12-04-2017 7:43am

murpho999 wrote: »

This is going to descend into 'how often do you shower and change your underwear thread' isn't it where people will be horrified if you only shower daily.

Nah, this is the 'wait - is that poster talking about me???' thread...

Winterlong · 12-04-2017 7:44am

There was a lad who worked with us a long time ago. He used to wear black leather slip on shoes with no socks. The bang of him would wake the dead.

gramar · 12-04-2017 7:45am

I remember years ago an old woman would come in to have her deposit book updated. She was sound out but I'd hate to see her coming and if I saw her in the queue I would pray she'd end up at another counter.
The smell of piss and cats off her used to make me wretch. I had to stand as far back as possible from the counter and try to keep my mouth closed to try to stop myself from breathing in the stench.

Game Face MCGee · 12-04-2017 8:00am

smelly people tend not to know they are smelly.

cbyrd · 12-04-2017 8:13am

I'm a men's hairdresser, holy fcuk the smell of some people, but worse is knowing that they wee, don't wash their hands and rub their head, for months, then I have to cut it, ' would you like it washed?'. 'ah jaysus, no, I'll wash it a'tome ... ' it'd be thick with old grease sweat muck piss and God knows what else, sometimes I'd have to spray perfume on my finger and rub it just under my nose and remind myself that I can scrub my hands after.
And that old wee, cats smell. Ugh. Its take ages to get the smell out of the place.
The morbidly obese smell is disgusting too. Even when they've washed you can still get the hum of stinking flesh, like athletes foot..

MilesMorales1 · 12-04-2017 8:16am

The shower isn't working in my house OP god move away if you don't wanna smell my manly musk.

MadamRazz · 12-04-2017 8:24am

I worked with a very hairy fella who used to believe that his natural manly scent made him attractive to women. He showered once a week, and wore each piece of clothing 10 times before washing it. This is all stuff he told people. I used to sit behind him and on more than one occasion he would be farting away happily, clearly needing to have a poo but being too lazy to go, so yes I would very discreetly go and ask him to go to the toilet. He would apologies, potter off to the toilet, come back and give me a big thumbs up and that would be it for the rest of the day.

Doctor Nick · 12-04-2017 8:26am

PopTarts wrote: »

It's often not because someone hasn't brushed their teeth and might be just a trip to the dentist the individual needs.

This. Bad Breath is usually caused by Gingivitis or Periodontitis and can be difficult to treat if it's at an advanced stage. Having suffered it for a long time (without realising it was a treatable problem) I was very paranoid about the fact my breath stank (I used to brush my teeth up to 10 times per day) and got treatment for it. Even though nobody told me it stank, I knew it did.

Corsodyl mouthwash twice a day for a month and inter dental brushes is the initial treatment. The inter dental brushes are daily exercise - better than flossing. Unfortunately your breath can stink during the treatment but it works providing it hasn't yet advanced to Periodontitis. If it gets to this stage the only thing you can do is get extractions.

After treatment you are required to maintain a strict routine for good oral hygiene. It is very expensive - root planing every quarter plus mouthwash and inter dental brushes a few times per day (after every meal preferably). Root planing is dear, it hurts like hell but it's worth it for the confidence you gain (believe me knowing your breath stinks and nothing can be done is a huge blow to your self esteem) from knowing your oral hygiene is top notch and your breath won't cause a flower to wilt if you breathe on it.

biko · 12-04-2017 8:37am

I just

Your Face · 12-04-2017 9:05am

I had to help on a project at work.
One of the Design Techs didn't wash.
She worked in a small machine shop and even when she wasn't around, the smell was still present in the room.
I used email a lot on that project.

Doctor Nick · 12-04-2017 9:10am

We were developing a new IT system and this was contracted out to a team from a certain hot country. Not only did washing seem to be a monthly thing I used to dread one to one meetings with members of the team as all seemed to think nothing of belching in my face a number of times each meeting. I complained to my boss and all he could really do was shrug and look embarrassed.

sbsquarepants · 12-04-2017 9:23am

I think some people just luck out with their skin bacteria. Some of us are smellier than others no matter how often we wash.
By some of us, I mean of course mean some of you. I could roll in dog shít and get up smelling like jean paul gaultier:D

osarusan · 12-04-2017 9:29am

Jackets are one thing that can smell really stale and rank, particularly if the collar always rubs against the person's hair. I'd say a lot of jackets don't get cleaned/aired enough.

Smokers will have that smoke smell added to it too.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 12-04-2017 9:44am

There's no need for poor personal hygiene in this day and age. It's one thing I find beyond baffling - why some people have such a fear of washing themselves?
To answer the OP, I'd be uncomfortable addressing it with a stranger but have accidently addressed it with somebody in the past.

xzanti · 12-04-2017 9:45am

Nothing is worse than the smell off a heavy smoker who doesn't wash or change their clothes very often

I was stuck behind an older man in Aldi in the queue the other day, I actually couldn't stand it. His jacket looked like it had never been washed, it had a very shiny quality, but it wasn't supposed to be shiny at all

just layers and layers of neglect. I was weak.

I feel very sorry for people like that, maybe he has mental health issues, but it really is very uncomfortable to be stuck in close proximity to them.

team_actimel · 12-04-2017 9:54am

A girl I went to secondary school with reeked. I've never smelled anything like it since. It was a funky smell like a mixture between the worst smelling cheese and bins. Every time she walked near my desk I had to hold my breath. She was a rather large girl so I think the stench was embedded in her rolls. Worse than any other BO I have ever smelled.

Ms Doubtfire1 · 12-04-2017 10:04am

I lived with an H- addict (boyfriend of a room mate - didn't know he was on H at the time) for a few month in my younger years. he never showered or brushed his teeth.apparently water feels really bad to people on H. dear god the rank smell in that room and left hanging in the kitchen...

Aglomerado · 12-04-2017 10:04am

team_actimel wrote: »

A girl I went to secondary school with reeked. I've never smelled anything like it since. It was a funky smell like a mixture between the worst smelling cheese and bins. Every time she walked near my desk I had to hold my breath. She was a rather large girl so I think the stench was embedded in her rolls. Worse than any other BO I have ever smelled.

There were two sisters in my secondary school from a disadvantaged family. They had no problem bullying people but they both reeked of piss, their uniforms were very rarely washed...undermined them somewhat.

I later worked with a woman who stank of piss, 25 years old. She used to try and cover it up with perfume, which never works, it makes it ten times worse.

Sometimes there are medical conditions which mean that people don't have perfect control over their bodily functions... eg spina bifida. I'd never make fun of them, and have corrected people who said "so and so (guy with SB) smells of wee".

More recently I worked with a man who would come in wearing suit, shirt and tie to work. Very pompous older man. The shirt would not be changed for 3 weeks and due to his large size he sweated a lot, so the smell was horrendous come Friday. Sometimes he would sit back in his chair with his arms behind his head and you could see how the sweat had rotted holes in the armpits of the shirt.

Now I only have to put up with smokers and people who wear six inches of smelly makeup. Which is almost as bad, but thankfully they are part timers!

Doctor Nick · 12-04-2017 10:15am

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

I lived with an H- addict (boyfriend of a room mate - didn't know he was on H at the time) for a few month in my younger years. he never showered or brushed his teeth.apparently water feels really bad to people on H. dear god the rank smell in that room and left hanging in the kitchen...

Only when they're sick from withdrawal. Feels like hot needles pricking them. Once they've got H into them into them it's fine.

Ms Doubtfire1 · 12-04-2017 10:19am

Doctor Nick wrote: »

Only when they're sick from withdrawal. Feels like hot needles pricking them. Once they've got H into them into them it's fine.

Didn't know that.Than it was just a personal choice.I was so happy to leave that place...>yuk<

Shurimgreat · 12-04-2017 10:25am

I'd have no sympathy for anyone who is fit and healthy, no mental health issues, etc and who has no excuse not to maintain personal hygiene.

I would have sympathy for someone who might be going through a difficult time such as depression, and personal hygiene is not high on their agenda. I think we should be sensitive to this latter group. Poor hygiene might be the symptom of more serious problems, mental or physical.

howiya · 12-04-2017 10:30am

Six months in work I've been asking my manager to have a chat with a lad on our team that stinks to no avail. She keeps putting it off, makes excuses about having to ask HR for advice etc. And I can guarantee he'll wear the same shirt that he's wore on Monday and Tuesday when he comes in to the office later

Hercule Poirot · 12-04-2017 10:34am

LexieOnRale wrote: »

To answer the OP, I'd be uncomfortable addressing it with a stranger but have accidently addressed it with somebody in the past.

How did you accidentally address it? Did they overhear you or something?

ChikiChiki · 12-04-2017 10:37am

The smell of damp clothes is the worst. Like if someone got wet on way to work, sat in the same clothes all day and wore the same trousers over next few days. Its nauseating.

retro:electro · 12-04-2017 10:42am

I used to work in a bar with a guy who stunk beyond belief. Like ten day old dried in musty sweat. Ugh. He was the cocktail maker and now I can't even as much as look at a mojito without wanting to gag I swear I can smell sweat from them.
Bars are an awful place to work with stink people. They are so cramped and there's a lot of ducking and diving under armpit areas. I got great at holding my breath.

Shurimgreat · 12-04-2017 10:44am

howiya wrote: »

Six months in work I've been asking my manager to have a chat with a lad on our team that stinks to no avail. She keeps putting it off, makes excuses about having to ask HR for advice etc. And I can guarantee he'll wear the same shirt that he's wore on Monday and Tuesday when he comes in to the office later

Keep us posted.

Personally, if it was me and after a few months I was getting nowhere through the HR approach, I'd leave a friendly "anonymous" note on his desk outlining the benefits of good hygiene.

razorblunt · 12-04-2017 10:56am

cbyrd wrote: »

I'm a men's hairdresser, holy fcuk the smell of some people, but worse is knowing that they wee, don't wash their hands and rub their head, for months, then I have to cut it, ' would you like it washed?'. 'ah jaysus, no, I'll wash it a'tome ... ' it'd be thick with old grease sweat muck piss and God knows what else, sometimes I'd have to spray perfume on my finger and rub it just under my nose and remind myself that I can scrub my hands after.
And that old wee, cats smell. Ugh. Its take ages to get the smell out of the place.
The morbidly obese smell is disgusting too. Even when they've washed you can still get the hum of stinking flesh, like athletes foot..

Thanks for answering a question I always wondered about, "how do hairdressers deal with manky folk?" I'm disgusted with them though, I'd probably offer a free hairwash, no way would I touch their hair!!

pilly · 12-04-2017 10:57am

osarusan wrote: »

Jackets are one thing that can smell really stale and rank, particularly if the collar always rubs against the person's hair. I'd say a lot of jackets don't get cleaned/aired enough.

Smokers will have that smoke smell added to it too.

As a smoker I never wear a jacket when going for a smoke because I know how the smell can stick.

Also wear clean clothes every day and wash my hair because it can get into your hair as well.

**** addiction I know but it's my only one left!

Bear in mind too that smokers can't smell as well as non-smokers.

I'd have no problem with someone saying it to me if there was a smell of smoke off my clothes or something because I'm paranoid about it anyway.

Lovely Bloke · 12-04-2017 10:59am

ChikiChiki wrote: »

The smell of damp clothes is the worst. Like if someone got wet on way to work, sat in the same clothes all day and wore the same trousers over next few days. Its nauseating.

It's also off people living in accommodation with no proper ventilation, outside space or a clothes dryer, so they have to resort to leaving wet, washed clothes all over the place on radiators, clothes horses, the backs of chairs, picking up odours from cooking, smoking, and general smells that occur in a human living space.

Then there are people with smelly feet. Jesus christ, own more than one pair of shoes will you.

Lovely Bloke · 12-04-2017 11:02am

There's one manky bint where I work, she mush hold her smokes in that fashion where you cup them inside your palm/fist and the smoke drifts up your sleeves.

She also uses that absolutely rank "older woman" perfume whatever it's called, in an attempt to cover up the tobacco smoke smell.

Disgusting individual.

Neyite · 12-04-2017 11:04am

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fancy pigeon · 12-04-2017 11:06am

Once in Ballinasloe I stopped in a petrol station (Esso I think, up the road from Topaz after coming off the M6) to pump tyres and get a funnel. When I walked into the shop, I could get a warm mouldy odour... Then it hit me fully. The young lad behind the counter was wearing a jersey under his uniform. You could smell the chap from a fair distance; the smell up close was eye watering. When I looked around I noticed everyone else was with the other shop attendant and I was the only gombeen dealing with this chap, who seemed proud of his stink. I had to think fast and try not to let him raise his arms, paid and ran away

The worst one ever was on a Dublin bus around 2007, where a tramp was sitting on the upper deck and his odour of rot had cleared the entire floor of passengers, despite all the windows being open, which then descended onto the lower deck. It was very pungent and even several minutes of fresh air was required to get that smell out of your lungs (lets not mention clothes). Someone else has to remember this, he seemed to be a regular on the 123!

razorblunt · 12-04-2017 11:07am

Have come across a few over time alright.

- One lad in college, we had to complain to the course head, they tried a general announcement first but eventually needed a 1:1 with him

- I worked in a store and there was once customer who was known to have an absolute hum of BO about him. He would stink up whole areas. Without being "in the know" on such things, I think he may have had some mental health issues. He would only ever pay in notes, never take receipts, as in, full on refused the receipt. Bring the bag to his car and then come back in to continue his shopping. It was mostly underwear and short sleeve shirts. He once ordered 28 pairs of Calvin Klein briefs, we ordered them in for him but he never came back for them. When he did show up we asked him about it and he alleged he had no recollection

- I've encountered it a few times in work now and each time a quiet word with the person's manager has sorted it out. Had to work in France for a while with an independent contractor and I'd have to tell him to put his hands down when he'd sit leaned back with his hands behind his back. Got past the breaking point on that one

pilly · 12-04-2017 11:10am

razorblunt wrote: »

Have come across a few over time alright.

- One lad in college, we had to complain to the course head, they tried a general announcement first but eventually needed a 1:1 with him

- I worked in a store and there was once customer who was known to have an absolute hum of BO about him. He would stink up whole areas. Without being "in the know" on such things, I think he may have had some mental health issues. He would only ever pay in notes, never take receipts, as in, full on refused the receipt. Bring the bag to his car and then come back in to continue his shopping. It was mostly underwear and short sleeve shirts. He once ordered 28 pairs of Calvin Klein briefs, we ordered them in for him but he never came back for them. When he did show up we asked him about it and he alleged he had no recollection

- I've encountered it a few times in work now and each time a quiet word with the person's manager has sorted it out. Had to work in France for a while with an independent contractor and I'd have to tell him to put his hands down when he'd sit leaned back with his hands behind his back. Got past the breaking point on that one

Oh god, you just reminded of a college mate I had from France (female). She wore sleepless dresses in summer and saw no problem with a load of hair under her armpits that stunk!!

We were quite close so I did mention to her that it was normal to shave under your arms here but she couldn't care less.

Doctor Nick · 12-04-2017 11:13am

pilly wrote: »

Oh god, you just reminded of a college mate I had from France (female). She wore sleepless dresses in summer and saw no problem with a load of hair under her armpits that stunk!!

We were quite close so I did mention to her that it was normal to shave under your arms here but she couldn't care less.

Ewwww, nowt worse than a woman with hairy armpits. Feminists be damned.

pilly · 12-04-2017 11:15am

Doctor Nick wrote:

Ewwww, nowt worse than a woman with hairy armpits. Feminists be damned.

I think it's normal in France?

whoopsadoodles · 12-04-2017 11:16am

pilly wrote: »

Oh god, you just reminded of a college mate I had from France (female). She wore sleepless dresses in summer and saw no problem with a load of hair under her armpits that stunk!!

We were quite close so I did mention to her that it was normal to shave under your arms here but she couldn't care less.

Meh. I've no issue with a woman not wanting to shave. I hate any amount of hair on my body. I'm almost entirely smooth from my eyelashes down but don't expect other women to do the same.

It's entirely possible to be clean and hairy - as most men can demonstrate.

Doctor Nick · 12-04-2017 11:17am

pilly wrote: »

I think it's normal in France?

I've only ever been to Paris but can't say I noticed it. It's nothing to do with attraction for me as I'm a gay man but IMO hairy armpits on women just don't look right. But hey, 21st century problems right?

Further edit: I'm a very hairy bloke and can keep myself clean so agree with posts under mine (except those agreeing with hairy female armpits).

Gunslinger92 · 12-04-2017 11:17am

Doctor Nick wrote: »

Ewwww, nowt worse than a woman with hairy armpits. Feminists be damned.

Yera so long as they shower every day it doesn't bother me (on other people, I shave my pits daily :P). I've recently been in a car with a girl who shaves none of her body hair and it was fine

Smelly people.

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