Do you use public transport? Why does everyone smell?

Bambi985 · 31-01-2018 10:02PM #1

I spend 2 hours if not more on the London tube every day. I have yet to make a journey without being subjected to the foul smell of someone’s B.O, their vile garlic hangover sweats (incredibly common that one), their stale fag smell or their halitosis.

A lot of these people are business men in suits, or travellers with rucksacks, or just people that otherwise look like respectable members of society. Until I’m forced to hang out in their proximity for up to an hour and get actively angry at their insistence at not showering or washing their clothes.

What is wrong with people? Does the average person not wash themselves every day? Am I the only person that experiences this?

_Roz_ · 31-01-2018 10:20PM

I have absolutely no sense of smell at all, so am not affected by it. I am always wary of my own stank appalling others, though, as I can't smell that either! :pac:

stimpson · 31-01-2018 10:33PM

1. No
2. Because people are disgusting. This is why I don’t use public transport.

razorblunt · 31-01-2018 11:26PM

I would normally say I’ve never encountered anything that bad but this morning on the morning tram a woman sat next to me. She was a mouth breather and clearly didn’t brush her teeth after getting out of bed. Horrific.

Richard Hillman · 31-01-2018 11:33PM

2-3 minutes in a shower makes a world of difference, 1 minute to dry and away you go to get dressed. All they have to do is wake up 5 minutes earlier. Annoys the piss out of me

munster87 · 31-01-2018 11:36PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

2-3 minutes in a shower makes a world of difference, 1 minute to dry and away you go to get dressed. All they have to do is wake up 5 minutes earlier. Annoys the piss out of me

The piss surely just adds to the smell

Oldtree · 01-02-2018 02:32AM

Been there

As an addendum to your plight, you will notice that as a tube train is coming toward a station a breeze will proceed it. The breeze can be somewhat dusty. That dust is made up mainly of human tissue, skin and hair and you inhale it. Wipe the inside of your nostril with a tissue before you leave the tube the next day and clearly see the dark residue.

The buildup in the tunnels of the skin and hair from the millions of travelers is such that teams go around hoovering it up, as it clumps together causing a fire risk from the sparks from the electric tracks.

Anyway the point of the story is - to avoid being a cannibal, don't pick your nose and eat it on a tube ride!

Roberts has seen all sides of it, having started his Tube career as a cleaner then being promoted to a fluffer — removing the tonnes of human skin and hair that settle under the rails

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/tunnel-vision-but-how-will-the-150-year-old-tube-cope-with-late-nights-8472288.html

freshpopcorn · 01-02-2018 02:38AM

I haven't got the bus in a few years now but I found there was different levels of smelliness.
I rarely uncounted terribly smelly to be honest maybe not the freshest but what I always found sickening was people with loads of perfume on.

PandaPoo · 01-02-2018 03:26AM

I don't use public transport during rush hour, so I'm not usually close to the other people on it. Never noticed a bad smell, unless it's a homeless person and they can't help it.

When I cool with garlic and onion my fingers smell vile for about 24 hours. I'm always very self conscious because I feel like everyone can smell it off me a mile away. I must look into stainless steel soap, I've tried everything else.

Anyway, maybe they were cooking with garlic?

SuperSean11 · 01-02-2018 03:39AM

Why are yous smelling people anyway, is it a fetish thing OP?

Oldtree · 01-02-2018 04:05AM

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Why are yous smelling people anyway, is it a fetish thing OP?

I think the op is more a passive actor on this stage, unlike this thespian:

SSr0 · 01-02-2018 08:29AM

I won't ever give a smelly person a chance, they will be forever ignored and avoided.

No excuse for being a manky cúnt.

Foweva Awone · 01-02-2018 08:29AM

PandaPoo wrote: »

When I cool with garlic and onion my fingers smell vile for about 24 hours. I'm always very self conscious because I feel like everyone can smell it off me a mile away. I must look into stainless steel soap, I've tried everything else.

Anyway, maybe they were cooking with garlic?

I feel your pain, I always have a box of those plastic disposable catering gloves in the kitchen for exactly that reason! Wouldn't go near the garlic without them on.

Doctors room ghost · 01-02-2018 08:34AM

Half the fcukers using public transport should be made stand up on a ramp and powerwashed and sprayed with jeyes fluid.smell is only going to get worse when the weather warms in summer op.they will be making maggots then.some of the fcukers are too lazy to breathe.

Jack Kanoff · 01-02-2018 08:38AM

I think Bambi is forgetting the one universal truth when it comes to foul odour.

"Whoever smelt it, dealt it"

sjb25 · 01-02-2018 08:39AM

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Half the fcukers using public transport should be made stand up on a ramp and powerwashed and sprayed with jeyes fluid.smell is only going to get worse when the weather warms in summer op.they will be making maggots then.some of the fcukers are too lazy to breathe.

Thankfully I drive my diesel guzzling car to work

Mongfinder General · 01-02-2018 08:57AM

I used to take the bus to and from work every day. I would get sick cold/flu at least 3 or 4 times a year. I started cycling and the problem went away.

Dakota Dan · 01-02-2018 09:01AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

2-3 minutes in a shower makes a world of difference, 1 minute to dry and away you go to get dressed. All they have to do is wake up 5 minutes earlier. Annoys the piss out of me

munster87 wrote: »

The piss surely just adds to the smell

Especially stale piss.

topper75 · 01-02-2018 11:00AM

sjb25 wrote: »

Thankfully I drive my diesel guzzling car to work

You can do that in Laanhndaaahn yes.

but you'll be setting off at 2.30 a.m. innit.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 01-02-2018 11:05AM

The abiding smell I remember on the tube was cheap (and expensive) deodorant.

GT_TDI_150 · 01-02-2018 11:10AM

Badly disguised "I live in London" post

clancywigam · 01-02-2018 11:18AM

Foweva Awone wrote: »

I feel your pain, I always have a box of those plastic disposable catering gloves in the kitchen for exactly that reason! Wouldn't go near the garlic without them on.

The garlic and onion smell can be removed completely by rinsing your hands under cold water the minute you finish chopping. Warm water doesn't work at all but cold water completely removes it.... for me anyway.

splinter65 · 01-02-2018 11:23AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

2-3 minutes in a shower makes a world of difference, 1 minute to dry and away you go to get dressed. All they have to do is wake up 5 minutes earlier. Annoys the piss out of me

No shower? Strip naked in front of the sink full of a kettle of boiled water, facecloth , shower gel , toothpaste, brush.
8 minutes to wash and rinse face armpits front bum back bum feet, clean teeth.
Off to work you go you lazy dirty bollix.

splinter65 · 01-02-2018 11:25AM

clancywigam wrote: »

The garlic and onion smell can be removed completely by rinsing your hands under cold water the minute you finish chopping. Warm water doesn't work at all but cold water completely removes it.... for me anyway.

The garlic comes out through the pores in your skin over 24 hours or so. It also wafts out of your mouth from you digestive system .

DaeryssaOne · 01-02-2018 12:35PM

A friend of mine (who is very clean) can't help reeking of garlic/ alcohol the morning after, I noticed it in the lift at work a few times that I could always tell if she had been out for dinner the night before. It's pretty gross but it would go away soon after.
Some people can't help that no matter how much they brush their teeth, though chewing gum before getting on the tube would go a long way and definitely not being a disgusting mouth breather!

Doctors room ghost · 01-02-2018 01:04PM

DaeryssaOne wrote: »

A friend of mine (who is very clean) can't help reeking of garlic/ alcohol the morning after, I noticed it in the lift at work a few times that I could always tell if she had been out for dinner the night before. It's pretty gross but it would go away soon after.
Some people can't help that no matter how much they brush their teeth, though chewing gum before getting on the tube would go a long way and definitely not being a disgusting mouth breather!

No excuse,she would still qualify for the powerwasher and jeyes fluid treatment.above on a ramp or car lift just so it’s a thorough washing.
Might even throw in one of the Christmas tree air fresheners as part of the deal.new car smell or royal pine.her choice

splinter65 · 01-02-2018 01:07PM

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

No excuse,she would still qualify for the powerwasher and jeyes fluid treatment.above on a ramp or car lift just so it’s a thorough washing.
Might even throw in one of the Christmas tree air fresheners as part of the deal.new car smell or royal pine.her choice

Garlic should be a weekend thing.
If your loved ones are happy to share space with you stinking to high heaven then that’s fine but don’t inflict it on strangers and colleagues.

_Dara_ · 01-02-2018 01:47PM

Well, garlic is delicious so the garlic sweats aren't going anywhere soon, OP! I've never taken the tube at peak time but I've taken many a rush hour city bus, Luas and Dart where lots of people are standing and I very rarely encounter smelly folk. I don't have the best sense of smell though. I honestly think some people have very sensitive senses of smell. I don't believe that shower only alternate days renders someone automatically smelly except if they have exercised in that time. I've noticed that some people sweat way more than others. My mother is a ridiculously unsweaty person. I came back from a cycle once, a short jaunt around the neighbourhood and my mother was amazed at how wet my lower back was with the sweat. This was totally alien to her. She showers alternate days. I wouldn't assume that anyone non-smelly showers daily.

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I haven't got the bus in a few years now but I found there was different levels of smelliness.
I rarely uncounted terribly smelly to be honest maybe not the freshest but what I always found sickening was people with loads of perfume on.

+1. People smelling way too strongly of whatever perfume/aftershave/fake tan/whatever they have doused themselves in is a far more common problem on public transport.

Alun · 01-02-2018 01:49PM

_Dara_ wrote: »

+1. People smelling way too strongly of whatever perfume/aftershave/fake tan/whatever they have doused themselves in is a far more common problem on public transport.

+1, and I'd wager that most of the people complaining about "everyone" else smelling rotten are some of the worst offenders in this regard.

Bambi985 · 01-02-2018 01:51PM

DaeryssaOne wrote: »

A friend of mine (who is very clean) can't help reeking of garlic/ alcohol the morning after, I noticed it in the lift at work a few times that I could always tell if she had been out for dinner the night before. It's pretty gross but it would go away soon after.
Some people can't help that no matter how much they brush their teeth, though chewing gum before getting on the tube would go a long way and definitely not being a disgusting mouth breather!

It's the worst smell ever, just putrid garlic sweats that are unavoidable to anyone in your company. It's definitely the most common smell to assault my nostrils on the tube - mostly professional looking and otherwise clean looking folk who have obviously been out on a heavy session the night before and it's seeping through their pores all day the next day. So gross.

_Dara_ wrote: »

I've never taken the tube at peak time but I've taken many a rush hour city bus, Luas and Dart where lots of people are standing and I very rarely encounter smelly folk. I don't have the best sense of smell though. I honestly think some people have very sensitive senses of smell.

I might have a strong sense of smell I dunno, never really noticed it before until tube travel became a daily thing for me. I'd shower at least once a day and would actively notice the difference on my own body/smell if I didn't so I'm also hyper aware of it on other people. A phenomenal volume of people just evidently are not arsed with that morning shower it would seem

ETA strong, overpowering perfume or cologne smells are annoying, but not nearly as offensive to me as someone who reeks of their own body filth tbh.

_Dara_ · 01-02-2018 02:00PM

Bambi985 wrote: »

I might have a strong sense of smell I dunno, never really noticed it before until tube travel became a daily thing for me. I'd shower at least once a day and would actively notice the difference on my own body/smell if I didn't so I'm also hyper aware of it on other people. A phenomenal volume of people just evidently are not arsed with that morning shower it would seem

Well yeah, I'm unapologetically generally an evening showerer. I don't think it's uncommon to do so. I think there is much more to it than "if you don't shower in the morning, you smell". My OH would need to shower every morning or he will smell. Whereas my mother showers every other day in the evening and BO has never been an issue for her. It depends on how much you sweat (some people DO sweat much more than others), your toilet hygiene, what you eat, whether you've exercised and not showered; all kinds of factors. Of the non-smelly people on public transport, I bet a decent proportion of them have not showered that morning.

Do you use public transport? Why does everyone smell?

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