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I apparently stink, and I genuinely shouldn't. Please help me.

Hey,

22, Male.

This problem is literally ruining my life.

Basically, I'm pretty damn sure I smell, but there's no reason why I should as I am very hygienic. The reason I suspect I do is the way people are around me sometimes. They rub their noses, comment on bad smells, stand an unusual distance from me in a queue etc etc. I've had people struggleing not to laugh when they stood in front of me on the bus, move away from me even though they had a free seat anyway etc. It's so humiliating, and I am NOT dirty.

I have at least 1 bath a day, often 2 using Cidal antibacterial soap, washing everywhere thoroughly. I wear clean clothes, brush teeth twice a day, wear Sure anti-persprint deodorant (not excessively) etc etc etc. I am genuinely more hygienic than most people are.

This all started when I was 15, a young girl (about 14) said on the bus "He stinks" after I sat down behind her. I may have stunk then, as I wasn't as hygienic back then - but I am GENUINELY hygienic now. I also know this isn't all in my head (Though I am willing to concede I am hyper vigilant) - I am not misinterpreting peoples reaction, I obviously emit some kind of odor.

I've been thinking it for a while, just the ways people seem around me in public, though it's always been speculative - but the other day I'm pretty certain I did stink - bad. Everyone seemed to be smelling something I wasn't and I hadn't even been sweating really. I overheard people getting on the bus saying to each other it stunk and someone even moved away from me. One fella screwed his face up as he approached me as if he had smelt something bad. I went to the coffee shop and one of the Baristas behind the counter said to the other "What's that smell?" and the other said "I know, don't know where it's coming from" - this was as I was there and given my experience on the bus I'm pretty sure it was me. I just went home even though I had other stuff to do. I went home and had a really good sniff of all my clothes and body but they smelt absolutely fine to me and there was no dog **** on my shoes either. Even my ****ing arse smelt fine.

Its seriously affecting me, I don't want to go out anywhere and it's reduced my confidence to nothing. I went through this a few years ago and I got severely depressed and started becoming obsessive to the point I actually ripped the carpet up in my bedroom as I was sure that was stinking and making my clothes stink.

I have asked my mother if I smell and she is adamant that I don't, but its a bit pointless because we live in the same house and are probably used to each others smell. Besides if it's our house that stinks (it's quite clean though) then we probably both have the same problem but she says this never happens to her.

My life has been ruled by this for years, I am literally crippled by this idea that I stink.

What the hell is going on! Please help! Literally any ideas, I am desperate.
(edited 10 years ago)

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Reply 1
Ask some friends? See what they say. If you know you definitely emit an odour, go to the Doctors and present your problem. I'm sure they'll possibly be able to figure it out. Also, try wearing cologne to mask the smell? This won't really help sort out the issue long-term but it'll make you feel more confident definitely.
Original post by Sadian
Ask some friends? See what they say. If you know you definitely emit an odour, go to the Doctors and present your problem. I'm sure they'll possibly be able to figure it out. Also, try wearing cologne to mask the smell? This won't really help sort out the issue long-term but it'll make you feel more confident definitely.


I wear deodorant, and I've asked some friends (not many) and they say I don't smell.

However, I apparently do smell.
Reply 3
Original post by WannabeCrypto
I wear deodorant, and I've asked some friends (not many) and they say I don't smell.

However, I apparently do smell.


I'd honestly suggest cologne over deodorant. Rather, use them both but use anti-perspirant deodorant on areas you sweat and a few sprays of cologne. If you just use deodorant, you're probably going to over-use it and too much deodorant can smell a bit unappealing. Cologne is a lot more nicer on the nose.

Maybe it really is a mental thing if none of your friends can smell anything. I know if one of my friends smelled, I'd want to tell him for his own sake and would definitely say yeah if he asked me. But to be sure, you can ask more friends and see what response you get. Your own mentality might make you think differently or too much of certain situations.
Am I the only person who came here thinking it was a joke thread after this thread? http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=42770367&highlight=smells

Anyway - I wouldn't recommend using cologne because that will just mask the smell and in the long run this won't be helpful. I reckon you should go to the doctor and explain your problem. I've heard about people who have used a prescription deodorant and who have had a huge improvement.

I'm quite sure someone can help you because there must be a lot of people who have this problem. If your local doctor can't help you maybe a specialist can?
Reply 5
what's your diet? avoid huge amounts of curry/spicy food.
Go to your GP. Not only are they impartial and used to any odour you may have, if there is a problem then they may be able to help

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Reply 7
Buy Mitcham deodorant.

My brother has issues with smelling and he vouches for this deo 100%. And so do I because he smells less now.

I also use it but I never really smell unless I don't shower.
I think you may need to try Driclor.

"Driclor is a unique formula that provides a lasting protection against sweating and smell and it is very effective from the beginning of the treatment. Driclor acts over the sweating gland in a way that it allows the perspiration but preventing the formation of moisture (sweating). The patented formula of Driclor gets the reduction of sixty five percent of sweating. The efficiency of Driclor is on the presence of its active ingredient which is Aluminium Chloride Hexahydrate."

"When you apply Driclor to the skin, the aluminium chloride works by blocking the sweat glands. This causes the pressure of fluid within the sweat glands to rise to the point where they temporarily stop sweat production.
The product is applied before going to bed at night in order to block the sweat glands while they are least active. It should then be washed off in the morning. The sweat glands will then remain blocked and so will not produce sweat during the day. (The sweat glands unblock as the dead cells on the surface of the skin are naturally shed.)"
Original post by JennaEmBee
I think you may need to try Driclor.

"Driclor is a unique formula that provides a lasting protection against sweating and smell and it is very effective from the beginning of the treatment. Driclor acts over the sweating gland in a way that it allows the perspiration but preventing the formation of moisture (sweating). The patented formula of Driclor gets the reduction of sixty five percent of sweating. The efficiency of Driclor is on the presence of its active ingredient which is Aluminium Chloride Hexahydrate."

"When you apply Driclor to the skin, the aluminium chloride works by blocking the sweat glands. This causes the pressure of fluid within the sweat glands to rise to the point where they temporarily stop sweat production.
The product is applied before going to bed at night in order to block the sweat glands while they are least active. It should then be washed off in the morning. The sweat glands will then remain blocked and so will not produce sweat during the day. (The sweat glands unblock as the dead cells on the surface of the skin are naturally shed.)"


I don't sweat much though, and even if I did, I shouldn't smell this bad as all people sweat. I need to get to the root of the issue.
Reply 10
Are you partial to spicy dishes or food with strong aromas, as these will come out in your pores?
Original post by Fuzzlepuff
Are you partial to spicy dishes or food with strong aromas, as these will come out in your pores?


I do like spicy foods but I don't have them very often, 1-2 times a week at most.
this one is a bit out there but could be possible- are your clothes washed in anything odd that would give off an interesting smell?
Ask a family member who doesn't live with you (grandparent, for example) to help identify the source of the problem.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 14
What's your diet like?
Reply 15
Go to the doctor - there might be a perfectly simple explanation
Sure's maximum protection deodorant works wonders. Just put it on in the morning and you don't smell (from your armpits anyway) for the rest of the day.
Reply 17
Original post by WannabeCrypto
I do like spicy foods but I don't have them very often, 1-2 times a week at most.

Maybe try cutting them out? You never know
Deodorant is only there to stop you sweating, and since you say you don't sweat much then trying different deodorants are most likely not the answer.
If you think that your bad smells are pretty strong, I'd actually avoid aftershave/cologne if I were you - a strong bad smell mixed with cologne is a dreadful combination and is worse than the bad smell alone.

I'd seriously recommend visiting your GP who can either deal with the problem or refer you to a specialist. You can have 1000 people on here offering you advice, but at the end of it all none of us know what you smell like or what the root of the cause is.
Reply 19
Original post by WoodyMKC
Deodorant is only there to stop you sweating, and since you say you don't sweat much then trying different deodorants are most likely not the answer.
If you think that your bad smells are pretty strong, I'd actually avoid aftershave/cologne if I were you - a strong bad smell mixed with cologne is a dreadful combination and is worse than the bad smell alone.

I'd seriously recommend visiting your GP who can either deal with the problem or refer you to a specialist. You can have 1000 people on here offering you advice, but at the end of it all none of us know what you smell like or what the root of the cause is.


Deodorant doesn't stop you from sweating at all, it just masks the smell. Anti perspirant is designed to stop sweating.

OP, you've made a few threads like this before, have you followed any of the advice people have given you? Having a chat with your GP might be a good idea.

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