How do i politely tell someone they have an odor?

r/

I know someone with a extremely strong odor and I don’t want to offend them but I also want to ask them if they need help or something but I also don’t even know if I should do that

Comments

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  2. Popular_Speed5838 Avatar

    You don’t, it’s either worth offending them or not.

  3. broketoliving Avatar

    you know what i know three people who stink, and you are two of them

  4. HappyWithMyDogs Avatar

    I had a work friend. He always looked very neat and clean. All of a sudden he had a very strong, nasty odor.

    I said “I hate to bring this up, Have you recently switched deodorants or something? You smell really bad.” He was horrified and confused. He mentioned people acting strangely around him and was mortified.

    Turns out he was taking some weird garlic supplements. He was grateful that I told him.

  5. chipmunkrainbow Avatar

    I would start out by stating your intent. You’re not telling them to hurt them – you’re telling them to save them problems and embarrassment. Who knows how this could be impacting them in other ways. Maybe it’s preventing them from a promotion, or they have even lost friends over it.

    There is always a way to be both honest and kind.

  6. Sparkfinger Avatar

    Make gagging noises, cry, writhe on the floor and vomit at their feet

  7. MyCatDart Avatar

    So I had a friend in high school who always had an odor. Another friend of mine and I tried to gently let him know and he meekly said that maybe it was his cologne or the detergent he used was cheap. Something along those lines. But it never changed.

    Later on, while i was petsitting for them, I learned that his mom was a hoarder and had a house full of animals. She also refused to let jer kids clean it. Thus, they all smelled.

    He and I are still really good friends and his apartment is spotless and everything is clean. He doesnt have an odor anymore.

    I just wanted to tell you this story because you may not know what is going on in this person’s life that they don’t have control over. It may not be a situation like this but it could be money issues, hormone disorders, etc. They may be fully aware they have an odor and are hoping nonone knows.

  8. Good_Community_6975 Avatar

    Tell them they smell like Bigfoot’s dick.

  9. bannedByTencent Avatar

    Ask them if they know Bart Simpson’s countdown: „I-think-you-stink”.

  10. Any-Concentrate-1922 Avatar

    I once had a coworker who had a terrible odor. I finalized realized it was his breath, but it was so strong that you could smell it from a few feet away. I never said anything. Then I was talking to a friend/coworker and mentioned the smell. He told me the coworker with the odor was on some sort of medication that made his breath stink. I’m not sure how he knew this, but I was glad I didn’t say anything.

  11. Adventurous_Yam8784 Avatar

    I would do it anonymously Some friendships might never survive that conversation. We had a friend who had an odour “down there”. One of my friends mentioned it privately to her and she was so mortified it broke up the friendship. It’s still awkward

  12. arpohatesyou Avatar

    “Uh oh…shtinkyyyyy”

  13. Miserable-Rest-5259 Avatar

    My cousin skipped showers and brushing his teeth before work every day. 😕

  14. wasting-time-atwork Avatar

    walk by. sniff sniff GASP!

  15. orphan_blud Avatar

    “Hey, I want to tell you this because I care about you, not to embarrass you. You smell different lately, like ‘off’. Are you okay? How can I help?”

  16. WB1173 Avatar

    Use their email address to subscribe them to various deodorising products.

  17. Crazy_Play5725 Avatar

    Heres something you can do.

    Given that you are their coworker – you know their email id no?

    Send an email – from not your personal or work email but from an anonymous one.

    Be kind in your email , and have that conversation.

    Theyll appreciate it .

  18. Embarrassed_Flan_869 Avatar

    How old is the person?

    Gen-X it’s easy. “Dude, You stink. Seriously, it smells like you weren’t fully embalmed when you died.”

    Other generations, word it nicer. “Did you switch deodorant or body wash?”

  19. Slayercat10 Avatar

    You could ask them if they ate garlic or onions in the last day or something because something smells real strong on them. That way you aren’t blaming “them” saying they smell bad you are blaming a food odor. They will think about that as the days go on and maybe realize that they do smell strong of something they are eating or maybe they will even consider their hygiene more.

  20. No-Milk394 Avatar

    Get them Lume. A vaginal odor product that changes lives!

  21. Dog_Baseball Avatar

    Don’t make it seem pre meditated.

    Don’t do it in front of an audience. Just you and stinky.

    Don’t hesitate. They walk in, you say , whoa, hey bro are you OK? I feel like I should let you know for your own benefit that I can smell you from across the room. Is everything OK at home?

  22. Comfortable_Dog8732 Avatar

    “Sometimes you are stinkier than my own ass!”

  23. RushTall7962 Avatar

    Brother just tell them they stink it’s not that fucking difficult who gives a shit if they’re offended. They’re offending everyone else with their stink.

  24. Key-Project3125 Avatar

    Thank you for your kindness and sensitivity.

  25. cjbartoz Avatar

    Just tell him to ease down on the after shave.

  26. Dizzy_Description812 Avatar

    “🎵 Raise your hand… raise your hand us your Sure!🎵… not you, Barb!”

    For real, if you decide to say something, absolutely one on one. I was an accidentally witness to 2 people telling a 3rd person. Politely or not, it was rude and uncalled for.

  27. kummer5peck Avatar

    Anonymous note. Save them any public shame.

  28. Equivalent_Item9449 Avatar

    Ask them if you smell bad. And look genuinely but slightly mortified. I’m hoping the conversation would be easier after that.

  29. Cathbeck Avatar

    Can’t say. They will ban me.