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AIBU

People who smell bad on the bus

(12 Posts)
Pleasebenice Wed 28-Oct-26 15:03:07

My nearest town is a 30 minute bus ride away. Am I being unreasonable for moving away from people who smell bad? I try to be discreet about it but why should I have an unpleasant journey because of someone else’s heavy smoking or other body odours? I think some of this is me. I am super sensitive to bad smell, vibrations and noise. What do other do?

petra Wed 28-Oct-26 15:17:23

If it’s impossible to get away from have a jar of Vic in your bag and put a little up each nostril.
Never fails.

cc Wed 28-Oct-26 15:17:30

I seem to attract the misfits on the bus, so always try to sit in the aisle seat so nobody will sit next to me!

Fallingstar Wed 28-Oct-26 15:24:38

We were on the bus the other day and was a really smelly young woman behind us who looked really well dressed but stunk of BO. I wanted to move but my DH needs a priority seat so we stayed put. The worst thing is that a man across from us kept looking pointedly our way before moving to the back of the bus.

PaperMonster2 Wed 28-Oct-26 16:12:12

I’ve just very briefly been on a crowded bus where someone was wearing strong perfume - it’s made me feel so unwell.

J52 Wed 28-Oct-26 16:17:27

PaperMonster2

I’ve just very briefly been on a crowded bus where someone was wearing strong perfume - it’s made me feel so unwell.

Yes I once had a 10 mile journey when the woman in front was drenched in the most awful perfume. To make matters worse I developed an allergy to it and began sneezing, by the end of the journey you’d think I had a terrible cold. Not good as it lasted all day.
Also the supermarket queues can have stinky people in them. Dreadful smoking smells and coats that have lived in a fat fryer.

CarrotTop Wed 28-Oct-26 16:22:13

No, imho it's not unreasonable at all to move away from a bad smell. I'll also move away from people who can't teach their kids how not to behave on public transport.
Sometimes the bus/train is crowded, so I'm just stuck with what I get - but then I tell myself that suffering is good for my soul, so I feel better (not). grin

Elusivebutterfly Wed 28-Oct-26 16:25:57

I do not think it is unreasonable to move away from people who smell bad. I get travel sick on buses and smells are a major trigger. People eating smelly food on a bus is awful as well. Unfortunately, buses are often too busy to move away.

Gwyllt Wed 28-Oct-26 16:26:21

Not so long ago I think a number of people will have complained about me. I was in London and bought this artisan cheese Although the friend I was staying with complained with many layers and a plastic box you could still smell it
Returning on the train to Bangor takes quite a while and the cheese warmed up fellow travellers sat down then moved on
Lovely journey lots of space the cheese was very tasty

Aveline Wed 28-Oct-26 16:28:02

What a relief this thread is. I thought it was just me! That awful sinking feeling as you settle down into your seat then gradually become aware of an awful pong emanating from somewhere. Sometimes I worry that it's the seat I'm on just getting warmed up after a previous odoriferous occupant. I must confess that I have bus trousers that I change out of when I get home.

JenniRen Wed 28-Oct-26 16:50:03

petra

If it’s impossible to get away from have a jar of Vic in your bag and put a little up each nostril.
Never fails.

Or an Olbas inhaler. Sniff it loudly up each nostril twice, sniff a lot more and they might want to move away from you.

Ladyleftfieldlover Wed 28-Oct-26 16:56:06

I had to sit next to an odoriferous fellow on a flight from Cairo to Egypt. He was very friendly and asked all sorts of questions about London. But the pong! Eek.