A delicate problem

Plevey08

Yep... slightly damp clothes put in the wardrobe too soon stink greyfur.

Like sour milk 😩

This is not an old person.

Primrose53

Here is the lady I mentioned who can sniff out Parkinson’s.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-34583642

That’s good to know. The hospital never picked up my friend’s Parkinson’s for nearly ten years!

saltnshake

Old person smell caused by nonenal. Use Japanese persimmon soap. Available on Amazon and other retailers.

Just ordered some as I am curious.
I don’t smell as far as I know.
I just want to try washing my hands after chopping garlic, see if the smell goes.

Rocketstop2

Could you tell a white lie and say you have been asked to do some market research and you have to find two more people to do it.Then say its a shampoo brand you have to test out,and give the person a bottle of sweet smelling shampoo.Tell them They have to use it at least twice a week and then report if it has made their hair stay fresh smelling.Say you are enjoying testing it.Worth a try?

Oh heck 😂

Olderthanidlike

Tell them politely and offer to help. I'd rather someone do that than having people gossiping about me behind my back dressed up as concern.

Yes I agree.
Funny though, if us doing the telling actually smelled ourselves 😩 because we can’t smell ourselves, if that makes sense.

coral2

I would take them to one side and tell them they may have an issue with smell detection i dont mind if they never speak again I always tell people if something is amiss men with there zip undone and dresses tucked up knickers

Whilst in a restaurant last week I had to tell a lady that her long pleated skirt was tucked into her knickers.
She laughed with embarrassment but profusely thanked me.
I would hate it if I wasn’t told.

Of course I d happily tell someone if their skirt was hitched up, or like I once told a lady she was trailing loo paper, or a bloke with his zip down, those are accidental things, not personal stuff.

I have a relative who has a medication odour which is quite unpleasant but, as they have to take the medication, there’s really nothing they can do. I say nothing, just open windows slightly before a visit or when they leave as I like to see them.

All I can say is, I hope none of use here on GN have the ‘old person smell’….

I think I would say in all this hot weather I'm sweating so much more and going through lots of deodorant. As soon as I get out of the shower I'm hot again. Lots of smelly people on the bus / shop / supermarket too. Have you noticed that?

One approach might be to start a conversation saying that you've noticed some people seem to smell in the hot weather and ask this person if they think you do and that you'd rather someone tells them that to not realise it yourself. Then they may ask about themselves or you could take the conversation on from there depending on their response.

Aveline

This is not an old person.

Had this problem with one DGS. It never used to be a problem but then I began to notice either less frequent washing or maybe infrequent change of clothes.
I tried, “Thanks for mowing the lawn/walking the dog/ picking the fruit etc. Would you like a shower now you're all sweaty.” He always accepted, but we didn’t see him that often, so it didn’t solve the problem.
Then when he started to come round for peace and quiet to revise/study, DH was more straightforward. He just told him he needed to shower more often in his teens then asked if he needed more tops so he had time for things to dry after washing.

They haven't started a new hobby have they? Some of my family ride horses, and there is always horsey smell on them. It isn't pleasant but no point saying anything.

I love the smell of horses, even pigs! However, somehow I don’t think Aveline’s relative smells quite like that. As others have said, it could be health related, in which case it needs to be addressed.

It's a side issue but I remember our doctors always saying that they could smell schizophrenia clinic. Something to do with the medication? I wish I'd asked.

Persimmon soap

I did once tell a male colleague at work that his jacket needed dry-cleaning. It smelled of sweat. He didn't seem to mind, or he covered up any embarassment well. I think he did deal with that jacket, but there were other jackets...! I couldn't say it again for each one!

Nell82

Do you know an enfant terrible who could spend some time alone in an enclosed space with this person?

Yes that would work. No holding back with children. Say it like it is.

Primrose53

I was reading about a lady who had such a keen sense of smell that she could pick out people who have parkinson’s and cancer. She was tested over and over in rooms with people who had parkinson’s and those who had not and the results were amazingly accurate.

Maybe your family person is not well. If it were me and a family member of mine I would tactfully suggest a GP visit.

I agree

Indiebee

I did once tell a male colleague at work that his jacket needed dry-cleaning. It smelled of sweat. He didn't seem to mind, or he covered up any embarassment well. I think he did deal with that jacket, but there were other jackets...! I couldn't say it again for each one!

Sorry but 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Me of our DS absolutely stank around the end of puberty, around 17-19 years old and before I had the chance to address it, some manager at his pt job did it, and none too discretely, he was mortified. If it’s a male and within ir close to this age range, I’d speak up.

One nor me!! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

If it's an elderly person are they having problems getting in and out of the bath or shower these days so just resorting to a quick wash at the sink? Nothing you can do about it without causing offence or offering to help them bath/ shower and it doesn't sound like you have that type of relationship.

Depends on who it is and your relationship to them.