A delicate problem

Cossy

Btw, how ever embarrassing it is, I’d far rather someone actually told me than just let it continue.

Me too.
That really isn't very kind.

Sarnia

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.

Yes my DGD recently said, why are Papa's legs all bent?

62Granny read the thread

If it's a young man my money would be on his trainers. My sons showered and changed clothes daily having tackled their armpits with great blasts of Lynx. Then they set off wearing their one and only very expensive pair of trainers which never had a chance to dry out and air properly.

Another culprit could be cheap, synthetic footwear which can pong when it warms up.

This is getting tantalising, Aveline I hope you can identify the source soon and let us know

My daughter had to tell her cousin this. Her mother lived a natural life no make up walk to school no tv etc .As her daughter became a teen she did not encourage to shower or wash her hair and when she went to stay with my daughter for a uni uni interview she just had to tell her she needed to shower and use deoderant.

I sat next to two student-aged people at the dentist’s recently. They both looked lovely, clean and fashionably-dressed, but they smelled really awful. It wasn’t breath or hair - I think it must have been unwashed clothes. I couldn’t think what else could be the source of the smell.
I think it’s unfortunate that we can’t smell ourselves 😖

Damp environments permeate clothes. So does drying them indoors. I guess this was the student's situation.
But I expect the OP knows this about damp.

A fruity smell can also be diabetes.
Cannibis smell is horrible too.
But what I really can't stand and it's mostly teenagers, who spray the in trend body spray/all over them day after day. You can tell they haven't showered and their clothes smell like they need a wash. Lots of them do it. It is gross! Many people don't have a clue as to how much perfume they use either. I've been stuck on public transport, cafes, restaurants next to them and it's totally over-powering. It used to be a little on your wrists and behind the ears. Not any more.

No, I’d have recognised that cheesy smell from damp clothes NotSpaghetti. It wasn’t that.
But Plevey, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head re my students - dirty clothes overlaid with several layers of body-spray. They still looked wonderful, regardless.

I wonder if any of this is ringing bells for you, Aveline?