Do I smell?

More than how often one showers, bathes or has a darn good wash I'm inclined to think any "pong" is related to how often a person changes and puts their clothes through the washing machine.

This particularly applies to men, I find, as sometimes when I've been using public library computer facilities or a bus it's always men who generate a distinct unpleasant odour and frankly some of them look like they've not changed their t-shirt for days on end!

I think it's what is laughingly known as "being a manly man".......Ha!

Margs I think that is very true. The 'old lady' aroma, could also be due to infrequent clothes washes. I have met a few lovely old ladies, but they can often have food stains on their enbonpoint

I really don't understand why anyone would choose a strip wash over a quick daily shower. I've only had to resort to them if the water's off, and boy, do I hate them. They're messy, splashy affairs, ending up with soapy water where you don't want it, dribbling down your legs and on the bathroom floor. They take longer than a shower anyway. I can hop in and out in a couple of minutes, use hardly any water, have the nozzle at neck level so I don't have to dry my hair every time, and always use a good posh soap, never shower gel, so I don't need lotions and creams afterwards.

Every two or three weeks though I'll have a deep, scented bubble bath, with book, face pack, cuppa, candles and the Archers omnibus. Followed by warm fluffy towels, body butter, and scented oils. Pure bliss.

And I have to say, some people do smell, yes. And as we get older, and our own sense of smell becomes less keen, it's important to do our best to avoid it.

I agree Maggiemaybe, I don't understand the strip wash over a shower either, I remember doing the latter on an overnight train, it's quite unsatisfactory, because you can't really rinse yourself properly, but each to their own. I think the poster who said they turn off shower whilst applying soap made a good point, have done that on occasions, although sometimes have problems turning shower back on because of soapy hands and subsequently find myself getting out of shower to rinse hands.

Hear hear MissAdventure and Culag as long as the smelly bits are washed daily the rest needs only twice a week shower.

I shower nearly every morning, if not, then a strip wash, standing on bath mat, and also wash when getting home from work.

But I know my Mum didn't wash as much, and she didn't use deodeorant, I think people didn't so much in "the old days". She used to say she didn't sweat, and that seemed to be true, never noticed her smelling, apart from cigarettes! She was always very skinny.

My Dad used to wash, including his hair, with lifebuoy soap, think that's why he went bald.

I shower or take a bath with Epsom salts which helps my body aches. Wash my hair every third day. I can’t stand the feeling of any oiliness in my hair. I took a stain a few years ago and my hair started getting a oily feeling and look the day after I washed it. Hated it so much I got off the statin.

Would not feel clean without a daily shower and hairwash, although if I am not going out I will forgo the hairwash and just have a good shower. DH was the same, thank goodness.

Find it very difficult to take a bath or shower at the moment, (again, don't ask) but make the effort to do so twice a week in order to wash hair. This is no pleasure at the moment and totally exhausting. The rest of the time I have to make do with strip wash but don't use soap on genital area as I can't find any kind that doesn't irritate. Articles I have read say that clear water is all that is necessary in that area anyway. Clean underwear everyday is a given. Just have to hope I don't smell and that someone will be kind enough to tell me gently if I do. Hoping that one day I'll be able to really enjoy a bath once more, I do so miss it.

Soap can upset the ph balance of your personal bits, and that can lead to smells and other problems.
Think of it like a self cleaning oven..

Noddng hope you can get your bath again soon.

Envious am great believer in Epsom Salts bath for aching limbs too. Just intrigued how you use them in the shower?

I am another with very dry skin and hair and have never been excessively sweaty. The smell of BO on others makes me feel nauseous so I am ultra fussy about freshness.

I shower every other day, wash my hair every three days - about twice a week. It doesn't get greasy. If I washed it every day it would be like straw, even with conditioner. I wash all the bodily nooks and crannies every day. I like a soak in the bath whenever I have time. I love that - soaking in beautifully scented water and listening to music.

Daily bath for me although I have fairly shallow baths.