Body odor

[Anonymous 1]

My daughter has a boyfriend (he is 17) and he is a very sweet guy. But I swear he smells sooooo bad! My dd says she only smells him every now and then. When they first started dating, someone they both know told my DD that he smells. I thought that was so rude of that person to say that, but I know why she said it...because he does! Any advice? I mean, I don't think me nor my DD can or will say anything to him about it. Anyone been in a similar situation?

[Anonymous 2]

Is he dirty looking or might it possibly be a medical issue?

[Anonymous 1]

I wouldn't say he's dirty looking. He's like a typical teenage guy the way he dresses and does his hair. I don't know how he does not smell himself.

Is he dirty looking or might it possibly be a medical issue?

[AZOldGal66]

It could be any number of reasons why he has the issue including a possible medical reason.

This sort of thing is tricky because to say something could potentially really hurt his feelings.

Is it underarm body odor or overall?

[MonarchMom]

My daughter has a boyfriend (he is 17) and he is a very sweet guy. But I swear he smells sooooo bad! My dd says she only smells him every now and then. When they first started dating, someone they both know told my DD that he smells. I thought that was so rude of that person to say that, but I know why she said it...because he does! Any advice? I mean, I don't think me nor my DD can or will say anything to him about it. Anyone been in a similar situation?

In my experience positive reinforcement works better than negative. Any time he smells "better" than usual, your daughter could compliment him with a "hmm, you smell good today, is that a new soap?" or something similar. That would let him know she cares, and reacts well to being groomed.

[Olioxenfree]

How long have they been together?

[RIZZY]

It's such a tricky situation because you can't tell why he smells. I'm willing to bet he lives in a hoarder household or that he doesn't have access to a clean, fully working bathroom. Offer to wash his clothes. Buy him colognes. Set up his own personal drawer or whatever in your bathroom so that he can shower/brush his teeth while he's there. Don't tell him he smells. Just tell him to make himself at home and offer to wash his laundry, like you would if he were your kid.

[Baconqueen13]

Limit your contact with him......light a couple candles or turn on scent warmers before he arrives to your house and for the duration of while he's there. Encourage them to spend time outside in the backyard. Clean after he leaves. Limit what you say to him but if your kid starts smelling like him say something to her.

I grew up with a brother that stunk....(combination medical issue and bad hygiene) and I didn't even want to admit we were related. Everyone thought we were twins because we were in the same grade but he simply failed first grade and was held back. It was so bad I could go to the mall 3 hours after he had left and STILL know every store he stopped in by the smell lingering. It permeated everything he owned. From his shoes to his clothes and anything he owned. I'm still traumatized by it.

My eldest's best friend also has an odor.....not nearly as bad as my brother, much more mild, but definitely enough that I avoid being in the same room sometimes. Not Body odor per say more like musty/mildew....like clothes that didn't get dried in the laundry completely and were still slightly damp and left in a pile in a laundry basket for a month. It's not all the time though and I know its a result of different medications he's on because of a GI issue where he can't eat certain foods.

[Anonymous 1]

They met in the winter time and at that point it was a weird overall smell and now as it has been warmer outside, it smells more like BO/underarm as he sweats a lot it seems. I definitely do not want to hurt his feelings.

It could be any number of reasons why he has the issue including a possible medical reason.

This sort of thing is tricky because to say something could potentially really hurt his feelings.

Is it underarm body odor or overall?

[Anonymous 1]

My dd goes to his house quite often (something I have allowed more because his smell really bothers me) and my DD says she has seen him apply deodorant and that he does his laundry and stuff sometimes when she is there. His feet/shoes are horrid as well and that is something my DD says she smells a lot. I smelled his feet one time when he took his shoes off at our house and it was AWFUL! I said nothing though.

It's such a tricky situation because you can't tell why he smells. I'm willing to bet he lives in a hoarder household or that he doesn't have access to a clean, fully working bathroom. Offer to wash his clothes. Buy him colognes. Set up his own personal drawer or whatever in your bathroom so that he can shower/brush his teeth while he's there. Don't tell him he smells. Just tell him to make himself at home and offer to wash his laundry, like you would if he were your kid.