How do you tell someone they STINK!!

[Clara Bow]

We have a similar problem with one of the women in our Barony, but it's complicated by the fact that it's a distinctly, um, *feminine* smell. I'm really unsure how to deal with this one . I just try to hold my breath around her, and hope we're outside :}.


(My DH has an idea, but I've told him if he tries it he will be permanently in the doghouse.)

You really should tell her, sometimes feminine odor can be indicitive of a health problem....God, that's the most awful smell in the world...

[Cyndi]

Does it smell like fish? Mollescum Contagiousum anyone?



(I think I spelled that right...)

[Suze]

you know I don't think the "let one of the guys talk to him" is going to work.  He really only hangs out with one guy (wonder why?   ) and he usually drives in to the meetings WITH HIM. 

If you don't say something to someone when you are in a sealed up car...............of course he may pass out from the stink on the way to the meetings.

to say that he smells like a barn is an insult to the poor critters. (pig poo, maybe, he has the same ability to make your eyes water and "fresh spread" pig poo)

I have also been to several events (summer 100 degree days (Farenhight) where his idea of "cleaning up" is to ..................

TMI SPACE .........................TMI SPACE











is wiping his armpits with his shirt ...........AND PUTTING IT BACK ON

And yes I stay far far far away from him if I can help it anymore.

Humm ... we are having a Christmas gift exchange (round robin type) maybe we should all buy soap and washcloths so no matter what gift he selects that's what he gets?

BTW -- can I highjack my own thread?

How many renactors are out there? and what time frame do you play in?

Suze

[Cyndi]

Ewwww. Maybe a way to do it is lean over and whisper that he needs to wear more deodorant.

Then again either he doesn't care or it could be a health problem. I've also heard that sometimes the food you eat can affect your B.O.

[Gwywnnydd]

BTW -- can I highjack my own thread?

How many renactors are out there? and what time frame do you play in?

Suze

SCA, An Tir .
My persona has been 10th Century Welsh, but I've been feeling kinda disconnected to that, like it's time to rework the persona.
Garb-wise, I most recently decided to go for 16th Cent. Flemish. This is a bigger project than most of my other garb, since it's, y'know, *fitted* .

[Suze]

BTW -- can I highjack my own thread?

How many renactors are out there? and what time frame do you play in?

Suze

SCA, An Tir .
My persona has been 10th Century Welsh, but I've been feeling kinda disconnected to that, like it's time to rework the persona.
Garb-wise, I most recently decided to go for 16th Cent. Flemish. This is a bigger project than most of my other garb, since it's, y'know, *fitted* .

SCA - Middle Kingdom

Persona is starting to come together - I like 1300's clothing style - so Edward the 3rd is the time frame.  Must try a "gothic fitted dress" next (fitted - oh yeah) should be fun.

Oh BTW - I have it on good athority that Wal-Mart is going to be phasing out the fabric part of fabric and crafts.  no more $1.00 a yard mystery material.  (What a way to force you to upgrade your garb)

Suze

[alli_wan]

If you find out let me know.

Today I resorted to Febrezing the lab chairs (I did them all while I was at it and I bought the Febreze) because a new student in the lab had hung his coat on the chair for a few hours and his odor was still detectable 2 days later (even from several feet away).

I mentioned this to my Boss who told me he was waiting for a 'friend' of the student's to clue him in because this has worked for students before.  I tried to remind him of the rather ripe student we had who managed to get a PhD without ever being clued in.

I do not appreciate this buck being passed, especially as I think it might be easier to take coming from the same gender.  (I understand why faculty to student would be harsh, but it's getting to the  point where I can sometimes smell it after I get home.  After walking outdoors for 2 miles).

So if anyone knows how to break the news, please tell me!

[Gwywnnydd]

SCA - Middle Kingdom

Persona is starting to come together - I like 1300's clothing style - so Edward the 3rd is the time frame.  Must try a "gothic fitted dress" next (fitted - oh yeah) should be fun.

Oh BTW - I have it on good athority that Wal-Mart is going to be phasing out the fabric part of fabric and crafts.  no more $1.00 a yard mystery material.  (What a way to force you to upgrade your garb)

Suze

I've been doing this long enough (and have been a compulsive sewer long enough) that I can hold off on buying fabric until I save the money for good fabric (there's an online source for 100% linen that's cheaper than anything I've found in store in my area). Since I wont use man-made fabrics AT ALL (not a period issue, it's a safety thing. Natural fibers will smolder before they burn. So if you're standing next to the fire when a knot spits, you get a small burn mark on your skirt, you don't go up in flames- which I've seen happen. Scared me out of my wits), I tend to wait for the money to make good pieces, that'll last. But, like I said, I've got the garb built up to get away with that :}.

But, your local thrift shop can be an excellent source for swathes of cotton (they call them queen and king-sized sheets, what do they know!), and sometimes some really nice upholstery fabric (old curtains ). And surplus stores usually have wool blankets for cheeep. Lovely cloak material .

[graceh9]

Just remember that once upon a time, back when humans were still cavemen, we probably found BO attractive

I remember my high school BF(who moved a long time ago) once caught me on a day when I wasn't my most fresh and he thought my smell was attractive! I did check myself once on a sweaty day and I smell like....are you ready?......SALSA!



...I guess one person's funk is another person's perfume.

Napoleon was said to have written to Josephine 'I'm coming home, don't wash'

[Sophia]

Queen Isabella (Funder of Columbus) bragged that she had only been bathed twice.  When she was born, and before her marriage.   I guess to make sure the marriage was consummated.  Presumably they bathed her before she died. 

[Sirius]

My former roommate had this problem, but it wasn't due to lack of trying on her part.  Finally, one Saturday morning I told her, as nicely as I could, that she needed to try another brand of deoderant, and recommended the one I used.  It worked, thank goodness.  She thanked me for letting her know, and said she appreciated how uncomfortable I had been.  I know it's not the most fun thing someone can do, but sometimes telling someone their deoderant has failed them is a kindness.

[Moogle]

At my previous workplace, we had this one senior manager who had BO.  In the 5 years I worked there, I don't think any of the engineers had the guts to tell him he stank.  I think it was his seniority and that he had no close friends to tell him so.

[VorFemme]

Alexander of Macedon (also called Alexander the Great, the guy who conquered all the way to India in the Ancient World) was supposed to have had a body odor that reminded everyone of roses.........or so the stories say.

I have given bath oil, soap, and cologne (light fragrances to avoid having the cologne be stronger than the original BO) as gifts in the past.  The "hints" don't always get picked up on.........

A strong clue by four is needed. 

You'd think that chromosonal abnormality would be bred out of the gene pool by now - but it must be recessive, because it keeps cropping up.  I've run into a few people who seem to think that sheets should be changed about as often as the seasons change..........or less often.

Have you seen some of the CSI episodes where they wave a black light over beds in a hotel or batchelor apartment?  Makes you want to BOIL your mattress AND sheets.

[Amanita]

I used to be active in the SCA too..Need to get back in. I play 16th century Japanese, samurai rank. Hirokawa no Tsuru's my name.

I need to find a good source for linen that will accept paypal and ship to Canada. The local fabric stores here gouge unbelievably for it.

[Cyndi]

I remember my computer teacher in Jr. High used to have pit stains the size of Texas, even if he wore several layers of clothing. He probably had that hyperhydrosis or whatever that sweat disorder is called, because though I recall the stains I never smelled anything off him. And if someone smelled I remember it.

Also, am I the only one who thinks pit stains are gross too? Sometimes I get very sweaty and if I can feel that I have them I try to keep my arms down!