Including any type of offensive odor.
2006-09-16 06:43:21 · 13 answers · asked by a_poor_misguided_soul 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
not an easy situation to tackle, i have had to do this, not fun or easy to do. I did it by trying to come across like i was doing her a favor, mind you i think this does need to be done by a person of the same sex. Let them know that "hey i just wanted to let you know woman to woman (or man to man) before someone said something to you in front of others and embarrass you. If you need some assistance buying soap, shampoo or anything like that or if you need laundry detergent or help getting to the laundromat then I can help. If the person is smart enough (some people just are not that smart) they will know what you are talking about, with out you having to come right out and say that they stink. Good luck.
2006-09-16 06:50:05 · answer #1 · answered by NolaDawn 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep in mind that whoever stinks may have the genetic condition called Trimethylaminuria, or "TMAU" for short. There is a lot of information online about this disease - just enter "TMAU" or "trimethylaminuria" into an Internet search engine. TMAU can cause horrible body odors (and horrible bad breath) in persons who have this disease. The only symptom of TMAU is the odor, and people with TMAU are otherwise healthy. The body odor is not caused by a lack of personal hygiene. In fact, a person with TMAU can smell horribly 10 minutes after they shower. The odor can resemble that of rotting fish, urine, feces, or garbage. People affected by TMAU can also have a musty smell.
The strength of the odor caused by TMAU varies from person to person, and may also vary over time. Some people with TMAU may only have a faint odor, while others with TMAU may have a very strong odor. A person with TMAU may smell strongly on some days, and not as strongly on other days. Sometimes the odor can be so strong that it can permeate an entire room in a matter of minutes. For women, the odor typically gets worse around their periods. Stress can cause an increase in the odor.
As I said, the odor is not affected by personal hygiene. The TMAU odor is caused because the person's liver does not produce an enzyme that is necessary to break down a nutrient - the nutrient choline - that is found in almost all foods. The liver of a person with TMAU can only break down choline into a very smelly state; people without TMAU can break down choline all the way, so it doesn't smell anymore.
There is currently no cure for TMAU. A person with TMAU may not be able to smell him or herself, because he or she has been living with the odor her entire life.
2006-09-18 00:11:40 · answer #2 · answered by One Kid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was watching the news this morning and they were talking about a website that you can send an email to a co-worker about offensive odors. Try surfing the web to find the website.
2006-09-16 13:47:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most cases, you don't tell them, and that's considered the most "polite" thing to do.
A girl at work one day said something really funny - a guy walked in with really bad body odor, and she said really loud "Oh my God, someone really needs some deoderant in here!" It was a crowded room, so she wasn't singling him out. He left and came back later smelling much better.
2006-09-16 14:23:52 · answer #4 · answered by locolady98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep I think the best thing to do is to tell them, in a nice gentle way of course and in private but tell them. I've also heard of people sending an 'anonymous' gift basket of soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc to the person as well. I would send it to their home and not do it at work or in a public place because it could be embarrassing to them.
2006-09-16 13:53:22 · answer #5 · answered by vegasinco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you dont say anything. some things are better left unsaid.
youre not lying by keeping your mouth shut.
if you dont have anything nice to say dont say it at all.
if you told me i stunk i might just start speaking my mind about you.
do they really stink? its probably something much greater if youre commenting on their smell.
i probably wouldnt have very nice things to say back since i have a sharp tongue.
maybe they think the same thing about you?
you could tell them to back off maybe.
2013-12-08 22:07:00 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give them perfume/deodrant/axe/shampoo for their birthday, a holiday, or just because. Just tell them you saw it and thought, "this smells so good and I knew it was meant for you!" or something that wouldn't give the real purpose of your mission. It always works!
2006-09-16 13:50:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont believe there is a polite way to tell someone that.
2006-09-16 13:46:48 · answer #8 · answered by ironica7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take them aside and tell them "I don't mean this disrespectfully but you need a shower." Reiterate you are not doing this to be mean but you wanted them to know and you are only trying to help!
2006-09-16 14:00:07 · answer #9 · answered by priscillailla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Anybody can have bad breath, Marge, but you could knock a buzzard off a shyt wagon!"
2006-09-16 13:45:53 · answer #10 · answered by My Evil Twin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋