What can you do when the person sitting next to you has...?

Question

major B.O.? I thought in college people would shower regularly, but the other day I made the mistake of sitting near an older man who had obviously not showered in weeks. I tried to sit away from him the next class, but with the classroom door shut I could still smell it. A couple of unlucky classmates who sat next to him complained to the professor after class, but he was obviously too nervous to approach the guy. Is it possible to make someone leave a closed in setting for poor hygiene? I know this sounds cruel but the smell really was HORRIBLE.

No I'm not in the engineering field, Liberal Studies is my major. He's not a foreign exchange student but he mentioned that he spent some time in the Peace Corps working around the world.

He has a temper and he's a big guy. He got in a heated argument with a woman for interrupting his comment to the professor.

He's not that young. He is at least 40-50 years old. The classroom has no windows so there goes that option.

Answer 1

That's a tough one. I really don't believe you should say anything. If the odor is that terrible I would imagine he's been told before. If not, someone close to him should let him know very gently, but it doesn't sound as if you know any of his friends. It would be awfully rude to go up to someone you barely know and humiliate them. Be careful, too, that you and the other students don't act like junior high school kids and make fun of this poor guy. I'm sure he's been through it all already. Covering your mouths and noses and making faces at one another isn't going to solve anything and will most likely escalate the problem and everyone's stress level. I truly cannot think of much you can do, besides opening the windows (a crack if it's cold) and wearing a warm jacket to class. The professor has to teach the class and if the smell was putrid in the room he would speak to the administration. Perhaps he has something psychologically wrong and in that case, only he can elect whether or not he should see a therapist. If his problem is physical, I'm sure he is doing what he can about it, although sometimes treatment for body odor doesn't help because its cause is not easily curable. Perhaps he grew up in a poor or dirty environment and his liver and intestines are clogged up - this would explain why he is emanating an odor. "Dietary imbalances, resulting in constipation or a deficiency of magnesium or zinc may be other causes of body odor. Because of a person's body chemistry, some people who eat large quantities of meat or who are vegetarians have a very distinctive body odor which can be quite offensive. Some individuals cannot metabolize foods containing large amounts of choline, such as eggs, fish, liver and legumes. The result is a "fishy" smell. If you are one of these people, cut out these products and see if this is the cause of your odor. Certain foods and drinks, such as onions, garlic, curry, certain spicy foods, coffee and alcohol, are also prime causes. Fried and baked goods may contain rancid fats and oils that lead to body odor." (http://www.health911.com/remedies/rem_bodyo.htm). He may have problems with his sweat glands, he may already be working with a dermatologist, or he may just eat curry too often.

It would be mean any other way. I'm sure he knows already and is taking steps to remedy the problem.

*EDIT* Wow, I didn't realize he was older (or that there were no windows). He may be mentally ill and if so, there is nothing anyone can do beyond the administration kicking him out for his angry behavior. I haven't heard his side of the story, of course, so I don't want to make quick judgments. I'd certainly be cautious in this situation. If the odor is so offensive you and the other students feel you cannot concentrate on the lecture, you may want to take it up with the student dean. His personality, remember, may have nothing to do with his odor too. There are many physical illnesses that can cause bad body odor.

Answer 2

Ugh, that happened to me, once in high school (from a foreign exchange student and it was assigned seating!), once with this woman who's perfume was so strong and acrid it gave me a headache for the whole day. You aren't an engineering student are you? The male engineering students seem to think bathing is an 'optional' scholastic activity.

You can either 1) avoid this person by trying to stay away from him, 2) get some febreeze and try to discreetly spray it on him 3) If he gets up from his seat you could slip a note into his notebook somewhere that reads, "TAKE A BATH", 4) get some vicks vapo rub and dab some underneath your nostrils before class (they do that at autopsies, remember the movie, "Silence of the Lambs") 5) or just start talking out loud before class, say, "what is that smell? Does someone have a hoagie or something? I smell onions, but it really stinks" .

Hope one of these works, it's terrible to have to deal with a smelly one.

Answer 3

Sit as far away from him as you can. Unless you can think of a way to let him know his b.o. is offensive, like leave a note on his desk that says, "You need to use deodorant because you smell,"
you will just have to grin and bear it. On the other hand, if he's stinky enough to stink up the whole classroom, he probably wouldn't be offended if you approached him and said, "Hey man, you stink." Or write it on a Post-it, then casually walk by him and stick it on his back. Good luck!

Answer 4

She is not a good friend. Good friends would never make their friend feel bad no matter what. She might feel you are not cool enough to hang out with her or she might think it impresses her bf and your other friends to be mean to you. But I am sure it doesn't impress them because then they would be mean too. Also, she might feel jealous of you and is hurting you out of envy. I don't even know this girl so I can't give you the best advice. Ask your other friends and see if she is secretly mad at you. Overall I would slowly (or quickly) grow apart from her and find a different friend thatwould never hurt you and likes you for who you are. This is all a part of growing up and everybody goes though it. Hope I helped!! ttyl

Answer 5

Hey - if you smelled bad, would you want someone to tell you or let you keep stinking up the place? I say either have the balls to tell the guy he stinks, (hi, um, I was wondering if it would be OK for me to tell you something personal? Oh, OK, well, I think that maybe you can't smell it, but other people have noticed that you have an odor about you that is not particularly pleasant. Sometimes when people live alone or with someone for a long time, they become immune to the smell and,l well, I don't want to be rude, but it's just that people are noticing, and you seem so nice, and I don't want anyone hurting your feelings...) or deal with it.

Answer 6

I would write him a note and hand it to him, tell him that he has a very bad body odour, and that you believed that he has a right to know, most people can not smell them selves as it is there all the time, There is no need to be sly sneaky or back door this guy write the note as it is private and personnel that is all you can do if he gets the message you will soon enough know

Answer 7

Many times, people who don't take care of their own hygiene are mentally ill, or at least a bit disturbed.

The nasty temper on this guy would indicate this may be the case.

Best to talk with the teacher and/or the dean, and explain the problem. Don't try to confront him by yourself.

Answer 8

Make up a gift basket with shampoo, body soap (bar, shower gel, whatever), deodorant, and maybe something to use when he shaves- shaving cream, foam or gel... maybe even some manly-smelling body lotion.... Bath&Bodyworks has some "flavors" that aren't particularly girly.

Pull him aside and let him know he's a great guy- takes a certain amount of courage to go back to school after your "prime"... Here's a gift to let you know how much some of your fellow students admire you...

Best of luck.

Answer 9

this may sound odd, but he may not know he smells bad.

i had to tell someone, an elderly family member, that he smelled bad. he did not take it well, but i suggested that he may have changed soap or shampoo and that the new product wasn't working well.

later i noticed it wasn't so bad so at least he was thinking about it.

i have noticed women wearing very bad eye makeup and i am sure it is that they just can't see well and need a magnifying mirror. I, laughingly, told my son the story of a woman i noticed and then told him please, please, if i ever looked like that to "take the makeup away." he laughed, but he got it.

please, please, don't let me walk around smelling bad. if i can't figure it out for myself, let me know.

i don't like to be offended and i don't want to offend, whether it is smelling bad or spinach between my teeth or the tags sticking out of the back of my shirt--tell me.

for your guy, why don't you slip him a gift bag with soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc, with a note telling him you would rather see him make friends than offending people.

you should do it anonymously but do with style and grace and let him know you are not trying to ridicule him but help him.

actually, i just thought of this, make a copy of this answer and give it to him.

Answer 10

Pass him a note "dude, you smell a little bit, can you take a shower please?" and sign the professor's name.

actually, what if he's so poor and only had money to scrape together to better himself and pay for class and has nothing to wash himself with, no money for deodorant, etc.

HMMMM?
In real life, which you'll discover AFTER college, you'll encounter ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, smelly, not smelly, old, not old, poor, not poor and guess what...ya gotta DEAL.