this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2023
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Like, I travel around for work and I've met plenty of people from all backgrounds.

Why is there a demographic of people who don't seemingly bathe regularly, or at the very least wear something to cover up their BO? I could understand if it's an allergy, or even religious reasons (though the people I've met that smell bad are usually you're average American young adult man) but recently (like in the past week, recently) I've met a concerning number of people who don't seem to wear any kind of deodorant or possibly don't even bathe regularly; it's starting to become an issue for me, as I don't even want to interact with them when I can smell them walking up from 3+ feet away yet I need to for work.

Does anyone have any possible insight?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (3 children)

For me, it was because my mountain bike gear was being washed on cold as heat screwed up the Eva foam in the knee pads and body armor. The jersey also got washed cold, so bacteria never got killed off. When it got hot, the heat would activate the smell, but it's hard to tell when you are going fast down a trail.

Once I started washing everything possible on hot, it stopped a lot of the smell.

I assume people are doing that with non-mtb clothing and getting similar BO results. So it's quite possible it's also not necessarily them, but their clothes.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

So, I'm kindof an outlier, I guess...

I bathe regularly and I have always used Safeguard antibacterial soap. I work physically....construction, handyman, remodeling, woodworking, etc. I live in a tropical climate. In spite of all that, I rarely sweat (most likely due to climate because I sweated like a pig when I lived in SE US). When chatting with clients, I'd make an apologetic comment about my smell and they always respond with "you don't smell."

I assumed that this was just being nice and cordial, but my wife says "no, they're right. You don't smell". I assure you that she is NOT trying to be cordial, and it turned into a conversation in which she insisted that I don't smell. "I can tell you've been working, but you don't smell bad or anything..."

So I would occasionally "forget" to wear deodorant. Eventually I stopped wearing it altogether. Same thing: not smelly. I HAVE to assume that it is because the soap killed all the smelly bacteria.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Some people also just don't smell. I found that hard to believe, but my GF a) never sweats and b) even when she does, it's not smelly.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I've noticed a lot of people don't do things the way I do them and it bothers me too!! Stomp your right foot with me if you agree!

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (13 children)

I shower once a day. I don't generally wear deodorant. I get away with it I think because body odor is largely impacted by meat intake. I swear I don't smell bad, I've asked others. This is the Internet and so no one will believe me unless OP comes to my house and smells my arm pit.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I'll smell you. I'll smell you so good.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Personally; I manage my BO. If I can lift my shirt up, pull my head inside the shirt, and smell my own armpit odor, then I'm in need of some DO.

I've been using a Dove branded Spray-On (AP/)DO for Women and it's effective. By combining the acts of applying DO, then, changing clothes; I don't particularly sweat over much.

I Do Shower on an As-Needed Basis. That's saying that I do shower, without committing to any specific showering pattern or timing basis. If you try to imply I don't shower regularly you will look foolish.

If I stink, then it's either uncommonly hot and humid or I have not yet had the opportunity needed to shower. The hows and whys of this are not important; but generally if I choose not to shower, it's probably for a good reason.

I do suffer from some allergies and disabilities. I won't comment on what they are specifically, but they do exist, so I keep my fragrances light and unobtrusive; and I try to shower only when I can manage to handle doing so. I'm not going to uproot or upset my health, focus, peace or routine just to take a shower to please someone arbitrary; but I do allow the people whom I live with and love to remind me gently should I forget about addressing my BO in the chaos of life.

This isn't saying that I don't care. It's saying I'm imperfect, I have a life, and I do get overloaded sometimes.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Never tried using deodorant. I didn't like the idea of using it. Showering has been enough for me. (I'm 32)
Nowadays I have a skin condition in my armpits so I don't think it would be wise to use that stuff anymore anyway.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I know I will let myself go when I'm in the midst of being deeply depressed, but then again I usually don't get much past my bed then. So that could be some of it.

I used to have a buddy that stank to high heaven, good dude overall, but damn did he smell. Turned out that he never washed his clothes. Once he got in the habit of doing that the problem resolved itself quickly.

The only other thing I can think of would be some Andrew Tate types going on about some made up benefits of 'natural male musk ' or something like that. Not sure if anyone is doing that, but I could see some men taking to that advice.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I am not of those you are describing but in general: Some can have (afaik) genes that do not necessitate the use of deodorants.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I don't apply deodorant at all. Maybe before I know I'm about to be active, but even without it, it's fine, I shower after anyways.

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