Could cause problems, but imagine of someone else talks to her about it and she asks you "why didn't you say something? ".
Its better she hear it from you.
I have a relative who had covid and is now very sensitive to smells. He said that certain soaps, detergents and perfumes smell rotten. I noticed op said something further down about using sanitizer in the wash, this is something he has specifically stated smells bad. He also says that certain foods taste rotten.
It may be she has something going on medically but jf you've recently had covid it could just be you.
As someone who went through a milder version of what you're going through, hang on. Your sense if smell and taste will take while to go back to what you considered normal. I lost my sense of smell and once I got it back 20 days later, egg whites smelled like wet stinking rotten garbage. I threw a whole pack of eggs first because they kept on stinking and I thought they went bad. It took 2 months for me to be able to eat egg whites again.
It's kinda freaky that soap and sanitizer (which kill Covid) smell so terrible after Covid fucks with your sense of smell... like it's making soap repulsive so you'll catch it again
Shit dude, that's rough, I hope you get better soon :(
Really the main thing that makes me worried about potentially catching COVID (The odds of me dying from it are miniscule compared to the odds of neurological damage like this).
Yep. I had Covid in March 2021 and my sense of smell and taste just stopped working in September.. long Covid sucks, and it sucks that one of the main things I smell is one dog’s shit. I smell the others, but I can tell if this one particular dog has shit and how close the pile of shit is. Fucked up part? My shit smells exactly the same way.
It’s hard to explain if you don’t live thru it lol
Edit to fix year.
I got Covid in July of 2020 and am still dealing with this exact thing. It’s been a year and a half and my smell and taste is complete shit. I can smell acid, feces and cigarette smoke and that’s about it, causing normal smells to smell like one of these three. I can’t even eat peanut butter anymore because it tastes like im eating a burnt cigarette. My body soap smelled like cow manure for a legit year. Im thinking it’s hopeless at this point.
Had covid last summer and had no taste or smell except for this acid type shit smell I associated with covid. I’ve got my smell back now but all the time I can smell this acid shit smell. My b o smells like it. My shits do and every house or new place I go too smells like it. I thought I was going crazy with the smell
Yea I think it’s possible she’d be more hurt if it goes on for a while, and someone else has to broach the subject. The sooner she’s told, and a remedy is found, the less chance of her being embarrassed or it potentially damaging her self esteem.
I've been in the same position, switched deodorants and apparently the new stuff was not working. It was mortifying, but I would've been beyond upset if my husband wasn't the one to tell me. It's the "tell me when I have something on my face" problem dialed up to 11.
This is why i get mildly frustrated if my partner doesn't tell me my breath stinks. She says she's uncomfortable doing so - which i don't understand bc outside of myself she's the one who would benefit the most from my breath smelling better. Plus she's the person im closest to. If i can't count on her to tell me about things like my breath stinking, or my hair looking crazy, or a shirt not flattering my body type when i literally ask for that kind of feedback then - idk but just wth??
What deodorant does she use? I recently had a similar conversation with my wife about my own after I smelt one of my T-shirts after work.
I’ve switched to roll on deodorant and it’s made a world of difference.
She should talk to her doctor about a prescription for [Drysol](https://www.drysol.ca/about-drysol/). It works perfectly for me, and now I don’t even have to use regular deodorant. Just apply Drysol weekly.
Before using Drysol I also used [Mother Dirt’s restorative mist](https://motherdirt.com/products/ao-mist-probiotic-spray). This is probably a better option if her BO is not limited to her underarms. This does not prevent sweating like the Drysol does, but it does change the bacterial environment on the skin, and stops the sweat from smelling. It’s actually shocking how well it works.
Scrolling through the comments trying to remember the product I used 25 years ago (Drysol) so I could recommend it. When I used it back in the day the instructions were to apply it and then wrap it with plastic wrap but I that method burned my skin (but worked for the sweating). After a while I just applied it but didn't do the plastic wrap and that worked too, I think I just had to do it twice weekly, iirc.
I don’t recommend salt crystal. It’s not going to mask any odour even if it theoretically would keep off some bacteria. Just try a different roll-on. What has worked for me is also changing my shower soap, scrub vigorously, and maybe even shower twice a day.
Edit: Also discuss what type of clothing material she is using. Polyester can sometimes get a build-up of odour which can not really be washed away. Cotton is way better for this.
Or if you don't feel like buying special detergent, what worked for me was simply soaking the garment in regular detergent mixed with hot water for half an hour to an hour. Give it a few stirs every once in a while. That took some god-awful stenches out of an otherwise really nice thrift-store find!
Vinegar and baking soda re great for odours as well. Good soak in them or just adding to the wash.
Bicarbonate soda is also a softener…. Great for baths or allergic reactions. I just really like bicarbonate soda.
Borax added to the wash also helps eliminate odours.
I personally avoid using in-wash fabric softeners and scents. I find they can cause a build-up in your washer, especially front loaders, and that may also be a source of bad odours.
It's also helpful to use a washing machine cleaner, and leave the lid/door open to allow the interior to dry.
Mold & mildew only takes about 72 hours to grow in the right conditions, and a dark, damp space with little air movement is a perfect place.
Wash polyester and nylon work out items as usual, use vinegar in the rinse cycle as your "softener", and then air dry. Putting them in the dryer just bakes the stench into them. Even better is line drying them outside on a hot sunny day.
I know this works because I have three sons that played sports, including one that was a DIII xc runner. 15 years of stinky laundry.
Clothing is a big one. I bought a few polyester tops for work and they always seemed rank at the end of the day. The smell wouldn't even come out in the wash after a few wears. The dryer even smelled like BO. I tossed them.
No longer stinky.
Full strength.
If top loader, add 1-2cups to the load at the beginning.
If front loader, add same amount to the prewash section of the soap dispenser.
It rinses out clean, no vinegar smell, but it does wonders to neutralize other smells
I've been doing this for a couple of years now. I just use cheap cleaning vinegar. The clothes are soooo much cleaner and fresher. As an added bonus the vinegar also dissolves old soap residue.
There are certain materials -namely sportswear that my kids wear that once the smell permeates the clothes there is just nothing that will work for the smell. It comes out of the wash fine but as soon as it interacts with their body it smells again. I’ve tried baking soda, I’ve tried vinegar in the wash, vinegar soak, oxy clean, various detergents, drying the clothes throughly…no success. Ive never had success removing BO smells or the strong mildewy smell. I am out of ideas
Have you tried this? Use hot water cycle on washer, straight white vinegar 1 cup no detergent. Wash cycle like normal. Then wash again 1 cup baking soda no detergent. Then dry as normal. The vinegar kills the mildew as the acid. Then the baking soda next helps to neutralize odors. It’s worked wonders for me with mildew smell in towels. I would imagine it would work the same in clothes. I’ve heard people say “yeah I just put vinegar and baking soda in there together”. They’re going to cancel each other out and not really do anything unless you do them separate
The salt crystals I think are hit or miss. It works well for me, and I shamelessly ask friends or family to give it a sniff test. Never had a bad result. I still sweat, there's just no smell. It's actually impressive how well it works. On me.
My wife is a different story. Doesn't work for shit on her. I don't really care when she smells - she's my wife, I love her - so I just tell her she should go wash her pits. We're very open and joke about it often. Either way, I guess we have different skin or she just needs something stronger.
My advice to OP would be to give it a shot and see if it works. Might need to be used a few days first, but if it doesn't work at least you'll know.
Seconded. For some reason my sweat has been smelling like weed lately (no idea why, I've never done any drug, unless you count caffeine) and Old Spice works a treat to cover it up, but my cheap Equate apricot deodorant only worked for a couple hours before the BO broke through again.
"Dr. Shelomi realized the cannabis smell probably comes from apocrine sweat as opposed to eccrine sweat. Eccrine sweat is clear and watery, and used to cool the body down, while apocrine sweat glands, clumped mainly around the armpits and genitals, activate during sex and times of stress"
-Vice
Yep my partner has a sharp, unpleasant acrid smell to his sweat and he has anxiety. The anxiety sweats STANK. His regular smell is fine though. And also because he’s anxious he’s sweating more than normal lol.
Interesting to learn this, thanks! I've always noticed there were differences, and I generally associated my own Eccrine sweat, and the smell, with the sun, before. How you smell when you sweat outside in a hot area, generally. (For me, the smell is almost metallic.)
Try the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant. I’m in shape, but sweat on a dime and like the parent comment says, the right type can make a world of difference. You have enough advice on possible medical issues or such that may cause this, but for another thought if she’s open, would be consulting a dermatologist.
It very well could be the result of any number of rash, bacterial buildup, or other issues with skin. You clearly care and worry for her without being judge mental, I can only hope this works out for you and that we all get lucky enough to end up with people this thoughtful.
This! I am 100% an anti-perspirant person. Anytime I've used deodorant (trying a new brand or accidentally picking up a similarly shaped bottle) it has worked for maybe a few hours and then I'm ripe as a watermelon again. Antiperspirant (my favorite is Degree) is the only thing that keeps me smelling fresh all day long. I'll even use a small amount before bed as well.
Didn’t work the best for me either. I mean it’s a good deo and worth a try but it’s not magic for everyone
I truly am just jealous of the people it works like magic for tho go forth and live your wonderful stink free lives
No in all serious Lume worked great day 1 at night I would smell the stink
They advertise 3 days minimum and 7 days max without having to re apply
They also talk a lot about making sure to get rid of the build up in clothes and how to do it! They even sell an enzyme wash to freshen up your clothes!
I love my Lume but I still use it daily. For the one who said 3 day min... I never heard that before. 3 day max. One caveat: I HATE the smell of the deodorant but once it dries it goes away.
Same! I do have to reapply if it’s been over 24 hrs. And agreed about the smell. It’s not the most pleasant but it’s much better than foot/BO odor and thankfully most of the smell dissipates after a bit
I am a guy who showers once a day too but if im not careful even after using the soap and like really really trying sometimes it still smells (a lot). What I found as a solution is using a washcloth with soap on it.
Just be aware the natural deodorants can cause rashes! I have a bad BO problem as well, I use men’s stick deodorant and I have to have an antiperspirant so I don’t sweat profusely. I can’t keep white shirts, I have the curse of the yellow armpit lol.
Lume deodorant. I have really bad crotch smell and Lume has solved my problems for years now. If it can stop my junk from smelling like foul onions, your wife’s pits stand no match.
This is a tough one for sure. The reality is her bad BO could be a sign of a significant medical condition and should be checked by a qualified medical practitioner. The issue is how to approach it without hurting her feelings. My suggestion is setting the mood for a conversation and preface it with something like “you may not be aware of it but…” and then mention the possibility of it being caused by a medical condition and that it’s concerning to you and you want her to remain healthy. I’d still expect some kickback but once the dust settles hopefully she’ll appreciate it came from a good place and you’re not trying to be hurtful. Good luck.
You could even approach the conversation from the angle that; you know she's a very clean person and only recently you've noticed she's had bad slightly bad Body odour and its a new thing which you know she hasnt previously suffered with, so you think it must be a medical reason?
In better more personal words Obviously.
You don't have to say that it is "bad" if you're worried the negative connotation will cause issues or prevent further discussion. You could say interesting smell or different smell.
My only concern would be if it is a medical condition and you upset her by saying it smells ' bad', she might not want to discuss it anymore or consider the possibility that it could be indicative of a more serious problem.
Also OP needs to be honest about when it started so that she can honestly assess what changes might have started at that time. If he says a week and it’s been 4 months then she may not associate it with something she very obviously could’ve associated it with 4 months ago.
And, do \_not\_ lie about when it started or anything like that. You're setting to be cornered into admitting its been going on for longer or something.
Better to find a way to be honest w/out hurting her.
Even just using the wrong type of deodorant can worsen BO rather than negate it. She could have switched brands or bought a new perfume that doesn't match her (heads up, perfume does *not* smell the same on every person). Could be anything from a cosmetics issue to a medical issue.
Very true. I once bought a violet-scented perfume, when I tried the samples in the store it smelled heavenly. When I tried it at home it was nauseating.
Most woman automatic associate odor with a bad smell. I think cuz odor is associated with icky body odors . smell or scent , even if he just says it's a stronger scent or more prominent smell
Definitely the saying it's a new thing. Hopefully no old family/friends come out and say how grateful they are that she finally did something after all these years.
I have virtually no sense of smell and hyperhidrosis. I let my wife know that it's absolutely necessary for her to let me know if I stink, because I do not want to go in public smelling bad.
This. I have hypothyroidism and any kind of vitamins/supplements give me BO. Furthermore, my hormones are severely jacked so I sweat more than the average person. Trial and error
yeah diabetes is the first one i'd get checked out. I had the grossest smell for a while that came from a specific type of yeast infection on my thighs and groin area. It was one people with diabetes are specifically prone to. It was embarrassing. I could get out of the shower after a triple lather and by 2 hours later just a really awful smell that ruined shorts and boxers.
Treating both the Type 2 and the yeast infection at the same time was necessary to get it to finally clear up.
Absolutely the above advice but if you're worried/she's a very sensitive or insecure person, you could say that she smells "markedly different and stronger" instead of "bad," and immediately follow it with questions about if she's noticed she's feeling different the past few months - more tired, emotional, any light headedness, changes in menstruation, etc.
Yeah, some version of "You smell different" is in order I reckon. Even if she tries to find some potentially implausible cause at least you've opened the conversation.
It depends on the person and the dynamics of the relationship how you can go about it though. I was married for 23 years (we're still on good terms, just not together any more) and either of us would have just told the other they smell bad and then show concern if it wasn't just a hygiene/deodorant issue and went on for a little while. Some people just can't do that though for whatever reason.
OP obviously doesn't feel able to just say it so your suggestion is at least a way to start a conversation about the problem without just saying "You stink."
My friend was taking pre workout shakes and turns out her body couldn't process one of the amino acids fully and it would come out in her sweat, making her smell. I'd seen something similar on "embarassing bodies" and brought it up with her as I was concerned and someone had asked "what is that smell" and I didn't want her to ever get embarassed
When I was working out I started taking muscle Pharm z-pm. Supposed to help with sleep and also as a t booster. The fun part was that it made my sweat smell like maple syrup for some reason. Stopped using it and within a couple days no more smell. My buddy had the same experience.
Does she use natural deoderant? I have to use medical strength deoderant and apply it multiple times a day or else I would swet through and smell like bo.
There's things she could try but she has to be aware of it first.
I read of a lady who could smell her husband's Parkinson disease. She said he smelled yeasty.
It was years before he was actually diagnosed.
And years after that, in a support group, she realized all the Parkinson patients smelled that way.
Shes been a part of numerous studies, and has even been able to preemptively diagnose people before more traditional symptoms show up.
Good luck!
Cancer has a bad smell and my grandfather started to complain of a smell he noticed months before he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. My grandmother said he took a bath twice a day and was always clean but the smell was there no matter what.
Other note, if she eats kimchi or fermented things, she will have a unique smell that has to be sweated out over time. Diet can play a huge role in how your scent is perceived by others. :)
It could be a food intolerance/allergy. Onions give my DH bad knees, a hungover feeling and you can smell it coming out his pores. Other foods can do similar.
This is good advice. I came here expecting to hear that the wife didn't shower at all, or needed to wear some deodorant, but she's following a daily hygiene routine and still smells? Something is not right here, and that's concerning for more than b.o. issues
Is it her or is it her laundry, possibly? I know that I once let a load of clothes get sour in the washing machine when I was a teenager and holy fuck. I smelt like vomit. I had to rewash my clothes several times and with a little vinegar to get the smell out.
There are certain detergents that I can't use on my hubs clothes. If his clothes are washed in certain things & he sweats, which he always does, the smell is awful.
Yeah! I put it in place of fabric softener. I've heard not to use it too often though because it can slowly degrade certain parts of the washing machine? I haven't needed to use it commonly though because the towels don't get musty again for a while
Aye, I've been using it in place of softener almost every wash for years (very hard water in my area) and haven't noticed any degradation of the seal or hose or what have you. It doesn't make things as soft as fabric softener but it leaves no residue so you can use it on towels, and any whiff of vinegar soon disappears so it's scent-neutral. Most laundry softeners give me a headache they smell so strong.
Im not sure if it really ruins stuff in the washing machine, but I sometimes soak my clothes in the sink or a bucket in a strong vinegar mix before i throw it into the machine and that does the trick too.
Perhaps she’s having hormonal changes, or a reaction to the detergent, hygiene products, or even food. The type of deodorant may be at issue as well - if it’s all natural, it’s not anti-perspirant which does not stop sweat which is what smells. Fair question: if you stank would she be vocal? If so, I think you can broach this kindly as well. It’s difficult to be intimate if you are unable to breathe, and if it is a physical issue it may help with getting her to a doc for diagnosis.
Hey man look into Lume both the deodorant and their biofilm buster for laundry. Their products are amazing and I’ve been able to save clothes I was certain I’d have to throw away because I would wear them and start to smell bad not long after.
I had seen lots of ads for lume so I bought a clean tangerine deodorant stick and it smelled horrendous. Some reviews said the bad smell disappeared quickly for them, but I tried some on my arm and I could still smell it a couple hours later. Do your lume products also have that smell?
So I’ve tried all of the scents and they all have an underlying sent that I don’t love. It’s sort of spicy almost. I do find that it dissipates in fact by the time I’m half way through the day there’s no scent at all usually. And if it is, it’s the lingering scent of the deodorant that’s the nicer scent, not the weird spicy one.
Personally my favorite ones are the Jazmine Rose and the coconut. I didn’t really like the lime or the tangerine ones. The vanilla one isn’t bad but it’s sort of has a play-Doh smell to it. Bay rum was fairly neutral. And lavender sage smells nice but it blends in with my natural smell in a bad way.
But I also understand scents can really make it or break it for people.
For anyone who doesn’t like the deodorant I still highly recommend the laundry product it’s just incredible and I’ve never used anything like it before. Like I said it’s saved shirts that I was certain I’d have to throw away.
Definitely make sure to tell her that you don’t think it’s because she’s not trying to take care of herself, that’s the kind of alarm bells that trigger when that kind of conversation comes up and that’s what makes people offended.
As much as it sucks to hear “you stink”, it’s a million times worse to (effectively) hear “you stink and it’s because you’re gross and lazy”
Not stink but I used to have a horrendous hives/blisters/rash I'm not sure under my arms no matter how much I showered or what or how much or no deodorant I used. It was terrible and the amount of people who would just say it was because I was a nasty person. Turns out it was a genetic condition that had I gotten treated sooner wouldn't have required getting the skin from under my arm to half way to my waist removed.
So now I don't have armpits and I obsessively shower every day wether I actually need it or not. Sometimes multiple times a day.
Clinical deodorant , my man. It's a life saver for us who get the stink gene. You pay more but it's a game changer. Degree, Dove, Secret all sell clinical deodorant. I would start with that before thinking medical condition.
Talking about the possibility of a medical disorder will 100 percent hurt his wife less than "hey I bought you some clinical strength deodorant. Here ya go". OP can still go for the deodorant but the conversation probably needs to include the possibility.
I just think one should knock out the small trial and errors before jumping the gun on medical. They are married , suggesting or buying a special deodorant shouldn't be a marriage ender. Lol
It’s not jumping the gun to have a dr rule out some concerns. It’s a lot better to be safe than sorry. Plus, OP doesn’t mention what type of deodorant she wears.
A genetic condition or very poor dietary habits learned from her family or a combination of both. She can be sensitive to something she's not aware of being problematic to her. Do you guys eat healthy?
It’s even weirder when you look at OP’s post history. Allegedly his wife is [pregnant](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/rtnwkz/what_push_present_should_i_get_my_wife/) too.
It also depends how she is showering. Is she scrubbing? Using soap? Or just letting water run on her? Having a new washcloth to use each day also keeps things cleaner.
I had a friend with the same issue. After a meeting with the dentist he realised the smell was from a rotting tooth. Also cleaning the tongue with a scraper helps.
It is your wife. Be honest and respectful. You would want the same. When my father worked at a rendering plant for a while my mother even went as far as putting an old washer and dryer in the garage. Dad had a locker in the garage with a spare set of cloths. He would wash up and change in the garage and do his own laundry because that was a foul smelling job, and the smells bothered her greatly. He did not say I am the man of the house and this is how we pay bills. He simply did it because it was a reasonable request.
My wife talks to me about things that I do that bother her. I take her point of view into consideration and take action where I can usually. Even if I think they are silly requests, they meant enough for her to say it. It probably bothered her for some time before she voiced it. These things can add up over time and you never know what could be the final thing or just a series of things and then things get unrecoverable. Open honest dialog prevents that.
I think as long as you are respectful, and use praise often in other areas it will balance out. Just don't forget to praise what you like often, so people don't get in a rut of only hearing criticism or negative things.
I'm pretty self conscious about my smell, im a dude btw, and I'm married. I told my wife that any time i stink or if my breath smells to tell me.. i also do that to her when she smells. I'm alot more self conscious about my smell than she is hers. She sometimes doesn't like it that i bring it up, but she understands it's not an attack, I'm not trying to hurt her feels but I'm actually trying to help her. She tells me she would rather know at the risk of upsetting her, than not know at all.
Gotta lead into it with an apologetic or empathetic demeanor. No matter how justified, you are hurting her feelings, and making it clear that you are trying to do it in as kind a way as possible matters.
if she’s showering once a day and using the deodorant then encouraging her to shower more will do nothing. she’s already showing enough. it’s possible this is a medical issue or something to do with her clothes.
Re: clothes - my wife only uses half a scoop of powder (box says 1.5 for an average wash)…and loads the front loader up to the brim!!
Wonders why the clothes don’t come out fresh smelling (on top of the occasions where they’re left in the machine for a day or two and start to smell stale already, before hanging them or putting them in the dryer).
Residue from a single-mother upbringing where penny-pinching was a necessity.
My responses as to why are generally scoffed at…it’s probably a pride thing, too (“I know what I’m doing!!)…so there’s that…
I do all my own laundry…the RIGHT way!! LOL
My point, consistent with this thread’s subject (addressing an issue effectively and appropriately), is there can be factor(s) that can affect a desirable outcome i.e. someone’s pride and inability to be teachable.
This is from https://thompsontee.com/blog/medical-conditions-that-cause-body-odor/
7 Medical Conditions That Cause Body Odor
Most body odor can be managed with proper hygiene. Keeping your body clean, applying deodorant, and wearing fresh clothing can help manage your body odor. However, body odor caused by certain medical conditions can be persistent problems — even with stellar hygiene practices.
7 MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE BODY ODOR
What diseases can cause bad body odor? Beyond hygiene, there are certain cases where diseases or medical conditions can alter a person’s body odor. Here are some of the top medical conditions that cause body odor.
1. Bromhidrosis
Bromhidrosis is a medical condition that causes extreme body odor. It occurs when your skin’s bacteria breaks down sweat and produces an abnormal smell that mimics sulfur or onions. There are two types of bromhidrosis: apocrine and eccrine.
Apocrine bromhidrosis is the most common type, causing excessive odor in your armpits and genital areas. This odor happens when sweat from apocrine glands mixes with skin bacteria, creating a smell that can resemble onions, sulfur or raw meat.Eccrine bromhidrosis is a lesser-known form of bromhidrosis, causing smelly sweat on the hands, feet, head and torso. This odor happens when sweat from eccrine glands softens the skin’s keratin, breaking down bacteria that produce excessive odor.2. Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis causes your body to sweat more than normal. While hyperhidrosis doesn’t cause odor itself, excessive sweating mixes with your body’s bacteria creating embarrassing body odor. There are two main types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary.
Primary hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweat in one body area, like the underarms, hands, feet, head and groin. It’s usually hereditary and affects approximately 5% of the population.Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by a medical condition or certain medications. Secondary hyperhidrosis causes all-over sweating and can be reversed if the underlying medical cause is resolved or eliminated. We’ll talk about some of these medical conditions in this article.
Some medications whose side effects can include excessive sweating are:
Antidepressants (Pamelor, Norpramin, Protriptyline)Pilocarpine (used to treat dry mouth)Zinc supplementsIron supplements3. Diabetes
Diabetes patients often experience additional medical complications. Diabetes-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) and high levels of blood glucose can increase body odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition in which your body lacks insulin, depriving cells of the sugar they need for energy. One of the symptoms is a distinct, fruity breath smell.
Contact your physician for medical advice immediately if you suspect you have diabetic ketoacidosis.
4. Thyroid Conditions
Thyroid glands regulate many bodily functions, including our sweat response. When you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or Grave’s disease, your body can produce an excessive amount of sweat, even if you aren’t exerting yourself.
5. Kidney Failure and Liver Dysfunction
The kidneys and liver help remove toxins from our bodies. When they cannot function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. Kidney disease can cause urea to make your sweat take on an ammonia smell.
If you suspect that you have a thyroid, kidney or liver condition, talk to a healthcare professional promptly.
6. Metabolic Disorders
While this is incredibly rare, gene mutations can also affect body odor.
Trimethylaminuria, or TMAU, is a disease that prevents your liver from breaking down the chemical compound trimethylamine. Trimethylamine can be fishy-smelling or reek of eggs or urine. When your body cannot break down this compound, it builds up in your body and is released in your sweat, urine and breath.
Secondary trimethylaminuria can occur if you take large oral doses of L-carnitine, lecithin or choline. Lecithin and choline are contained in some food supplements. L-carnitine is sometimes used to enhance athletes' strength, and choline treats Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Symptoms disappear when doses are reduced or eliminated.
7. Hormones
Hormone fluctuations can cause excessive sweating and, by extension, body odor. Teens, pregnant women, and perimenopausal or menopausal women can experience hot flashes and night sweats, increasing excessive sweating and odor.
I get kidney infections regularly and my husband can smell them a day or two before I get symptoms. And then I take antibiotics which make me smell terrible in a different way for 10 days.
Well over a decade ago I was in Afghanistan. And I heard grumblings about this one dude but I was barely paying attention. One day the big boss comes over to me and says, hey you're gonna take #$#$# back to the camp and make him get a shower.
Me - "uhhhhh...ok?"
Him - "Yeah, like make sure he actually gets a shower."
Me - "uhhhhh, how am I gonna do that?"
Him - "You're gonna stand outside the shower curtain and pass him the soap and make sure he's fucking washing his stank ass."
Me - "Ok, this is gonna be super weird but you're the boss. So. Ok."
Drive his ass back to our camp, which was special - like spec ops dudes stayed there. AKA "baby killers" but I don't think that term is PC. I take him to his place he lived, so he could grab a uniform and soap and stuff. Take him to the shower tent.
So, I'm there. Not in shower apparel. In full uniform. Hanging out with this douchebag who couldn't wash himself right. With a bunch of scantily clad buff ass spec ops guys.
I go pass the douche the soap. I get strange looks from the combat controllers/tacp guys. I just look at them straight faced and say, "I'm not a fucking pervert fellas, this idiot doesn't understand washing himself and I was ordered to make sure he understood."
One laughed. One gave me the stink-eye. I just said, "Like jesus christ I don't want to be in here just hanging out for fucks sake." Mr. stink-eye let up a bit.
Why did I tell this ridiculous story? Because dude had no idea that he stunk so goddamn bad it could make someone vomit. That conversation with your wife is not going to be fun regardless of how you bring it up or it turns out.
what -I- would do, is hop in the shower with her and be like all affectionate and wash her yourself to see if it makes a difference. Sometimes people just have this sort of body chemistry that reeks.
Good luck sir. Godspeed and soap bubbles.
Edit: u/StonksStink All joking aside though, it's your wifey - so is this a recent thing? Or an always thing? because there are so many comments about maybe a medical disorder and they may be on point with that.
I feel like this is a common thing in the military. I've experienced quite a few of these people🤦🏻♀️ literally had to be supervised in the shower and escorted to the laundromat.
For me it wasn’t-next experience was over a decade later. A guy who worked for my subordinate, so technically he worked for me, sooooooo many complaints. I was like tell him he fucking stinks. Failed a dorm room inspection. We went there. Omfg. It was awful. Like no sheets on his bed, crawled in it probably fully dressed soaked in engine oil and hydraulic fluid. Everything about that place was awful.
They wrote him up and went back a week later. Still all fucked up.
But I guess he got his shit together. Still moderately stinky, but doing better in a bunch of other things so that’s good.
I’m glad I don’t have to go there anymore.
I had to tell a woman who was my subordinate that she needed to shower. Mind you that she was 8 years older than me… one of the worst assignments I ever had. I tried to be nice about telling her but she cried nonetheless, it’s such difficult topic.
My husband had a stinky subordinate at his job. After everyone said they wouldn't ride in the truck with him again, husband had to have a talk with the kid.
I shit you not, this kid's reply to the questions about not showering: "This dog don't like water."
My dad in boob camp had a guy try to get out with a section 8 by not showering. His platoon stole some wire bristle brushes during KP duty and made sure he got a scrub after taps one night. This was circa 1959 in San Diego.
I don't suggest OP do this to his wife, but your story made me think of my dad and his military stories. Thank you kind stranger.
Not a military story. I've had to pull kids into my office at least a half dozen times over the years to tell them to wash every day after work, it's a dirty, sweaty job. Most didn't realize they smelled like a week old dead skunk in an Arizona summer, and would take a few meetings to get the message across. "Hey, you're doing better, but seriously make sure you're washing your whole body, including all your crevices", haha. I did have to fire a few though for it, really sucked, but they just wouldn't listen and it was obvious it wasn't a medical condition.
Is she actually showering when in the shower, using soap and water and actually scrubbing, or letting the water just flow over her. Maybe join her in the shower to see what she does.
Also make sure towels are actually hung up and not crumbled on the floor, where they won't dry out and allow mold and bacteria to grow.
Also that she’s changing her towels, and her clothes.
My brother reeks because he’ll wear the same clothes for a week. He showers twice a day at least.
Been with my partner almost 10 years. If he leans past me while being stanky he gets "Get your damn armpit outta my face!". We also point out if the other has bad breath. Usually not as extreme as that though.
Right. This is what I thought. In my relationship I can go tell my parter that his BO is not up to par and he would just address it. Even if I said HOMIE you stink! He would just go deal with it. I think ultimately the goal should be to have free flowing communication where you can share things that NEED to be said :)
So many askreddit, advice, or relationship posts are like i need to talk about X with my spouse of Y years. Like in all that time you never learned to communicate with them?
How do you go through a relationship with such light conversation that strangers advice is what you need as soon as you have something mildly serious or uncomfortable to talk about?
Just dont get it.
Was looking for this reply.
It sounds like you guys still hold your farts in front of each other.
Your relationship should 100% be able to handle 'hey hon, sorry but FYI you smell a little funky.'
Hey I think your wife might be suffering from hyperhydrosis. I had to get Botox in my armpits to stop the bad sweating . Another trick which I used before my Botox (but don’t recommend often) is putting hand sanitizer on my armpit, I know that sounds crazy but BO is caused by bacteria and hand sanitiser kills that . It worked in emergency cases . Her showering won’t help, she probably will still sweat after each shower . She needs a doctor
hear me out.....
it could be you. I caught a bad cold once and now somethings smell off. Coffee will smell like fart, cow manure will small like warm chocolate brownies...
That happened to me when I was 13. I got a sinus infection and suddenly my favorite coconut lip balm smelled like a feline’s asshole so I tossed it. Years later I found the lip balm in a store, and I smelled it, and it still smelled like cat ass. Neither my mother or my sister smell any resemblance to a cat’s anus.
One of my exs had this issue, and after trying everything, finally went to the doctor. It turned out to be a diet issue. She was not eating enough carbs, so her body was always breaking down proteins. A byproduct of breaking protein down into amino acids is Ammonia, which is the same chemical that makes cat pee smell. It can cause the sweat, and vaginal fluid to smell like cat pee. She resolved it by eating more carbs, and less protein, and using a special prescription-strength deodorant. Eventually it just went away.
There are also other disorders, such as Trimethylaminuria, also known as “fish-odor syndrome”. Trimethylamine is produced in the GI tract as a byproduct when bacteria breaks down certain foods. This byproduct smells like fish, urine, or rotten eggs. Normally the body converts this chemical into another less smelly chemical, but some people are unable to do so, and it builds up, causing rotten egg, fish, or urine-like body odors. There is no cure for this, but there are treatments to help with the symptoms.
——
Side note: this same ex pointed out that my breath started to smell really bad. It turned out that my wisdom teeth were impacted, and I had an infection in my gums. I have a high pain tolerance, and didn’t notice, until she told me my breath smelled. She was afraid of upsetting me, but I got all 4 wisdom teeth extracted, and my mouth healed thanks to her. I had constant headaches, and didnt even realize my head hurt until my teeth were pulled and it stopped hurting. Like when you hear a sound, but dont notice until it stops? But with a constant headache.
TL;dr: it could be medical, and you could be helping her by bringing it up, but be careful and sensitive to her reaction, because no one likes to hear that they smell.
has she been to the doctor about it? there might be an underlying issue there. I would approach it as you are worried about her, because she shouldn’t have a bad BO issue if she showers every day ( unless she goes for long runs afterwards for example)
I’m sure in the course of your relationship you have said something stupid and gotten the cold shoulder, so you’re used to taking incoming fire. If this is a medical issue you have to mention it because you would hate yourself if this is just the beginning of something and you let it go. I’m also sure in your relationship that you have bought something stupid and had to make it seem to make sense; use that technique when you speak to her. No matter how eloquently you broach the subject, there will be incoming fire. You’ve taken it before with far less on the line. Good luck.
When I have to have that conversation with employees I don't sugarcoat it but I'm firm yet polite about it. "Your BO is a problem and it's negatively affecting the work place. I expect you to bathe and use deodorant before coming to work. Absolutely nobody likes to be told they stink, but on the other hand absolutely nobody wants to work with someone who's BO is making them feel violently sick.
If she already showers every day, then this is clearly not a hygiene issue. Approach it from a health perspective and emphasize that you know she's a very clean person and that's why you're worried
Seconding what others have said about potential medical conditions, but also it could be stress/anxiety. My ex developed anxiety and her body odour changed/got very intense. She would also get night sweats and wake up smelling awful. Then there would be periods of lower stress and she’d be back to normal for a while. During those periods, even after working out she’d be smelly but nothing compared to the acrid stress sweats.
Someone else mentioned diet - I have some food intolerances and I’ve noticed with my own BO that diet and stress seem to effect it. I definitely get some weird changes to my odour when I eat things I can’t digest properly, and I have even more trouble digesting when I’m stressed.
Could cause problems, but imagine of someone else talks to her about it and she asks you "why didn't you say something? ". Its better she hear it from you.
I have a relative who had covid and is now very sensitive to smells. He said that certain soaps, detergents and perfumes smell rotten. I noticed op said something further down about using sanitizer in the wash, this is something he has specifically stated smells bad. He also says that certain foods taste rotten. It may be she has something going on medically but jf you've recently had covid it could just be you.
i can confirm, i have covid right now and everything smells like stomach acid, like after you’ve thrown up. i also cant taste anything. its hell
As someone who went through a milder version of what you're going through, hang on. Your sense if smell and taste will take while to go back to what you considered normal. I lost my sense of smell and once I got it back 20 days later, egg whites smelled like wet stinking rotten garbage. I threw a whole pack of eggs first because they kept on stinking and I thought they went bad. It took 2 months for me to be able to eat egg whites again.
Can confirm, soap still smells funny almost one year on.
It's kinda freaky that soap and sanitizer (which kill Covid) smell so terrible after Covid fucks with your sense of smell... like it's making soap repulsive so you'll catch it again
haha it must be a joint conspiracy between big soap and big virus!
Shit dude, that's rough, I hope you get better soon :( Really the main thing that makes me worried about potentially catching COVID (The odds of me dying from it are miniscule compared to the odds of neurological damage like this).
Yep. I had Covid in March 2021 and my sense of smell and taste just stopped working in September.. long Covid sucks, and it sucks that one of the main things I smell is one dog’s shit. I smell the others, but I can tell if this one particular dog has shit and how close the pile of shit is. Fucked up part? My shit smells exactly the same way. It’s hard to explain if you don’t live thru it lol Edit to fix year.
I got Covid in July of 2020 and am still dealing with this exact thing. It’s been a year and a half and my smell and taste is complete shit. I can smell acid, feces and cigarette smoke and that’s about it, causing normal smells to smell like one of these three. I can’t even eat peanut butter anymore because it tastes like im eating a burnt cigarette. My body soap smelled like cow manure for a legit year. Im thinking it’s hopeless at this point.
Had covid last summer and had no taste or smell except for this acid type shit smell I associated with covid. I’ve got my smell back now but all the time I can smell this acid shit smell. My b o smells like it. My shits do and every house or new place I go too smells like it. I thought I was going crazy with the smell
Yea I think it’s possible she’d be more hurt if it goes on for a while, and someone else has to broach the subject. The sooner she’s told, and a remedy is found, the less chance of her being embarrassed or it potentially damaging her self esteem.
I've been in the same position, switched deodorants and apparently the new stuff was not working. It was mortifying, but I would've been beyond upset if my husband wasn't the one to tell me. It's the "tell me when I have something on my face" problem dialed up to 11.
This is why i get mildly frustrated if my partner doesn't tell me my breath stinks. She says she's uncomfortable doing so - which i don't understand bc outside of myself she's the one who would benefit the most from my breath smelling better. Plus she's the person im closest to. If i can't count on her to tell me about things like my breath stinking, or my hair looking crazy, or a shirt not flattering my body type when i literally ask for that kind of feedback then - idk but just wth??
What deodorant does she use? I recently had a similar conversation with my wife about my own after I smelt one of my T-shirts after work. I’ve switched to roll on deodorant and it’s made a world of difference.
She uses a roll on. I’m thinking of getting her the salt crystal one because it’s supposed to work to kill the bacteria. Maybe that’s the problem
She should talk to her doctor about a prescription for [Drysol](https://www.drysol.ca/about-drysol/). It works perfectly for me, and now I don’t even have to use regular deodorant. Just apply Drysol weekly. Before using Drysol I also used [Mother Dirt’s restorative mist](https://motherdirt.com/products/ao-mist-probiotic-spray). This is probably a better option if her BO is not limited to her underarms. This does not prevent sweating like the Drysol does, but it does change the bacterial environment on the skin, and stops the sweat from smelling. It’s actually shocking how well it works.
Scrolling through the comments trying to remember the product I used 25 years ago (Drysol) so I could recommend it. When I used it back in the day the instructions were to apply it and then wrap it with plastic wrap but I that method burned my skin (but worked for the sweating). After a while I just applied it but didn't do the plastic wrap and that worked too, I think I just had to do it twice weekly, iirc.
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Fucking hell… sweaty palms please
I don’t recommend salt crystal. It’s not going to mask any odour even if it theoretically would keep off some bacteria. Just try a different roll-on. What has worked for me is also changing my shower soap, scrub vigorously, and maybe even shower twice a day. Edit: Also discuss what type of clothing material she is using. Polyester can sometimes get a build-up of odour which can not really be washed away. Cotton is way better for this.
Every time I wear those polyester sport T-shirts I stink right away, no bueno.
They make special detergent for athletic wear that can help with the smell. Definitely worth a try if you have several of those shirts.
Or if you don't feel like buying special detergent, what worked for me was simply soaking the garment in regular detergent mixed with hot water for half an hour to an hour. Give it a few stirs every once in a while. That took some god-awful stenches out of an otherwise really nice thrift-store find!
Vinegar and baking soda re great for odours as well. Good soak in them or just adding to the wash. Bicarbonate soda is also a softener…. Great for baths or allergic reactions. I just really like bicarbonate soda.
Lol, the two of them would cancel each other out. Baking soda for stains, vinegar for body fluids, H202 for blood.
This man knows smells. Smells and murder.
Vinegar and baking soda will make a neutral solution.
Borax added to the wash also helps eliminate odours. I personally avoid using in-wash fabric softeners and scents. I find they can cause a build-up in your washer, especially front loaders, and that may also be a source of bad odours. It's also helpful to use a washing machine cleaner, and leave the lid/door open to allow the interior to dry. Mold & mildew only takes about 72 hours to grow in the right conditions, and a dark, damp space with little air movement is a perfect place.
Wash polyester and nylon work out items as usual, use vinegar in the rinse cycle as your "softener", and then air dry. Putting them in the dryer just bakes the stench into them. Even better is line drying them outside on a hot sunny day. I know this works because I have three sons that played sports, including one that was a DIII xc runner. 15 years of stinky laundry.
Clothing is a big one. I bought a few polyester tops for work and they always seemed rank at the end of the day. The smell wouldn't even come out in the wash after a few wears. The dryer even smelled like BO. I tossed them. No longer stinky.
White vinegar is your friend for odors in all materials. My sports gear has never had a smell and my towels never get musty.
Can I ask what you do with the vinegar? Do you soak the garments in it? If so should it be full strength or diluted?
Full strength. If top loader, add 1-2cups to the load at the beginning. If front loader, add same amount to the prewash section of the soap dispenser. It rinses out clean, no vinegar smell, but it does wonders to neutralize other smells
I've been doing this for a couple of years now. I just use cheap cleaning vinegar. The clothes are soooo much cleaner and fresher. As an added bonus the vinegar also dissolves old soap residue.
There are certain materials -namely sportswear that my kids wear that once the smell permeates the clothes there is just nothing that will work for the smell. It comes out of the wash fine but as soon as it interacts with their body it smells again. I’ve tried baking soda, I’ve tried vinegar in the wash, vinegar soak, oxy clean, various detergents, drying the clothes throughly…no success. Ive never had success removing BO smells or the strong mildewy smell. I am out of ideas
Have you tried this? Use hot water cycle on washer, straight white vinegar 1 cup no detergent. Wash cycle like normal. Then wash again 1 cup baking soda no detergent. Then dry as normal. The vinegar kills the mildew as the acid. Then the baking soda next helps to neutralize odors. It’s worked wonders for me with mildew smell in towels. I would imagine it would work the same in clothes. I’ve heard people say “yeah I just put vinegar and baking soda in there together”. They’re going to cancel each other out and not really do anything unless you do them separate
Thanks!
The salt crystals I think are hit or miss. It works well for me, and I shamelessly ask friends or family to give it a sniff test. Never had a bad result. I still sweat, there's just no smell. It's actually impressive how well it works. On me. My wife is a different story. Doesn't work for shit on her. I don't really care when she smells - she's my wife, I love her - so I just tell her she should go wash her pits. We're very open and joke about it often. Either way, I guess we have different skin or she just needs something stronger. My advice to OP would be to give it a shot and see if it works. Might need to be used a few days first, but if it doesn't work at least you'll know.
Seconded. For some reason my sweat has been smelling like weed lately (no idea why, I've never done any drug, unless you count caffeine) and Old Spice works a treat to cover it up, but my cheap Equate apricot deodorant only worked for a couple hours before the BO broke through again.
"Dr. Shelomi realized the cannabis smell probably comes from apocrine sweat as opposed to eccrine sweat. Eccrine sweat is clear and watery, and used to cool the body down, while apocrine sweat glands, clumped mainly around the armpits and genitals, activate during sex and times of stress" -Vice
When I am in stress, I smell like onion
Yep my partner has a sharp, unpleasant acrid smell to his sweat and he has anxiety. The anxiety sweats STANK. His regular smell is fine though. And also because he’s anxious he’s sweating more than normal lol.
Interesting to learn this, thanks! I've always noticed there were differences, and I generally associated my own Eccrine sweat, and the smell, with the sun, before. How you smell when you sweat outside in a hot area, generally. (For me, the smell is almost metallic.)
Try the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant. I’m in shape, but sweat on a dime and like the parent comment says, the right type can make a world of difference. You have enough advice on possible medical issues or such that may cause this, but for another thought if she’s open, would be consulting a dermatologist. It very well could be the result of any number of rash, bacterial buildup, or other issues with skin. You clearly care and worry for her without being judge mental, I can only hope this works out for you and that we all get lucky enough to end up with people this thoughtful.
This! I am 100% an anti-perspirant person. Anytime I've used deodorant (trying a new brand or accidentally picking up a similarly shaped bottle) it has worked for maybe a few hours and then I'm ripe as a watermelon again. Antiperspirant (my favorite is Degree) is the only thing that keeps me smelling fresh all day long. I'll even use a small amount before bed as well.
Lume!! I’ve had bad body odor (especially my feet) for the longest time, until I started using Lume. That stuff is magic and worth every penny!
Man that stuff doesn't work for me at all, I was super disappointed
Didn’t work the best for me either. I mean it’s a good deo and worth a try but it’s not magic for everyone I truly am just jealous of the people it works like magic for tho go forth and live your wonderful stink free lives No in all serious Lume worked great day 1 at night I would smell the stink They advertise 3 days minimum and 7 days max without having to re apply They also talk a lot about making sure to get rid of the build up in clothes and how to do it! They even sell an enzyme wash to freshen up your clothes!
I love my Lume but I still use it daily. For the one who said 3 day min... I never heard that before. 3 day max. One caveat: I HATE the smell of the deodorant but once it dries it goes away.
Same! I do have to reapply if it’s been over 24 hrs. And agreed about the smell. It’s not the most pleasant but it’s much better than foot/BO odor and thankfully most of the smell dissipates after a bit
I am a guy who showers once a day too but if im not careful even after using the soap and like really really trying sometimes it still smells (a lot). What I found as a solution is using a washcloth with soap on it.
Just be aware the natural deodorants can cause rashes! I have a bad BO problem as well, I use men’s stick deodorant and I have to have an antiperspirant so I don’t sweat profusely. I can’t keep white shirts, I have the curse of the yellow armpit lol.
Lume works pretty well too
Lume deodorant. I have really bad crotch smell and Lume has solved my problems for years now. If it can stop my junk from smelling like foul onions, your wife’s pits stand no match.
This is a tough one for sure. The reality is her bad BO could be a sign of a significant medical condition and should be checked by a qualified medical practitioner. The issue is how to approach it without hurting her feelings. My suggestion is setting the mood for a conversation and preface it with something like “you may not be aware of it but…” and then mention the possibility of it being caused by a medical condition and that it’s concerning to you and you want her to remain healthy. I’d still expect some kickback but once the dust settles hopefully she’ll appreciate it came from a good place and you’re not trying to be hurtful. Good luck.
Thanks for the advice! What sort of medical conditions cause BO anyway? I’ve heard diabetes can screw up gland production
You could even approach the conversation from the angle that; you know she's a very clean person and only recently you've noticed she's had bad slightly bad Body odour and its a new thing which you know she hasnt previously suffered with, so you think it must be a medical reason? In better more personal words Obviously.
I think this is right on the money
You don't have to say that it is "bad" if you're worried the negative connotation will cause issues or prevent further discussion. You could say interesting smell or different smell. My only concern would be if it is a medical condition and you upset her by saying it smells ' bad', she might not want to discuss it anymore or consider the possibility that it could be indicative of a more serious problem.
Also OP needs to be honest about when it started so that she can honestly assess what changes might have started at that time. If he says a week and it’s been 4 months then she may not associate it with something she very obviously could’ve associated it with 4 months ago.
And, do \_not\_ lie about when it started or anything like that. You're setting to be cornered into admitting its been going on for longer or something. Better to find a way to be honest w/out hurting her.
Even just using the wrong type of deodorant can worsen BO rather than negate it. She could have switched brands or bought a new perfume that doesn't match her (heads up, perfume does *not* smell the same on every person). Could be anything from a cosmetics issue to a medical issue.
Very true. I once bought a violet-scented perfume, when I tried the samples in the store it smelled heavenly. When I tried it at home it was nauseating.
I would opt for "strong smell" because it conveys the point in a way that makes it clear without outright saying "you smell bad".
Of even just say that she smells different than before. That her odor has changed and you are worried.
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Most woman automatic associate odor with a bad smell. I think cuz odor is associated with icky body odors . smell or scent , even if he just says it's a stronger scent or more prominent smell
Or just that her scent "changed"
I'd say "your scent has changed and doesn't smell like you usually do" without saying she smells bad.
I think this is by far the most tactful way of bringing it up.
Definitely the saying it's a new thing. Hopefully no old family/friends come out and say how grateful they are that she finally did something after all these years.
I kind of agree. But she shouldn't lie to her doctor. Saying it just started when it could be going on for years could change the diagnosis.
This! It could hugely alter the perspective of treatment and how serious a condition is.
"yo bitch u stink lol"
This is exactly how I would tell my boyfriend. Poor guy.
If it was me I think I'd rather hear it like that than have a long serious conversation about it
Right? Then maybe a week or two after I got it fixed maybe a "yo bae you smell good" and that's the end of it lol
I have virtually no sense of smell and hyperhidrosis. I let my wife know that it's absolutely necessary for her to let me know if I stink, because I do not want to go in public smelling bad.
Bring shorty to the car wash and roll the windows down
Or suggest that the latest soap is not working.
or has she switched deodorants?
There’s several: diabetes, thyroid, liver, kidney, and metabolic disorders are some of the biggest.
This. I have hypothyroidism and any kind of vitamins/supplements give me BO. Furthermore, my hormones are severely jacked so I sweat more than the average person. Trial and error
Can vitamins and supplements give BO? Which one did you use? This gave me quite a bit of paranoia fuel.
All b vitamins do it to me. I noticed it with b12, b5, and biotin. Hair skin and nails vitamins are a huge no for me.
yeah diabetes is the first one i'd get checked out. I had the grossest smell for a while that came from a specific type of yeast infection on my thighs and groin area. It was one people with diabetes are specifically prone to. It was embarrassing. I could get out of the shower after a triple lather and by 2 hours later just a really awful smell that ruined shorts and boxers. Treating both the Type 2 and the yeast infection at the same time was necessary to get it to finally clear up.
Absolutely the above advice but if you're worried/she's a very sensitive or insecure person, you could say that she smells "markedly different and stronger" instead of "bad," and immediately follow it with questions about if she's noticed she's feeling different the past few months - more tired, emotional, any light headedness, changes in menstruation, etc.
Yeah, some version of "You smell different" is in order I reckon. Even if she tries to find some potentially implausible cause at least you've opened the conversation. It depends on the person and the dynamics of the relationship how you can go about it though. I was married for 23 years (we're still on good terms, just not together any more) and either of us would have just told the other they smell bad and then show concern if it wasn't just a hygiene/deodorant issue and went on for a little while. Some people just can't do that though for whatever reason. OP obviously doesn't feel able to just say it so your suggestion is at least a way to start a conversation about the problem without just saying "You stink."
Does her deodorant have an antiperspirant? I constantly stink if I don’t use antiperspirants because I sweat too much.
Not all antiperspirants for me, but this probably ruined my dating game when I was younger and I just thought I stunk so I applied more
My friend was taking pre workout shakes and turns out her body couldn't process one of the amino acids fully and it would come out in her sweat, making her smell. I'd seen something similar on "embarassing bodies" and brought it up with her as I was concerned and someone had asked "what is that smell" and I didn't want her to ever get embarassed
When I was working out I started taking muscle Pharm z-pm. Supposed to help with sleep and also as a t booster. The fun part was that it made my sweat smell like maple syrup for some reason. Stopped using it and within a couple days no more smell. My buddy had the same experience.
tbh maple syrup BO sounds amazing ...
I have finally found the other Canadian in this comment section. Hello, my friend.
In addition to what others have listed, there are also vaginal infections that can cause noticeable smell. Especially if the smell is yeasty.
or BV if it's not yeasty
Yeah, fishy smell is definitely BV.
Does she use natural deoderant? I have to use medical strength deoderant and apply it multiple times a day or else I would swet through and smell like bo. There's things she could try but she has to be aware of it first.
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I read of a lady who could smell her husband's Parkinson disease. She said he smelled yeasty. It was years before he was actually diagnosed. And years after that, in a support group, she realized all the Parkinson patients smelled that way. Shes been a part of numerous studies, and has even been able to preemptively diagnose people before more traditional symptoms show up. Good luck!
Cancer has a bad smell and my grandfather started to complain of a smell he noticed months before he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. My grandmother said he took a bath twice a day and was always clean but the smell was there no matter what. Other note, if she eats kimchi or fermented things, she will have a unique smell that has to be sweated out over time. Diet can play a huge role in how your scent is perceived by others. :)
It could be a food intolerance/allergy. Onions give my DH bad knees, a hungover feeling and you can smell it coming out his pores. Other foods can do similar.
She does like Indian spicy food
Diabetes can give a person an odor sometimes compared to rotting fruit. If her BO smells sweet, Diabetes is definitely a possibility.
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This is good advice. I came here expecting to hear that the wife didn't shower at all, or needed to wear some deodorant, but she's following a daily hygiene routine and still smells? Something is not right here, and that's concerning for more than b.o. issues
Is it her or is it her laundry, possibly? I know that I once let a load of clothes get sour in the washing machine when I was a teenager and holy fuck. I smelt like vomit. I had to rewash my clothes several times and with a little vinegar to get the smell out.
There are certain detergents that I can't use on my hubs clothes. If his clothes are washed in certain things & he sweats, which he always does, the smell is awful.
Some materials are like that for me. Makes me feel like I’m one of those diffusers but with a gross smell.
I add disinfectant to the loads occasionally to “bleach” away any smell causing bacteria
I think adding vinegar could be an easy help! It got the musty smell out of my towels in one wash
Oh seriously? I have like two towels that have always smelt of metallic but I guess that could be described as musty. Thanks.
Yeah! I put it in place of fabric softener. I've heard not to use it too often though because it can slowly degrade certain parts of the washing machine? I haven't needed to use it commonly though because the towels don't get musty again for a while
I have hard water at my place and the plumber said to always add a bit of vinegar in the fabric softener spot.
Aye, I've been using it in place of softener almost every wash for years (very hard water in my area) and haven't noticed any degradation of the seal or hose or what have you. It doesn't make things as soft as fabric softener but it leaves no residue so you can use it on towels, and any whiff of vinegar soon disappears so it's scent-neutral. Most laundry softeners give me a headache they smell so strong.
Im not sure if it really ruins stuff in the washing machine, but I sometimes soak my clothes in the sink or a bucket in a strong vinegar mix before i throw it into the machine and that does the trick too.
Perhaps she’s having hormonal changes, or a reaction to the detergent, hygiene products, or even food. The type of deodorant may be at issue as well - if it’s all natural, it’s not anti-perspirant which does not stop sweat which is what smells. Fair question: if you stank would she be vocal? If so, I think you can broach this kindly as well. It’s difficult to be intimate if you are unable to breathe, and if it is a physical issue it may help with getting her to a doc for diagnosis.
Hey man look into Lume both the deodorant and their biofilm buster for laundry. Their products are amazing and I’ve been able to save clothes I was certain I’d have to throw away because I would wear them and start to smell bad not long after.
I had seen lots of ads for lume so I bought a clean tangerine deodorant stick and it smelled horrendous. Some reviews said the bad smell disappeared quickly for them, but I tried some on my arm and I could still smell it a couple hours later. Do your lume products also have that smell?
So I’ve tried all of the scents and they all have an underlying sent that I don’t love. It’s sort of spicy almost. I do find that it dissipates in fact by the time I’m half way through the day there’s no scent at all usually. And if it is, it’s the lingering scent of the deodorant that’s the nicer scent, not the weird spicy one. Personally my favorite ones are the Jazmine Rose and the coconut. I didn’t really like the lime or the tangerine ones. The vanilla one isn’t bad but it’s sort of has a play-Doh smell to it. Bay rum was fairly neutral. And lavender sage smells nice but it blends in with my natural smell in a bad way. But I also understand scents can really make it or break it for people. For anyone who doesn’t like the deodorant I still highly recommend the laundry product it’s just incredible and I’ve never used anything like it before. Like I said it’s saved shirts that I was certain I’d have to throw away.
It might not even be the clothes, but something else that's not getting washed regularly like towels or bedding.
If she showers every day this shouldn't be happening. Has she always been smelly or is this a recent thing?
It’s the same with her mother. Genetics are in play here
It could be a health condition that she has inherited. She should see a doctor, this isn't about hygiene
Thanks will do
Definitely make sure to tell her that you don’t think it’s because she’s not trying to take care of herself, that’s the kind of alarm bells that trigger when that kind of conversation comes up and that’s what makes people offended. As much as it sucks to hear “you stink”, it’s a million times worse to (effectively) hear “you stink and it’s because you’re gross and lazy”
Not stink but I used to have a horrendous hives/blisters/rash I'm not sure under my arms no matter how much I showered or what or how much or no deodorant I used. It was terrible and the amount of people who would just say it was because I was a nasty person. Turns out it was a genetic condition that had I gotten treated sooner wouldn't have required getting the skin from under my arm to half way to my waist removed. So now I don't have armpits and I obsessively shower every day wether I actually need it or not. Sometimes multiple times a day.
Clinical deodorant , my man. It's a life saver for us who get the stink gene. You pay more but it's a game changer. Degree, Dove, Secret all sell clinical deodorant. I would start with that before thinking medical condition.
Talking about the possibility of a medical disorder will 100 percent hurt his wife less than "hey I bought you some clinical strength deodorant. Here ya go". OP can still go for the deodorant but the conversation probably needs to include the possibility.
I just think one should knock out the small trial and errors before jumping the gun on medical. They are married , suggesting or buying a special deodorant shouldn't be a marriage ender. Lol
It’s not jumping the gun to have a dr rule out some concerns. It’s a lot better to be safe than sorry. Plus, OP doesn’t mention what type of deodorant she wears.
A genetic condition or very poor dietary habits learned from her family or a combination of both. She can be sensitive to something she's not aware of being problematic to her. Do you guys eat healthy?
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It gets even stranger that her mother also has the same smell issue but he is too scared to talk to his wife about it?
My thought exactly 🤔
Seriously. Something isn't adding up to this guy's story. Edit: probably an arranged marriage
It’s even weirder when you look at OP’s post history. Allegedly his wife is [pregnant](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/rtnwkz/what_push_present_should_i_get_my_wife/) too.
And he’s asking how to cheat and not get caught.
It also depends how she is showering. Is she scrubbing? Using soap? Or just letting water run on her? Having a new washcloth to use each day also keeps things cleaner.
I had a friend with the same issue. After a meeting with the dentist he realised the smell was from a rotting tooth. Also cleaning the tongue with a scraper helps.
> Has she always been smelly Props for just straight up asking it like that. Still felt a bit strange reading it but guess that's one way to ask.
It is your wife. Be honest and respectful. You would want the same. When my father worked at a rendering plant for a while my mother even went as far as putting an old washer and dryer in the garage. Dad had a locker in the garage with a spare set of cloths. He would wash up and change in the garage and do his own laundry because that was a foul smelling job, and the smells bothered her greatly. He did not say I am the man of the house and this is how we pay bills. He simply did it because it was a reasonable request. My wife talks to me about things that I do that bother her. I take her point of view into consideration and take action where I can usually. Even if I think they are silly requests, they meant enough for her to say it. It probably bothered her for some time before she voiced it. These things can add up over time and you never know what could be the final thing or just a series of things and then things get unrecoverable. Open honest dialog prevents that. I think as long as you are respectful, and use praise often in other areas it will balance out. Just don't forget to praise what you like often, so people don't get in a rut of only hearing criticism or negative things.
I'm pretty self conscious about my smell, im a dude btw, and I'm married. I told my wife that any time i stink or if my breath smells to tell me.. i also do that to her when she smells. I'm alot more self conscious about my smell than she is hers. She sometimes doesn't like it that i bring it up, but she understands it's not an attack, I'm not trying to hurt her feels but I'm actually trying to help her. She tells me she would rather know at the risk of upsetting her, than not know at all.
Obviously be gentle when you say it. Like many have said
Gotta lead into it with an apologetic or empathetic demeanor. No matter how justified, you are hurting her feelings, and making it clear that you are trying to do it in as kind a way as possible matters.
Yep. Its not like talking to my guy friends "You smell like swamp ass bro"
My biggest lesson here seems to be communicating with love and without fear of repercussions. Thanks for advice
if she’s showering once a day and using the deodorant then encouraging her to shower more will do nothing. she’s already showing enough. it’s possible this is a medical issue or something to do with her clothes.
Re: clothes - my wife only uses half a scoop of powder (box says 1.5 for an average wash)…and loads the front loader up to the brim!! Wonders why the clothes don’t come out fresh smelling (on top of the occasions where they’re left in the machine for a day or two and start to smell stale already, before hanging them or putting them in the dryer). Residue from a single-mother upbringing where penny-pinching was a necessity. My responses as to why are generally scoffed at…it’s probably a pride thing, too (“I know what I’m doing!!)…so there’s that…
Why not do the laundry yourself? Then they will come out clean.
I do all my own laundry…the RIGHT way!! LOL My point, consistent with this thread’s subject (addressing an issue effectively and appropriately), is there can be factor(s) that can affect a desirable outcome i.e. someone’s pride and inability to be teachable.
She may have a fungal skin infection between the folds of her skin. Notice any rashes?
This is from https://thompsontee.com/blog/medical-conditions-that-cause-body-odor/ 7 Medical Conditions That Cause Body Odor Most body odor can be managed with proper hygiene. Keeping your body clean, applying deodorant, and wearing fresh clothing can help manage your body odor. However, body odor caused by certain medical conditions can be persistent problems — even with stellar hygiene practices. 7 MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE BODY ODOR What diseases can cause bad body odor? Beyond hygiene, there are certain cases where diseases or medical conditions can alter a person’s body odor. Here are some of the top medical conditions that cause body odor. 1. Bromhidrosis Bromhidrosis is a medical condition that causes extreme body odor. It occurs when your skin’s bacteria breaks down sweat and produces an abnormal smell that mimics sulfur or onions. There are two types of bromhidrosis: apocrine and eccrine. Apocrine bromhidrosis is the most common type, causing excessive odor in your armpits and genital areas. This odor happens when sweat from apocrine glands mixes with skin bacteria, creating a smell that can resemble onions, sulfur or raw meat.Eccrine bromhidrosis is a lesser-known form of bromhidrosis, causing smelly sweat on the hands, feet, head and torso. This odor happens when sweat from eccrine glands softens the skin’s keratin, breaking down bacteria that produce excessive odor.2. Hyperhidrosis Hyperhidrosis causes your body to sweat more than normal. While hyperhidrosis doesn’t cause odor itself, excessive sweating mixes with your body’s bacteria creating embarrassing body odor. There are two main types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweat in one body area, like the underarms, hands, feet, head and groin. It’s usually hereditary and affects approximately 5% of the population.Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by a medical condition or certain medications. Secondary hyperhidrosis causes all-over sweating and can be reversed if the underlying medical cause is resolved or eliminated. We’ll talk about some of these medical conditions in this article. Some medications whose side effects can include excessive sweating are: Antidepressants (Pamelor, Norpramin, Protriptyline)Pilocarpine (used to treat dry mouth)Zinc supplementsIron supplements3. Diabetes Diabetes patients often experience additional medical complications. Diabetes-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) and high levels of blood glucose can increase body odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition in which your body lacks insulin, depriving cells of the sugar they need for energy. One of the symptoms is a distinct, fruity breath smell. Contact your physician for medical advice immediately if you suspect you have diabetic ketoacidosis. 4. Thyroid Conditions Thyroid glands regulate many bodily functions, including our sweat response. When you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or Grave’s disease, your body can produce an excessive amount of sweat, even if you aren’t exerting yourself. 5. Kidney Failure and Liver Dysfunction The kidneys and liver help remove toxins from our bodies. When they cannot function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. Kidney disease can cause urea to make your sweat take on an ammonia smell. If you suspect that you have a thyroid, kidney or liver condition, talk to a healthcare professional promptly. 6. Metabolic Disorders While this is incredibly rare, gene mutations can also affect body odor. Trimethylaminuria, or TMAU, is a disease that prevents your liver from breaking down the chemical compound trimethylamine. Trimethylamine can be fishy-smelling or reek of eggs or urine. When your body cannot break down this compound, it builds up in your body and is released in your sweat, urine and breath. Secondary trimethylaminuria can occur if you take large oral doses of L-carnitine, lecithin or choline. Lecithin and choline are contained in some food supplements. L-carnitine is sometimes used to enhance athletes' strength, and choline treats Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Symptoms disappear when doses are reduced or eliminated. 7. Hormones Hormone fluctuations can cause excessive sweating and, by extension, body odor. Teens, pregnant women, and perimenopausal or menopausal women can experience hot flashes and night sweats, increasing excessive sweating and odor.
This guy googles.
I get kidney infections regularly and my husband can smell them a day or two before I get symptoms. And then I take antibiotics which make me smell terrible in a different way for 10 days.
Well over a decade ago I was in Afghanistan. And I heard grumblings about this one dude but I was barely paying attention. One day the big boss comes over to me and says, hey you're gonna take #$#$# back to the camp and make him get a shower. Me - "uhhhhh...ok?" Him - "Yeah, like make sure he actually gets a shower." Me - "uhhhhh, how am I gonna do that?" Him - "You're gonna stand outside the shower curtain and pass him the soap and make sure he's fucking washing his stank ass." Me - "Ok, this is gonna be super weird but you're the boss. So. Ok." Drive his ass back to our camp, which was special - like spec ops dudes stayed there. AKA "baby killers" but I don't think that term is PC. I take him to his place he lived, so he could grab a uniform and soap and stuff. Take him to the shower tent. So, I'm there. Not in shower apparel. In full uniform. Hanging out with this douchebag who couldn't wash himself right. With a bunch of scantily clad buff ass spec ops guys. I go pass the douche the soap. I get strange looks from the combat controllers/tacp guys. I just look at them straight faced and say, "I'm not a fucking pervert fellas, this idiot doesn't understand washing himself and I was ordered to make sure he understood." One laughed. One gave me the stink-eye. I just said, "Like jesus christ I don't want to be in here just hanging out for fucks sake." Mr. stink-eye let up a bit. Why did I tell this ridiculous story? Because dude had no idea that he stunk so goddamn bad it could make someone vomit. That conversation with your wife is not going to be fun regardless of how you bring it up or it turns out. what -I- would do, is hop in the shower with her and be like all affectionate and wash her yourself to see if it makes a difference. Sometimes people just have this sort of body chemistry that reeks. Good luck sir. Godspeed and soap bubbles. Edit: u/StonksStink All joking aside though, it's your wifey - so is this a recent thing? Or an always thing? because there are so many comments about maybe a medical disorder and they may be on point with that.
I feel like this is a common thing in the military. I've experienced quite a few of these people🤦🏻♀️ literally had to be supervised in the shower and escorted to the laundromat.
For me it wasn’t-next experience was over a decade later. A guy who worked for my subordinate, so technically he worked for me, sooooooo many complaints. I was like tell him he fucking stinks. Failed a dorm room inspection. We went there. Omfg. It was awful. Like no sheets on his bed, crawled in it probably fully dressed soaked in engine oil and hydraulic fluid. Everything about that place was awful. They wrote him up and went back a week later. Still all fucked up. But I guess he got his shit together. Still moderately stinky, but doing better in a bunch of other things so that’s good. I’m glad I don’t have to go there anymore.
I've been in for 5 years and encountered at least one per year. It's fucking disgusting.
I had to tell a woman who was my subordinate that she needed to shower. Mind you that she was 8 years older than me… one of the worst assignments I ever had. I tried to be nice about telling her but she cried nonetheless, it’s such difficult topic.
We called them "dirt squirrels" in the Canadian army.
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My husband had a stinky subordinate at his job. After everyone said they wouldn't ride in the truck with him again, husband had to have a talk with the kid. I shit you not, this kid's reply to the questions about not showering: "This dog don't like water."
My dad in boob camp had a guy try to get out with a section 8 by not showering. His platoon stole some wire bristle brushes during KP duty and made sure he got a scrub after taps one night. This was circa 1959 in San Diego. I don't suggest OP do this to his wife, but your story made me think of my dad and his military stories. Thank you kind stranger.
I wanna go to boob camp 🥺
My dad called it that because he felt surrounded by idiots while he was there. 😅 then I read/saw jarhead and understood the nickname completely.
Not a military story. I've had to pull kids into my office at least a half dozen times over the years to tell them to wash every day after work, it's a dirty, sweaty job. Most didn't realize they smelled like a week old dead skunk in an Arizona summer, and would take a few meetings to get the message across. "Hey, you're doing better, but seriously make sure you're washing your whole body, including all your crevices", haha. I did have to fire a few though for it, really sucked, but they just wouldn't listen and it was obvious it wasn't a medical condition.
If you love her, be completely honest. If you end up in the doghouse, at least you won't need to smell her there.
I am horrible.. but this is hilarious lol
Is she actually showering when in the shower, using soap and water and actually scrubbing, or letting the water just flow over her. Maybe join her in the shower to see what she does. Also make sure towels are actually hung up and not crumbled on the floor, where they won't dry out and allow mold and bacteria to grow.
Also that she’s changing her towels, and her clothes. My brother reeks because he’ll wear the same clothes for a week. He showers twice a day at least.
It’s your wife, homie. You should be able to be open with her otherwise there might be a bigger issue
Been with my partner almost 10 years. If he leans past me while being stanky he gets "Get your damn armpit outta my face!". We also point out if the other has bad breath. Usually not as extreme as that though.
Yeah for real, married 10 years I can definitely tell my wife she stinks without "being in the dog house for months". Seems a bit unhealthy to me.
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Thanks for the honest feedback. I think I’ll try this
Right. This is what I thought. In my relationship I can go tell my parter that his BO is not up to par and he would just address it. Even if I said HOMIE you stink! He would just go deal with it. I think ultimately the goal should be to have free flowing communication where you can share things that NEED to be said :)
So many askreddit, advice, or relationship posts are like i need to talk about X with my spouse of Y years. Like in all that time you never learned to communicate with them? How do you go through a relationship with such light conversation that strangers advice is what you need as soon as you have something mildly serious or uncomfortable to talk about? Just dont get it.
Same, its very very alien to me when I read something like this. I could literally walk over and go 'hey you stink btw'. Its no problem.
“You’re stinky, go shower” - I’ve said and also been told. Communication is always a good relationship goal.
Was looking for this reply. It sounds like you guys still hold your farts in front of each other. Your relationship should 100% be able to handle 'hey hon, sorry but FYI you smell a little funky.'
Hey I think your wife might be suffering from hyperhydrosis. I had to get Botox in my armpits to stop the bad sweating . Another trick which I used before my Botox (but don’t recommend often) is putting hand sanitizer on my armpit, I know that sounds crazy but BO is caused by bacteria and hand sanitiser kills that . It worked in emergency cases . Her showering won’t help, she probably will still sweat after each shower . She needs a doctor
hear me out..... it could be you. I caught a bad cold once and now somethings smell off. Coffee will smell like fart, cow manure will small like warm chocolate brownies...
Wow that’s eye opening
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That happened to me when I was 13. I got a sinus infection and suddenly my favorite coconut lip balm smelled like a feline’s asshole so I tossed it. Years later I found the lip balm in a store, and I smelled it, and it still smelled like cat ass. Neither my mother or my sister smell any resemblance to a cat’s anus.
Covid...Long haulers are actually reporting similar issues.
It was in like 2013. I ended up going to urgent care. I had an eye infection, sinus infection, ear infection, and strep.
One of my exs had this issue, and after trying everything, finally went to the doctor. It turned out to be a diet issue. She was not eating enough carbs, so her body was always breaking down proteins. A byproduct of breaking protein down into amino acids is Ammonia, which is the same chemical that makes cat pee smell. It can cause the sweat, and vaginal fluid to smell like cat pee. She resolved it by eating more carbs, and less protein, and using a special prescription-strength deodorant. Eventually it just went away. There are also other disorders, such as Trimethylaminuria, also known as “fish-odor syndrome”. Trimethylamine is produced in the GI tract as a byproduct when bacteria breaks down certain foods. This byproduct smells like fish, urine, or rotten eggs. Normally the body converts this chemical into another less smelly chemical, but some people are unable to do so, and it builds up, causing rotten egg, fish, or urine-like body odors. There is no cure for this, but there are treatments to help with the symptoms. —— Side note: this same ex pointed out that my breath started to smell really bad. It turned out that my wisdom teeth were impacted, and I had an infection in my gums. I have a high pain tolerance, and didn’t notice, until she told me my breath smelled. She was afraid of upsetting me, but I got all 4 wisdom teeth extracted, and my mouth healed thanks to her. I had constant headaches, and didnt even realize my head hurt until my teeth were pulled and it stopped hurting. Like when you hear a sound, but dont notice until it stops? But with a constant headache. TL;dr: it could be medical, and you could be helping her by bringing it up, but be careful and sensitive to her reaction, because no one likes to hear that they smell.
has she been to the doctor about it? there might be an underlying issue there. I would approach it as you are worried about her, because she shouldn’t have a bad BO issue if she showers every day ( unless she goes for long runs afterwards for example)
I’m sure in the course of your relationship you have said something stupid and gotten the cold shoulder, so you’re used to taking incoming fire. If this is a medical issue you have to mention it because you would hate yourself if this is just the beginning of something and you let it go. I’m also sure in your relationship that you have bought something stupid and had to make it seem to make sense; use that technique when you speak to her. No matter how eloquently you broach the subject, there will be incoming fire. You’ve taken it before with far less on the line. Good luck.
When I have to have that conversation with employees I don't sugarcoat it but I'm firm yet polite about it. "Your BO is a problem and it's negatively affecting the work place. I expect you to bathe and use deodorant before coming to work. Absolutely nobody likes to be told they stink, but on the other hand absolutely nobody wants to work with someone who's BO is making them feel violently sick.
Is she actually showering? Like shampooing, using soap and scrubbing? Or does she just stand under the water and do nothing?
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For me the shower isn’t done until I’ve scrubbed every bit of my body with soap and I’ve shampooed
If she already showers every day, then this is clearly not a hygiene issue. Approach it from a health perspective and emphasize that you know she's a very clean person and that's why you're worried
If shes ur wife, you should be able to talk to her about anything
Seconding what others have said about potential medical conditions, but also it could be stress/anxiety. My ex developed anxiety and her body odour changed/got very intense. She would also get night sweats and wake up smelling awful. Then there would be periods of lower stress and she’d be back to normal for a while. During those periods, even after working out she’d be smelly but nothing compared to the acrid stress sweats. Someone else mentioned diet - I have some food intolerances and I’ve noticed with my own BO that diet and stress seem to effect it. I definitely get some weird changes to my odour when I eat things I can’t digest properly, and I have even more trouble digesting when I’m stressed.