Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

He really smells... how to tell someone they smell bad?

There is one Coworker, really smells bad, sweaty.. not only me but everyone around is annoyed..
How to tell someone they smell without hurting their feelings?? Is it possible or is it rude?
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
If the coworker respects you as a person.
Then just go to the person, say: "I'm sorry that I'm the one that has to tell you this, but ... " , bring it on gently, but also be direct and honest. And add that you would like it if people told you something like this directly, so that you become aware and can do something about it. That you don't like hypocrisy, and that you give this as a friendly hint since it's something you can only become aware off if an outsider tells you this. After that... it's all up to him and how he reacts. Cross fingers. But I believe it's actually the nice thing to do as long as you are on good terms with eachother.
@Kwek00 I agree that's the considerate way to do it, but how do you address someone's cultural habits? It may be their norm to only shower 3x a week.
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@DreamyCrush Wait? Aren't we living in a liberal society, where individuals make individual choices. And if those individual choices create a situation that bothers other individuals, that we can sit down and have a talk about it. And then at the end, if you talked about it and you considered eachothers ideas, that the individuals can reevaluate their position?

If you find out that the person has diabetes or something, something that causes this effect and he/she has gone to a dermatologist to try and do something about it, but it's pretty hard for them to find something effective... maybe you can reevaluate your opinion.

However, if the other person didn't notice this about him/her-self and they find out that you gently nudged them and that it was causing ripples with his collegues, maybe he can either try to have better hygeniens... after a while ask you discretely if things have gotten better, and then maybe choose to search for medical help.

If you have no opposition, if no one questions your way of life, if no one tackles your arguments, if no one talks to you... how can you ever grow and become a better person. It's outside stimulus that create situations that may or may not open you up to reevaluate certain things that you do, certain things that you think.... that doesn't mean that at the end of this process you will change your ways, or that you come to the conclussion that you even need too, but if everyone keeps living in their bubble and believe that how they live and who they are and what they think is alright, then there is verry little wiggle room to grow as an individual.