this post was submitted on 03 May 2022
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I don't use deoderant; I don't feel the difference and I never really cared much about my smell; but my parent keeps bringing it up and it's annoying.

Also, what's wrong with smell? Human smells differ anyway.

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[–] Emberleaf@lemmy.ml 101 points 2 years ago (27 children)

Your parent keep bringing it up because your smell is offensive. They're trying to help you learn the things that will help you get a job, or have friends, or go on dates. In short, they're being a parent. Help them help you.

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[–] dessalines@lemmy.ml 44 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Smelling nice or even neutral isn't something to benefit you, its so everyone else doesn't have to experience disgusting and gross smells in public. Your parents are trying to help you not be rude to them and other people, listen to them.

[–] tmpod 9 points 2 years ago

Exactly what I was going to point out. You might not mind your own smell, but other certainly will, and deodorant can be a good way to mitigate that problem.

[–] phoenix591@lemmy.phoenix591.com 42 points 1 year ago

It can be easy to be nose-blind to your own smell, trust me its easy to stink enough to be offensive to others but not notice yourself.

They're doing you a favor by letting you know. Just take the extra moment and put some on in the morning. Just don't overdo it and douse yourself in body spray; too much body spray is nasty too.

[–] ragingpeach@lemmy.ml 27 points 2 years ago (1 children)

So, from one autistic person to another… smells can be rude.

Smells are a sensory thing for me. There’s a person in my building who sweats too much. His stink is everywhere and it causes me to gag.

It’s an evolutionary thing to generally be okay with our own personal smells, because it wouldn’t be helpful if we gagged at our own stink all the time (this is why the smell of our own poop usually doesn’t bother us. Also, I think mothers usually aren’t as bothered by the smell of their own baby’s poop for similar reasons). But someone else’s stink can tell us they’re unhygienic or sick.

You don’t need to smell like roses… you just need to not stink. There are unscented deodorants. I personally currently use apple cider vinegar as a natural deodorant. Although I’m starting to miss the convenience of regular deodorant.

I can’t tell you what to do… if you want to stink, stink. I’m just explaining why people like deodorant.

[–] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

Oh yeah. Sometimes its better to use deodorant to reduce distraction.

[–] altima_neo@lemmy.zip 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, of course. Its not about "feeling different" its about calming down all the bacteria in your under arms that make offensive odors. You might not care, but the people around you can clearly notice the odor coming off of you. Even if you're a clean person, having odors like that makes you come off as a dirty or unhygienic person.

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.film 5 points 1 year ago

Yep. It’s your your body that smells, it’s the bacteria living on your skin and feeding on your sweat. Maybe this fact will make you wear deodorant.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 22 points 2 years ago

Yes please wear deodorant especially if people are complaining about your smell.

[–] Ghast@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 years ago

We didn't need deoderant when we wandered about the open savanna, but if you're living with a bunch of other apes, in a cramped city, humans get smelly, so we all need to bathe regularly, and if you're still a bit swetty, stick something else on.

[–] MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml 14 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (8 children)

If I'm around people, yes. If I'm just at home, no. I shower usually every 1-2 days but even so, I mostly wear deodorant when I'm going to be around people because I think it's the considerate thing to do. Also as another user said, body odor often is correlated with hydration, or lack thereof. So drink water (pee should be clear) and that will help.

It's one of those things where I think it just boils down to being considerate of others, and realizing that using deodorant is a pretty small measure to take in order to prevent creating an unpleasant experience for other people.

This thread's kind of depressing to read. Come on people-- this is basic hygiene/consideration, it's not rocket science. Brush your teeth (and tongue) when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Shower every 1-2 days (use soap everywhere below your face), and wear deodorant if you're going to be around people especially indoors.

[–] ragingpeach@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This thread’s kind of depressing to read. Come on people-- this is basic hygiene/consideration, it’s not rocket science. Brush your teeth (and tongue) when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Shower every 1-2 days (use soap everywhere below your face), and wear deodorant if you’re going to be around people especially indoors.

i'm hope i don't come off as aggressive or anything, not my intention. just remember that those things aren't easy for everyone (but i agree, definitely more considerate).

i don't brush often due to many health problems, one major one being OCD. i can only brush during certain time slots, which rarely occur. i know my breath is atrocious. fortunately, i imagine a mask helps. i'm also not around people often.

i shower every 3-4 days, sometimes less often (though i don't like showering less often). i also don't use much soap unless i'm taking my eczema medication or waxing. and of course i use soap in the private areas, because i've had c. diff.

might sound gross, but i've asked honest people and they swear i don't smell. and they're the kind of people who have told me when i do smell. they know about my bathing habits. i just don't smell (breath i'm sure stinks though, i haven't asked because i know). if i did smell i would definitely do something about it. like our stomach, we have probiotics on our skin, and if our skin biome is healthy we generally won't stink. now being that i have eczema i probably don't have the best skin biome, but there's certainly something good there. when my physical health issues were EXTREMELY severe and i hadn't bathed in two months, my partner at the time told me i didn't stink. and it wasn't to be kind, she was genuinely surprised because, you know, two months without bathing, a person should probably stink.

there's a guy in my building who always stinks. from conversations it seems he showers several times a day. i suspect he has a medical condition that i desperately wish he would get checked out, because i've nearly vomited around him several times. i know him well enough to know he's on medicaid, so this is something that would be covered.

so everyone's different. some of us can get away with showering less frequently, others can't. i believe there's a gene that makes your sweat not smell. just know your body and do your best not to be stinky imo

[–] MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago

I don't think you're coming off as aggressive.

When it's a matter of mental health getting in the way of hygiene, I definitely am a lot more understanding. But if it's someone who just doesn't put on deodorant or doesn't shower regularly because they think they don't stink but others do, then I think it's a little different.

I'll add that some peoples' shower technique is terrible. I'm a guy and I've met countless men who legitimately believe they don't need to wash their feet, armpits, butt or dick because they're under the impression that the soapy water from the rest of their body makes its way over those regions so there's no need to actually lather up and wash them. Also, drinking water helps a TON with body odor whereas drinking other stuff i.e. soft drinks just contributes towards body odor.

But yeah, half the reason why I try not to judge strangers when it comes to hygiene stuff is because as yo said, I really have no clue what's going on with their physical or mental health.

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[–] straightpeach@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 years ago

People have senses and they mostly can't control how they feel the stimuli presented to them. It's ok to not have a smell, but having a strong smell of "something", good or bad, intentional or not, might come as offensive to people as they do not consent to feeling it.

[–] ComradeChairmanKGB@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 2 years ago (3 children)

Is this a liberal trying to make us look bad lmao? I mean really?

[–] ragingpeach@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 years ago

I think it's best not to worry about what people think.

Except with body odor. When people say you stink, care about what they think.

[–] Amicchan@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] Catradora_Stalinism@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

sorry, paranoia is a good friend of ours

[–] MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

I mean, let's not pretend this isn't an actual problem. It happens to conservatives, it happens to liberals and it happens to leftists. It's one of those things where I think it shouldn't be met with ridicule or disbelief, but instead it should result in an honest discussion.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.de 9 points 2 years ago

I do, I shower almost every day but in some situations I wouldn't feel comfortable without it. I use the sensitive one that pretty much doesn't do much ^^

[–] cmat273@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

Yes. It is very important otherwise people might get very uncomfortable being around you. That creates barriers when making friends, getting jobs, etc. One other thing - deoderant is not the same as antiperspirant and vice versa. Use both.

[–] angarabebesi@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 years ago

I use deodorant if I'm going to meet other people of if it's hot outside.

But there are too many people trying to use deodorant to hide the fact that they don't shower regularly.

[–] Catradora_Stalinism@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 years ago

Yes, its very important, but try to keep the deodorant away from industrial smells.

[–] ree@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago

sth that hasn't been written.

Body odors are correlated with your hydration.

Drink enough water and you might not even need deodorant.

[–] burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don’t wear deodorant on the weekends, but I do when I go to work. Unless you’re going to start living outside, you should probably find a deodorant that works for you and start using it. If someone is telling you that you smell bad, especially someone who cares about you, then take there advice and do something about it.

You say you don’t really care about your smell, but your family obviously do. Since you don’t care just start using some every day. It makes a world of difference and you don’t even have to use that much.

[–] stopit@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

Yes and i wash regularly

[–] sandro_linux@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yes I use deodorant

[–] liwott@nerdica.net 4 points 2 years ago

I use it very seldom when I am a bit sweated, have to go somewhere important but don't have the time to shower. A chemical shower as we call it 😁

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have sensitive skin and can't stand artificial scents, they give me a brutal headache.

When I get funky I dust my pits with baking soda. It erases smells instead of "putting lipstick on the pig". Wear a white shirt though, it'll turn your pits white.

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.film 2 points 1 year ago

There are invented deodorants (Toms makes one)

[–] beansniffer@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why am I not surprised that this type of thread would be on a reddit alternative website HAHAHA

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[–] yxzi@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Unless you smell profusely, a daily shower should usually suffice

[–] comfy@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I disagree, especially if exercising (incidentally or on purpose).

[–] yxzi@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 years ago

Sure, if you sweat & smell more than usual, one more shower is needed

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[–] sgtnasty@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago
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