Is it rude to tell someone they smell?
Conversations about body odour should be private, Blais Comeau advises. “If it's somebody you're on good terms with, have the conversation,” she says, adding that a superior doesn't need to be involved. Other methods, such as an anonymous note left on a desk, may make the person feel attacked or isolated, she adds.
Ask to speak in private. Be direct (“I'm not sure if you're aware of this but you have a strong odor about you.”) Reserve judgment ( “I don't know if it's from your clothing or if it's a personal hygiene issue.”) Open the conversation (“Are you aware of this issue?
If you just want to compliment someone on their smell, frame it in such a way that they know it's not all that deep and you really just mean that they smell good and there's nothing more to it. There's nothing wrong with complimenting someone on the way they smell, as long as there's no ulterior motive.
Don't spend a lot of time building up to the observation; be direct. Use clear language, but don't be insulting. Try saying, "Look, this is awkward, and I'm sure you're not aware of it, but I really thought you'd want to know that you have a strong body odor." There's no need to lecture or get into a long discussion.
Whether you've noticed a persistent whiff of body odour, or everyone you know is talking behind their back about how badly they reek, you owe it to your friend to clue them in. If you're confident you can let them know in a sensitive way you could volunteer to tell them yourself.
- Don't jump the gun. Nobody really wants to be the one to tell somebody they stink, so this advice shouldn't be too hard to follow. ...
- Pick a private place. ...
- Be clear. ...
- Let them respond. ...
- If you're the one who gets called out, it's totally fine to ask for some time. ...
- Put it in perspective.
The short answer is yes you can sack someone for smelling. But, there are some sensible precautions you can take as an employer to avoid looking unreasonable. Talk to your employee first before you do anything.
Be blunt and businesslike, but not offensive. Inform the employee that there are many reasons for bad body odor, such as infrequent bathing, wearing clothing too long between laundering and some medical conditions. Calmly state the facts, and let him know you'll expect him to take care of the problem.
- Pull them aside and make sure nobody else can hear.
- Be gentle, but still direct.
- Use phrases like “I noticed” or “I had this problem too”
- Be relatable to help reduce the embarrassment.
Use “stink” the same way you'd use any playful pet name. If you want to use stink as a nickname, you'd use it the same way you'd use any cute, flirty name for you partner.
Can you get turned on by someone's smell?
Yes, sometimes people are attracted to other people's special brand of human smell. It sounds weird, but every so often, a chemically compatible match comes along and...you get all caught up in a phenomenon we're calling body-odor attraction. And, no, you are not alone.