How do you tell someone they smell...
By Toni
@toniganzon (81847)
Philippines
September 29, 2026 12:52am CST
without offending them?
I heard some of my staff whispering and talking about a colleague of theirs. I heard he smell. One of them told the other that she should tell him. But she said she was ashamed to.
So, how do you tell a co-worker they smell without offending them?
Sometimes they're simply not aware that they have a bad odor and they need to know.
8 people like this
9 responses
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
11h
Well, if somebody would send me a private chat like that I would be more offended. I'd rather people talk to me politely to my face.
@Wrexxo (8523)
•
10h
@toniganzon private chat .
I mean..private talk not send a text
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (128504)
• United States
18h
I would either give them a nice cologne as a gift, or if I knew a relative of theirs I’d hint to the relative and let them mention it to the person. I’ve done both, and both seemed to work. I felt awful about it, but the one guy smelled so bad I knew he was in the room before I saw him based solely on the smell. It was the apartment maintenance man.
The other time was a classmate, and I bought her a very nice perfume.
3 people like this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
11h
The cologne would only make his smell worse. It wouldn't hide his body odor.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (509702)
• Italy
9h
@toniganzon That must be really bad. In this case the person who are closer should tell to this person that there is a problem with his body smell.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (46918)
•
3h
Oh god no a nice cologne on top of body odour would be even worse.
It would mask it
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
11h
Yeah, but it's difficult to work closely with someone with a body odor.
2 people like this
@pitsipeahie (5803)
•
9h
Been there, done that. Just told the person straight, no roaming around when it was just the two of us.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (46918)
•
3h
That's the best way
Just do it
Like , tell it like it is whilst holding your nose
@Ineeddentures (46918)
•
6h
Take the person aside
And if you do smell anything
Respectfully suggest that they go and have a shower and put on some clean clothing
The person does need to know
Don't worry about offending the person either
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
1h
I actually told one of them, whom he was the closest to, to tell him. I don't think he would be offended.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (46918)
•
53m
@toniganzon
Smelly people annoy me
We have lots of them here
They need to discover what soap is and water too
And they need to clean their smelly houses and change their underwear and learn about deodorant
Don't hold back, just tell them
And you know what, if they are offended, good
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
45m
@Ineeddentures What he needs is a deodorant and to disinfect his shirt.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (194484)
• Boise, Idaho
2h
Ashamed? Why? I would just be as nice as possible and try to find a situation where a lot of people aren't around so the person might be embarrassed. Being truthful is always the best way to go. If you think about it, if it were you you would want to know, right?
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
1h
Yes, if it were me, I would appreciate if I was told in a concerned way.
@JESSY3236 (22762)
• United States
8h
My best friend and I knew a girl who smelled too. My best friend would complain to me about it. I didn't tell the girl because I didn't know how to tell her.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (81847)
• Philippines
1h
Yeah it is difficult unless you are close to that girl and you could talk to her in a nice way.
