Odour

[butterfly23]

How would you tackle a colleague at work that smelt?

[Homer55]

Best way is to be honest, Take them to one side and let them know that they have a problem. If it was me i'd want to know..

[Eve]

Do you mean of BO? Gently and tactfully at first in the least embarrassing way possible.

What kind of person are they and how well do you get on with them? Are they the kind of person who would be likely to change?

[boro1986]

Nah just tell them

[butterfly23]

Its not BO, its a strange metallic, musty smell. I don't know them too well, as he's recently joined and ia a manager (though not mine), and sits opposite me.

I'd feel really uncomfortable about mentioning it, as I really don't know him well at all, and don't want to alienate him, but the smell is driving me up the wall.

[Eve]

Buy them a bath and fragrance set for Christmas?

[happygam]

Yes, I agree with homer, honesty is the best policy..when I left school some years ago, I started work at the local hospital, and the office where I worked had a lady with the same problem, the office manager talked to her tactfully and she tried to do something about it - but she appreciated being told - because she couldn't smell it herself - it isn't always unhygienic people - they can have problems...good luck though

[Eve]

I take it it's a general smell rather than a breath smell.

A former boss was a diabetic and always had a very funny sharp smell to his breath and used to be worse as he used to lean over my shoulder a lot when going through stuff. Never said anything though as it was a medical thing I wasn't sure if he could help and didn't want him to feel self conscious.

Maybe it's connected to where they live or hobbies, like people who work around fish or live on farms and such. Maybe chatting and getting to know him better may enlighten you as to the cause.

Maybe he uses some really strong smelling ointment or something, you know like deep heat which smells.

[Eve]

Ps did you know that metal doesn't smell, people do!

The musty odour comes from chemical compounds
in your skin, which are transformed in an instant by the touch of iron or copper.

When asomeone hands you a coin, you're smelling their body odour!!!

[4getmenot]

Sit with a giant peg on your nose, saying pooooooheeeyy who stinks?? :-)

[larkin]

Nice one 4get LMAO . That might just do it. Jenna - you raelly have got too much time on your hands. That'd smell too,I suppose, thyme ...on your hands... get it ?
Bye now !

[larkin]

butterfly23. Has your friend ever worked in a tin mine ?

[RATTER15]

Just say to him " if i had a personal problem with body odour, you would tell me, wouldn't you?" he will probably say yes, you can then tell him he stinks!!

No probs!!

[laurence2]

Quite simply tell him he stinks, if it upsets him and he storms out, well thats a job well done, if he takes offence, well thats a job also well done.

Its a win win situation for you, and a lose lose situation for him.

Or if you don't want to take this line of attack, point out the H&S at work act 1974, or the Goverments Enviromental policy, i'm sure the penny will drop?

[rugeleyboy]

i had a lad who worked for me who stunk of BO.

i gave him lots of hints but he didnt get it, i then said that he must of worked really hard today as you(him) smell a bit sweaty, still no good!!

so in the end i gave him the keys to the van,gave him a �5 note and told him to go straight to the chemist and get some deoderant!!! that worked!!

[kwicky]

metallic musty smell? Probably a new form of after shave to appeal to earthy guys...

[Goodsoulette]

metallic musty smell... could be patchouli oil. Thats really strong, but often masks the smell of other more unpleasant smells, like keeping a wig not too stinky, and people who have colostomy bags. That could be extremely embarassing if you mention a bad smell and it turns out to be something like that.

[rja211077]

go in low to avoid the hand off...head to the side of the thigh, wrap your arms round their legs and squeeze.

ho ho

ps any budding rugby players... don't actually take the above advice when tackling as i have no idea if it's any good.

[joko]

could be that he doesn't dry his clothes well enough and they have got damp.

get a few desk air fresheners and put hem around the office and complain that there is a weird smell in the room, descibe it, and wonder aloud what it could be - not by saying its him or hinting at it though - but it may make him curious and check himself - if you let him suss it out for himself he won't feel embarrassed, he wil just deal with it privately

[butterfly23]

Thanks for the suggestions, I havent decided quite what to do yet, but have bought some air freshners for the short-term to mask the smell.