When You DON’T Smell Like Roses

Somewhere down the path of evolution, we missed the memo on smelling like roses. Given Bangladesh's weather, smelling pleasant becomes a huge challenge for some people. If body odour is your wolf's bane and you know someone who can take away trophies for their biological stench, you're in for a tough ride.

How will you survive?

Bring your own survival kit
Carrying a body mist/spray or deodorant or perfume serves two purposes: you'll be able to ensure you smell fresh and you can double them as air freshener when needed. Spritz it on your neck or collar so the liquid is dispersed close to your nose, eliminating outside odours. If you can sneak a spray on or around the source of body odour, even better. Ninja skills always pay off.

Indirect discussions can be your lifesaver
Have a discussion on lifestyle habits like hygiene and laundry that have a huge impact on body odour. You don't need to drop hints but you can educate someone who's missed the memo. Perhaps they repeat clothes without having washed them or their hygiene habits need a boost or maybe it's their diet. We all have discussions on random topics – this could be the one that saves you.

Turn to social media
Sometimes, the best solution is to get to the source of the problem. BuzzFeed (or our very own SHOUT) can provide you with humorous articles on just about anything. Find a suitable article – share it, tag your friends and drop the hints indirectly. Find an article that pokes fun at the causes of body odour so the person knows what they're doing wrong. Just make sure you don't isolate the person so it's not embarrassing or insulting for them. 

Give a gift with a cause 
If the former suggestion hasn't worked and this person is someone you have to spend substantial amount of time with, present them with some deodorant or perfume. Yes, this step is usually tantamount to telling someone they smell but there are ways to make this a sweet gesture. Add a little note or tell them in person that the fragrance reminded you of them or the scent was something you felt was perfect for them.

Talk to them directly about it
If you've tried everything mentioned above but in vain, it's time to talk it out. Break it down as nicely as you can – tell them you say so in their best interest and you don't want them to take it badly. Offer to help them out with it and give your honest feedback.
It's important to remember that anyone can have a slip once in a while, given our weather. Be polite; don't let karma turn the tables. 

Nooha Sabanta Maula enjoys juggling many things at once and drinks her coffee cold. She can be reached at facebook.com/noohamaula