Welcome to the second episode of What Would You Do! Episode one was quite a hit; I loved all of your responses to the scenario I posed to you (you people are so nice and brave. I have much to learn :)).
This scenario is all about smell. I like this one. Over to you!
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Today’s Scenario:
Image credit: Intimate Health Help
You work with one of the nicest colleagues you know. Her desk is next to yours at the office. She’s a really lovely person and you even go out for drinks together from time to time. Unfortunately, she has quite a nasty case of bad body odour, which to you, smells a bit like dead fish. It’s especially unbearable during the hot summer months.
Her birthday is coming up. It’s time to get her a present.
What would you do?
A. Buy her a bottle of perfume and tell her she’ll smell lovely in it (i.e hint that she uses it).
B. Buy her a bottle of deodorant*.
C. Buy her what you think she’d like. Anything but fragrances (unless she likes them). She’s your friend, suck it up.
D. None of the above. Your choice. What would YOU do?
My answer:
Years ago, I used to sit near a colleague at work who had terrible body odour. I’m not going to tell you if it’s a man or a woman (in case he/she reads the blog!), but suffice to say, it was bad. It’s often very hot when we’re back from lunch and the smell’s worse. As bad as it was, I sucked it up. We didn’t work together, we weren’t at all close but it was something that was too personal for me to even comment on. My nose took quite a hit all year before he/she moved on to another company. Yikes!
For me, I’d choose C. Unless I’m giving her a Chanel No.5. That, I’d insist she use because, hello, it’s Chanel. π
What about you? What would you do?
*Err … no judgement. I think.
I say give her perfume! It’s a subtle hint π
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Hahaha thanks for your input Chelsea! In the post, I mentioned about that colleague who had bad B.O. Kid you not, this actually happened; another colleague of mine cheekily bought that person a bottle of deodorant and placed it on the desk when that B.O colleague was away! :O
This post reminds me so much of this roommate back in the college days. I guess it’s much worse than a colleague since I live in the same room with that person. Years now, my head still feels dizzy just thinking how bad the smell was. Unfortunately, I wasn’t that close with the person (we were only roommates for a short while for a summer camp), so I don’t think gifting her things like perfume is appropriate (I don’t think she wear perfume anyways).
But if it’s my close colleague at work and we are close, I’d give a perfume or anything that smells good (may be a nice body lotion). Then I’d briefly mention that the weather is getting warm, and us girls should use scented products to stays fresh and nice. That way the colleague wouldn’t feel weird that I’m talking about her/him.
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See, that’s the thing with bad B.O. The smell lingers and you can’t get it out of your head >.< That's a good idea, Angela. A nice scented body lotion could work. Perfume might be a bit too big of a hint but body lotion sounds very good. Moisturises the skin and masks the B.O. at the same time.
I’d buy her this: https://www.gbproudfoots.com/products-page/deodorgrams/for-pits-sake-deodorgram-unscented
Just kidding! π
This is tough because I’ve had 2 people tell me that one of the best things that has ever happened to them was when someone told them they have BO, ’cause they had no idea. So I guess it depends… if this person is really your friend, then you should be a friend and help her out. Just be as nice as possible, of course. If it’s someone I barely know I’d suck it up, haha.
x Renee
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BAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! Good one Renee!
This is a difficult one, isn’t it? Body odour is such a personal issue. Heck, I find periods and sex easier to talk about with girlfriends than B.O. Thing is, people with B.O often don’t know they have it, and that’s a problem because it really is difficult to broach the subject >.<
I would choose C as well unless my friend mention to me the things they prefer ( fragrance perhaps?) .
Haha I think I’d do that as well!
Because she is a good friend I would probably have a shopping date with her to a department store and insist that I’m looking for a new perfume. The chances are that people usually end up trying scents on themselves and liking it π
So buy that perfume for the bday gift π
M&L recently posted..Giveaway & Review: Personal Planner
Hahahaha good one! “I want to buy a perfume, how about you get one for yourself too? So many to choose from!” Hee hee π
I agree with M & L and Chelsea – help them out subtly with some fragrance! It’s not an easy thing to bring up, so that is indirect but hopefully helps achieve the goal.
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It’s difficult, isn’t it? Very sensitive issue to broach. Easier to talk about sex than B.O, I tell ya π
I’d say no to perfume because when body odour mixes with some perfume, results can be a complete disaster.
I’d probably give him/her a gift of soaps, eg from Body Shop. That way, it makes a good gift and it offends no one. Compliment the person if he/her smells nice, it’d fuel the person to smell good always.
If all else fails, just forward a message/joke about BO and hope that person takes a hint. Sometimes gotta be cruel in order to be kind.
That’s a good one Jess! I forgot about how B.O mixing with perfumes can turn out just the opposite of what you want. Thanks!
Soap sounds good. Not too obvious. People gotta clean themselves with something, right? π
D. None of the above !!!
The last thing I would do would be to bring up the body odour subject on her birthday – that would be awful and insensitive – let her enjoy her day and not be feeling self-conscious about this – especially if she’s totally unaware of the problem.
If someone has a BO problem, all the perfumes and fragrances are not going to solve it, they’ll simply mask the odour which will eventually return!
At another time, I would start a conversation about a great new deodorant I’ve discovered that I find so effective! I’d even go so far as to have some of it in a small pot in my handbag and give it to her to try – under the ‘guise that I always carry some on me, just in case I get a bit sweaty on these humid days! I’d ask her to try i, let me know what she thinks, and if she loves it (and if I love it on her!) I can get some for her!
This deodorant is actually a true story – a few months ago I discovered Soapwalla Natural Cream Deodorant and it does work! – but can only be bought on-line.
Hahahaha that’s a great idea Karen! I’m with you; it’s just not right to bring it up, at least not on her birthday. It’s such a slap in the face. It’s already a sensitive enough issue; she doesn’t need to feel worse about it. That sneaky lil’ deodorant hint is fantastic. I’m keeping that in mind in case a similar scenario happens again. We can do a what’s-in-my-bag thing over drinks and then I’ll take out the deodorant from the makeup bag and show her. Genius!
I’d choose C, I guess!
Maybe a good way of approaching the subject would be … you start ‘sniffing’ the air and subtly ask “smells weird in here don’t you think? can you smell it too?” I think it would be subtle enough no? I guess I would catch the hint!
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Hahahaha I like it! “Hmmm what’s that smell? Ooh that’s not good. Can you smell it too?” . Sniff and the sniff some more. Just make sure you don’t sniff all the way to her armpits π