How to politely address a colleague's body odour

It's a strange thing, how odour—something so fleeting and invisible—can completely alter the way we perceive someone. You can be dressed to the nines, speak with eloquence, and command the room with your credentials. But if your odour tells another story, it can quietly unravel all. Most times, the culprit is sweat. We asked an expert, is it possible to smell sweat and be completely unaware of it?

Rebekah Kimanzi, a personal image strategist with Fab to Fab Image Consultancy in Nairobi, says it could happen. 

"Most recently, a lady was dressed up very well. She's a well-learned woman and, I mean, she had everything going. But the sweat part of it—I couldn't understand how she was smelling, and it was really strong. I didn't know how to go about it because, in terms of ranking, she's quite higher than me," she says.

"That caught me off guard. I didn't expect it. But the worst part is that she did not seem to be aware, and I think it's because she had used very nice designer cologne on her, but the sweat was overpowering the cologne."

Did you inform her? I ask.

"No... I didn't know how to approach that. Since I had never interacted with her before, and it was my first time meeting her, it was quite a very tricky and sensitive issue."

Read: Was I wrong to tell my husband his mouth stinks?

While body odour is a sensitive topic, Ms Kimanzi says it is not good etiquette to walk up to someone and tell them they are smelly and start offering tips. Instead, you should meet the person in private, communicate with empathy, choose your words carefully—using those that empower, not embarrass—and use the 'we' language instead of 'you.'

"For example, instead of saying you have body odour, you could say, I've noticed that hot weather makes it tricky to stay fresh. Then ask the person, what do you usually do? Then of course, wait for their response before sharing, for me, I've realised cologne is not enough... maybe add an antiperspirant, or if you feel that is not safe, maybe try other very natural remedies that are budget-friendly," says Ms Kimanzi.

Besides the expensive deodorants, try natural remedies.

These natural remedies include a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch, which is easily available. A slice of fresh lemon juice, which you can use to clean your underarms because the acidity kills the bacteria that causes odour.

"Simply rub a small amount on clean underarms. Another thing would be coconut oil with essential oils. It has antibacterial properties and it leaves a fresh scent," she adds.

Additionally, Ms Kimanzi says you could use diluted apple cider vinegar. She cautions, "Don't use it in its natural form. It can be very aggressive. It helps balance skin pH and reduce odour-causing bacteria."

Also, Ms Kimanzi advises people to look at the kind of fabrics they wear. "I used to love some fabrics, and I would notice I would have a patch of sweat. I realised it was certain clothes that would give me that effect. But if I wore nice cotton and linen, that minimised my sweating and odour."

Read: Daily showers: A necessity or a choice?

Lastly, she advises that people drink a lot of water to neutralise the smell.

We smell and do not judge…

The unwritten rule in engaging with someone who is smelling of sweat is not to judge them. 

"If you do this, they will be all defensive because they feel judged, and it can hurt their self-esteem and/or relationship."

Additionally, you should never text or make a phone call telling them about it, as this will throw the whole situation out of proportion.

On the other hand, if your colleague has an odour and it is affecting you, Ms Kimanzi advises reporting the matter to Human Resources.

"In turn, the HR should write a letter to all employees reminding them of the hygiene rules, instead of calling out the particular person who is said to be smelly. Also, mention that sweat is odourless, and the smell comes from bacteria—so do not take it personally, as it is not your problem," she says.

wkanuri@ke.nationmedia.com