How Sensitive Is Your Nose
By Brian
@wolfie34 (26771)
United Kingdom
September 11, 2007 10:12am CST
Imagine you are sitting on a crowded bus, tube or train and someone with really bad bo comes and sits next to you, the smell is really bad and it hits your nostrils like a speeding bullet. You realize you have a long way to travel still but what do you do?
Do you carry on sitting and putting up with the horrendous stench
Do you give up your seat and stand for the duration of the journey
Or do you find something in your bag or pocket to put over your nose to try and stem the stench
Or would it depend on other circumstances?
5 people like this
20 responses
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
11 Sep 07
LOL~you really painted a great picture of the stink here! I would probably get up and move. I am very sensitive to smells and if someone stinks so bad, I would have to get out of there!!
@tazpromote (965)
• United States
2 Dec 07
I've been in that situation before and it wasn't a good experience. I tried to find something in my bag to rid the stench, but it didn't work. I had to excuse myself and find another seat because I just could not take it. My nose is extremely sensitive and lots of bad oders and things like that make me physically sick, so I had to move.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
30 Sep 07
My nose is super sensitive- I could smell someone even if they sat 2 to 3 seats in front of me- This is bad! I also have problems with smells- I sneeze and get all stuffy.
I would turn away and cover my nose in a nice way. Or I’d pop a piece of gum in my mouth- sometimes taste takes away from smell.
Thankfully I don’t ride public transportation- so I’ll never run into that-
@mummymo (23706)
•
12 Sep 07
Wow - what a horrible thought and reminds me why I don't often use public transport! lol I am not sure what I would do but I think I may have to move as I would be afraid I would start gagging or even throw up! You know though that since the smoking ban here started a couple of years ago you can actually smell more people with odour problems as the smell of smoke doesn't mask them! Awful - I cannot understand why people would walk around like that! xxx
@mbilagan (178)
• Philippines
12 Sep 07
I have a sensitive nose. It easily get irritated when I smell something too much. Then after my nose get irritated I begun to sneeze again and again. So for me, I would rather get my handkie and cover my nose rather than ignoring the smell. Of if incase my journey is not that long, I guess I would rather stand until I reach my destination. I just cant bear too much odor. LOL
@ayesha_nisha (289)
• India
12 Sep 07
ohh my goddddd my nose is realy sensitive one....i always need a kerchief in my hand if any dust around
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
12 Sep 07
My nose is very sensitive. I would hate to give up my seat so I would face away if possible and also put my hanky over my nose. I might even put a few drops of scent on the hanky.
It's scary on public transport, wondering what germs or filth people leave behind on seats.
And why don't people wash when they spend time with others. If you choose to live as a recluse and choose not to wash that's your own business but why do these stinking people subject others to their stench.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
12 Sep 07
Hi Wolfie, how are you.
This happened to my partner and I a short while ago and I found myself gagging. I have a small bottle of perfume in my bag and I had to use that just to mask the worst of the pong.
@lols189 (4742)
•
12 Sep 07
my nose is very sensitive wolfie and if i was in this situation of having a smelly person sitting next to me on a bus or train i would no doubt stand up and move somewhere else. its not just me nose that the smell kicks off it also makes me gag eewww. i hate being in this situation. soap and water is cheap enough lol
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
12 Sep 07
I would definitely have to try my luck with standing. With Asthma and other allergies, not only do I have a hard enough time breathing as it is, but I have a very sensitive nose. I can smell the germs when people sneeze. I would need to relocate as far away from that person as possible.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
11 Sep 07
If it was a long trip I'd have to cover the smell up somehow because I can't stand on my feet for very long. I always keep a bottle of perfume and tissues in purse all the time so I'd probably put some of the perfume on a tissue and put it over my nose.
I think I'd be tempted to hand them a couple of dollars and politely suggest they buy some soap when I was ready to leave the bus.
I can understand it if the person obviously works at a labor intensive job, like construction. I can overlook that "hard work" smell, my husband comes home smelling like that every day. It's not usually that offensive. But someone who stinks badly due to long-term poor hygiene sometimes needs to be reminded that soap is very cheap and should be used on a regular basis. :D
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
11 Sep 07
My nose has always been very sensitive, wolfie, so I'm afraid that if I found myself in that situation I would leave my seat and stand for the duration of the ride. I had a similar situation a few months ago. I was at my bank and this really huge guy was just ahead of me in line. I soon became aware that I would faint if I had to stand there much longer. I stuck my nose inside my purse where I pretended to be rummaging for something that I could not find. Thankfully, he finally concluded his business and moved on, but he left his impression behind, yuk!
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
12 Sep 07
Hi there. I think I have a very sensitive nose when it comes to strange and yucky smells... I know if I was sitting next to someone with really bad odours, I would definetly ask him/her to do something about it, and if no response, I would spray them and tell them that Im entitled to smell fresh air, if really comes to worse, I probably would stand for the duration of the trip, I am one that cant stand yucky smells especially B.O... Yuck!!!
@Sharon38 (1912)
• Jamaica
12 Sep 07
Hey wolfie this happens to me so often on the public bus I resorted to taking taxi.
I remember I was going to choir practice and a gentleman came and stood one seat ahead of me but believe me I almost gagged right there and then. I had to open my blouse and actually pushed my face inside inhaling. Opening the windows did not help becos somehow the smell came bouncing right back to us. When he came off everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began to take deep breaths of air as the stench cleared. It felt like it stuck in my throat even now I still smell him. Yuck!
@jayanthiinba (245)
• India
11 Sep 07
Hehhhhhh..:)It depends on situations.. If d person is ma frnd.. would really recommend him/her to use some body spray and would tell him/her it happens to me too.. But then we have to control it to make others feel comfortable with us..
If the person is a stranger, i would walk out frm tat place :)
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
11 Sep 07
I try to move away from the stenchy area otherwise I would make the stench even worse by puking all over the stench as it is lol. I am very sensitive and ugly smells just make me wrench lol. I can';t take it ..that and Turkish toilets lol. This is enough to drive me up the wall big time, so moving away is the only option for me. A hanky wouldn't work lol.
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
11 Sep 07
Hi Wolfie, hope all is well!
Honestly if a person with that bad of a stench sat beside me I would dig through my purse to find either tissues, vicks, perfume, or something to "hide" my nose, or when the bus stopped I would move, I'd even stand if I had to just to get away from it. I have a very sensitive nose, a lot of smells bother me but I'd have to say bo is one of the worst. Hopefully I would be able to move because if not it would only be a matter of time until my gag reflex started and their would be an icky mess on the floor that might even smell worse then the bo!
@raydene (9871)
• United States
11 Sep 07
Remember Sweets that most people do not wake up in the AM saying I guess I will offend everyone I see with my body odor!!
People that appear dirty may have never been taught to clean themself properly or may be depressed or can not afford soaps etc..Just remember "but for the grace of God go I"..
My Ma used to say if you see something wrong try to right it..When I used to go to the city alot in a certain area where the homeless were I carried small bars of soap and would give them to anyone who would take them...
No one wants to be dirty..rather then be offended see if you can help in some way..
Hugs
@raychill (6525)
• United States
11 Sep 07
Last week I went to the movies. Right as the movie was starting this woman sat down next to me. This annoyed me for a multitude of reasons... the first being that she was with her husband and child and instead of sitting next to them she left a seat in between the two of them and sat next to me.
The second being that there were two seats on the other side of my friend. However, the movie was starting and I didn't want to be a jerk and right as she sits move over. Looks bad.
The last being that she reaked of Dirt and Sweat! Unfortunately I just kinda turned myself the other way so as to not be all up in the smell. Had it been earlier I would have done it. Had it been bad I would have done it.
I can't be around baby powder. The smell makes me ill. I can't even wear or be around women who wear powder scented deodorant.
Though, Dirt and sweat does not smell good, it wasn't that bad otherwise I'd definitely move. Had she smelled like baby powder or vanilla or bleach, I definitely would have moved.