Body odour

It never fails to amaze me how in this day and age there are people who have yet to discover anti-perspirants and deodorants! Unless, of course, these people need an urgent crash course in personal hygiene matters.

There is almost nothing so off putting or offensive as stale body odour, that rancid smell some people seem to enjoy carrying with them as some public sign of their hygienic deprivation. I find this to be not only disgusting but also totally unacceptable, especially so in enclosed spaces.

Returning from a short visit to London a few days ago, I had to suffer the stench emanating from the person sitting next to me until, short of fainting, I changed my seat. Being lucky, half way through the flight I was once again greeted by a similar, unmistakable fragrance. A young man, who should know better, stopped right next to me to greet the person sitting in front of me. Adding insult to injury, he had taken off his jacket and stripped down to his vest, possibly to show off his various tattoos in this cold, polluting the air with the stench of a stomach-turning concoction of sweat, dirt and heaven knows what else. Pity he did not have time to shower!

Not to mention someone smelling of putrid meat while you are trying to enjoy some nice meal in a nice restaurant...