BBNaija: Ways To Tell Someone They Have Body Odour

Two housemates of the Big Brother Naija have now accused one of the housemates, Tacha, of having provocative body odour. Mike was first to broach the topic when he told Khafi, a now evicted housemate to inform Tacha to apply deodorant due to her body odour.

But it became a controversial issue after Khafi noted that Mike should not have told her in the presence of other housemates.

Also, on Friday, Mercy shouted at Tacha that she had body odour after the latter insulted her by calling her a “clout chaser.”

Body odour is an issue that people do not often know how to handle. So what is the right way and time to tell someone that has body odour without provoking a fight?

Nigerians who spoke to THE WHISTLER on the issue expressed divergent views. An Engineer, Emmanuel Oyebuchi, said he is blunt about it whether it is to a girl or boyfriend. “I don’t know how to be nice to people especially when the issue me too. “ On a Saturday morning, I will wake up and make breakfast. Preferably plantain. When she wakes up, she will ask what is smelling so nicely and I will tell her that everything in the house smells nice except her.”

Also expressing similar views, a businessman, Ajoke Adedeji, said she would tell the friend bluntly with no emotions. “I will tell the person to go and bath till you no longer smell, “adding that it is very “irritating and unbearable.”

Ifeanyi Chiedozie, an undergraduate, has a slightly different view. He said passing the message at the right time and right place is important. “ Having the right approach is key.For a guy, you have to take into consideration how well you know and understand each other. I would sit him down, explain to him that he has body odour. I would point out that I am not trying to insult him but I am looking after him.”

He pointed out that the talk should not be more than three minutes long so that it doesn’t turn to a lecture which the friend might not be comfortable with. He claimed that if it was his girlfriend who had the issue, he would take the same approach but emphasized that he would let the girl know that his advice was not out of spite but love.

Another interviewee shared the same perspective. Joshua Caleb, an architect said: “I will not be straight forward about it, whether it is a boy or a girl. For those with very strong body odour, I will use every opportunity to buy perfume or body spray or even both. Before we hang out, I will remind you to put it on. I will keep this up till it becomes a part of you to always put on body spray before coming to see me or anyone else.”

But he has a different approach for others. “For those with mild body odor, I will make sure you have your bath before coming out of the house. I might chip in some vague comments about the issue till you get the hint. I do not want to hurt anyone.”

A Medical Lab Scientist, Faith Stephanie, emphasised that she will be lovely about it. She went on to sympathize with those who have body odour, saying it must have been hard for them especially because it is not something that goes away overnight. People, according to her, must be tender and delicate whenever addressing such an issue.

“Honestly if it is manageable and mild, I will not say anything about. I will get used to it,” she stated.

But Aisha Audu, a post-graduate student, said that she would rather help find solution to the problem than take it out on the person. She said she would “encourage him to wash his clothes regularly” and ask him to “buy more clothes so that he can change it often”. She would also “insist that he changes his soap and begins to shave regularly”. Audu said she would do all that she can to find the root of the problem and help him go through making himself better.

However, Daniel Anowu, an accountant, preferred not to start a relationship with someone with body odour.