That stinks! Or does it?

When I was in junior high, a counselor came to one of my classes and administered a social skills survey. The school wanted to find out how socially-adept 8th graders truly are in a number of subject areas. I remember only one of the questions: If your best friend had really bad breath, would you tell him/her?

The survey was multiple choice. I believe I selected the answer, "No, it may hurt his/her feelings." We graded the survey (an interesting concept), talking through the "correct" answer to each question. Apparently, my social skill judgment was lacking, because the right answer to the question was that a real friend would make sure his/her best friend knew about the smelly breath situation so something could be done about it.

It is now many years later, and I am amazed at the number of times someone has told me that their significant other smells awful, but they just do not know how to break the news to them. In some cases, this has led a person to decide they married the wrong person. In others, it has built up a quiet resentment that one partner has learned to associate with the other in a powerful, sometimes even subconscious, way. Rather than have a discussion about body odor, oral hygiene or using a less-potent cologne, the person silently goes on resenting the foul-smelling partner. Maybe the junior high counselor's social skills survey was correct!

The interesting thing about smells, however, is that they are relatively subjective. What smells like stinky cheese to one person is a delicacy to another. One person's attractive perfume is another's allergy-inducing nightmare. I had a friend in high school who always made sure that her closest friends ate whatever she did so that their breath would all smell similar. "Here, eat some garlic bread, or else I'll smell awful to you the rest of the day." Now, those are some serious social skills! Making it a matter-of-fact, if not almost humorous, discussion while at the same time implementing a practical solution.

Here are some things to think about if your relationship "stinks":

1) Because many odors are caused by bacteria in the mouth after eating rather than by the food itself, even a sweet treat like chocolate or a refreshing glass of milk can turn sour-smelling in a matter of minutes. (How would you like to kiss a glass of curdled milk after breakfast each morning?). Speaking of bacteria, anywhere bacteria is allowed to grow will generate an unpleasant smell. Perspiration, in and of itself, does not stink and neither do most body fluids. Instead, it is the bacteria generated when bodily secretions find a warm, moist place to live. Not that all bacteria is bad or that a person needs to be hyper-sensitive, but if you think you have a problem, some preventative or curative action may be in order.

2) I mentioned earlier the strategy of making sure both partners eat the same type of food when indulging in anything smelly in order to balance out the smell continuum. But, do not forget the other end of the scale. If one person uses mouthwash or minty chewing gum and the other doesn't, the one who does nothing is likely to smell funny to the one who does. So, in a sense, when you use mouthwash, you are improving the smell of your breath while worsening the smell of your partner's breath simultaneously.

2) If your partner is brave enough to mention that there is an unpleasant odor coming from your mouth or from your body, try to see it as a positive sign that the person wants to be close to you rather than as an insult to your personal hygiene, or even worse, your self-image. Take the message seriously and make an effort to correct the situation. If you don't, it may be the last time he or she trusts you with this type of information.

3) Some particularly-strong odors may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that may warrant further investigation.

4) Part of the normal sexual response cycle temporarily suppresses both partners senses of smell. That is probably a good thing--or you and I may never have been born. The sense of smell returns very soon on the post-climax side of the response cycle, especially for men. Which may be part of the reason some do not enjoy postlude chats as much as they might otherwise.

5) Do not underestimate the power of smell, both negatively and positively, to change behavior. Psychologists have used poor-smelling and sweet-smelling fragrances for years to condition the mind to like or dislike certain things. You have done this too...you just may not have noticed it. The odors, pleasant and otherwise, you emit help shape the responses of those around you. Because smells are subjective, it is important to learn which your partner enjoys and which bother her or him. Now, think of all the non-food fragrances that are part of your life. Lotion, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray/gel, toothpaste, deodorant, cologne/perfume, shaving cream, hand soap, laundry detergent...the list can be endless. Learn to use the power of smell to create a powerful bond with your partner rather than to place an invisible wedge between the two of you.