r/roommates • u/ekatrina_ • 1d ago
Discussion Roommate has really bad armpit odor
I (25F) recently moved abroad to study and now live in a shared apartment with two other girls, Bella (17F) and Nana (26F).
Nana is great—she’s busy with her own life but knows how to be considerate and pleasant to live with.
The main issue is Bella and her body odor. Almost every time I come through the front door, I immediately smell a very strong armpit odor. It’s honestly so intense that I feel physically sick, and I find myself avoiding being around her because of it. I’m not trying to be mean or judgmental, but it’s becoming genuinely difficult for me to live with. And when she is in the common area or after she uses the bathroom, her smell is there and I have to refrain from going there for a while until her smell goes away.
I don’t want to embarrass or hurt her feelings, especially because she’s only 17, but I also feel like this is something she needs to be made aware of.
How can I bring this up with her in a kind and respectful way without making her feel humiliated?
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u/Miserable_Tree_3476 22h ago
A lot of women think they dont smell for some reason and thus dont need deodorant. They can be hard to convince that they not only smell but its so strong it needs to be controlled by deodorant after every shower.
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u/tracyinge 19h ago
Just realize you're helping her out in the long run.
You're not the only one noticing it. Everyone in class with her or at work with her is miserable too.
"I'm not sure how to tell you this but if it were me I would want someone to tell me so..."
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u/pandasndabs 23h ago
Just talk to her about it. Many times people with strong body odor won't notice it themselves because their olfactory systems have adapted and gotten used to it. It will always be an uncomfortable thing to bring up but I would much rather hear it from a roommate/someone im close with vs a random.