How to tell if your body odour is obvious to everyone but you | BBC Science Focus Magazine

We all stink some of the time, when bacteria get stuck in the sweat produced by our apocrine glands.

The problem is that our senses can become accustomed to common smells, even the dodgy ones. It’s called nose blindness or olfactory fatigue.

It’s the reason you can’t smell your dog in the house, but visitors can, for example.

There are suggested ways around it, but they’re not well-studied. One tip is to run clean fingertips over your scalp or under your arms, and then give your fingers a cautionary sniff.

This article is an answer to the question (asked by Beth Clarke, London) 'How can I find out if I smell?'