Bog of Eternal Stench

My roommate recently made a comment about how my room smells like clean laundry (though it doesn't look that clean) and I realized something. Along with my fear of scorpions, heights, and dying early, I have yet another irrational fear:

Smelling bad.

That may seem kind of anti-climatic. You're thinking back your childhood watching the film "Labyrinth".



You see the Bog of Eternal Stench and think how it sounded kind of ridiculous then. It seems kind of ridiculous now... Until you really think about it that is.

Have you ever been talking to someone and they smell just a little bit off. They don't reek of B.O or anything, just... different. I confess that when someone smells bad I find it REALLY distracting even though I know its a totally superficial way of judging a person. I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't try to be less superficial. I bet its hard making friends but discovering that nobody will stay long in close proximity with you. That's gotta be rough for the person with a Physical Touch love language.

The worst thing about it is that it's socially not acceptable to tell someone, "Dude, you smell weird." I'm pretty straightforward about telling people when their makeup is smudged or their pants aren't zipped but I've never had the guts to confront someone for not smelling good. It seems like it would be offensive if you bought them a new perfume "just because".... Not that that would necessarily help since my kitchen definitely smelt like bleach, brussel sprouts, AND flowers all at the same time this afternoon. Covering up a smell can only help so much.

So this is me, grateful that my home smells like clean laundry.