First, remember to be kind to your friend about their smells; all of us are smelly some days. Then figure out a nice way of telling your friend about their odors.
- One way of telling them is to privately remind them that everyone, including yourself, is going through puberty. And that one of the pubertal changes is increased body odor.
- Another way is to tell them that you have decided to start washing more regularly, including your underarm areas and feet. If you are using a product to limit underarm odors, tell them this too. You may want to let them know that you carry your deodorant/anti-perspirant in your bag and that you reapply it when needed.
- If they still don’t get the hint, you can say, “I feel awkward saying this, yet you are my friend and I care about you. You smell sometimes in a not-so-nice way. I think you are going through puberty like I am and need to wash more.” Usually, if we express true concern without judgment, our friends will listen. Think of it this way—if you had spinach in your teeth, wouldn’t you want your friend to tell you and tell you in a nice way?
