Hell in the Hallways

By Adeline Newton

“It's literally so dank everywhere. Each floor smells like a different part of a rotting sandwich,” claims East High junior Ella Burrell. Walking in the hallways at East is already challenging enough, now imagine the most rancid smell overtaking the hallways as everybody shoves their way into classrooms. East students' noses are constantly being assaulted by the intense smell of other student’s body odor (B.O.) in the hallways and classrooms due to other students' poor hygiene.

High school is the prime time for changing bodies, which also means, sweat glands change. When teens hit puberty, eccrine glands (or sweat glands) produce sweat. However, sweat doesn’t smell on its own; only once it’s broken down by bacteria on the skin does it begin to project the foul odor. Puberty causes the amount of sweat being produced, allowing bacteria to decompose more of it, causing more of a foul scent. 

    Of course everybody sweats, given we are all human, however, some smell better than others. Regularly bathing in order to get rid of the bacteria helps prevent a buildup of bacteria and sweat. Deodorant conceals the foul scent so instead it projects a much better smell. Deodorant comes in many different scents and applications, ranging from sprays, stick, roll on, to any scent desirable to fit all preferences. 

    Reapplying deodorant can also be a good habit to make sure the smell is masked throughout the day. Wearing clean clothes prevents the possibility of lingering odors being projected and washing dirty clothes eliminates the bacteria and smell left after use. Perfume and cologne smells good of course but is not a substitute for deodorant due to it not killing off bacteria like deodorant does. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and if perfume or cologne is the only thing immediately available it’s better to use something rather than nothing. 

The smell is more pungent towards the more crowded areas of the hallway, such as the main stairwell. By this stairwell you are put close up to people and have no choice but to smell things (voluntarily or not). So don’t be that person radiating that rancid smell of B.O.

Being rushed out the door in the mornings while running late leaves room for things to be forgotten, one of them being deodorant. Asking a friend for deodorant could be a solution,depending on circumstances. School nurse, Nurse Fun, also confirmed, “For anyone having body odor, we provide deodorant and invite people to come get deodorant if needed.”

Photo caption: East juniors Ella Burrell and Hazel Nyce and sophomore Emma McNutt cringe at the awful smell of B.O. by the second floor main stairwell.