So you finally bagged the potential loyal, but every time you hang out with them, you realise they’re taking your breath away. No, we mean that literally. Time spent with them means you can’t breathe properly because a disturbing odour is threatening to unalive you.

These 12 Nigerians can relate all too well. They share why they had to walk away, even when they didn’t want to.

“His rug ruined the mood” — Fausat* 27

“I went to his place for the first time and he still used a rug in 2025. Fine. But the rug had this trapped, old damp smell. It filled the whole living room. I couldn’t even sit comfortably, let alone think about being romantic.”

“I couldn’t breathe” — Ini*, 21

He wore heavy oud. Not the nice kind, the choking, headache-inducing one. I spent the entire date trying to breathe through my mouth. I couldn’t wait to get home.

“His balls made me gag” — Edidiong*, 31

I was fully prepared to give him head. Like, I was in the mood. Then I got close, and the musky smell from his balls almost made me gag. I just changed position and prayed he wouldn’t notice my enthusiasm die.

“She pulled her shoes and over” — Deji, 26

My crush came over after work. Everything was fine until she took off her shoes. The entire room changed, and I kept asking where the smell came from. When I realised, I felt bad. But I couldn’t initiate anything again that night.

“I couldn’t stand his breath” — Tolu*, 29

I went on a date with someone who had terrible breath. She was talking and laughing, and I just kept nodding from a safe distance. I couldn’t wait to end the conversation and go home.

“The smell stayed in my nose” — Franklyn*, 30

I was midway through caressing her boobs and feeling smooth. The moment the bra came off, a strange musty-plus-perfume smell hit me. I kept going so it wouldn’t get awkward, but that smell stayed in my nose for days.

“She used the toilet in my house” — Posi*, 29

My talking stage used the toilet in my house, and the smell was diabolical. Even she knew because she kept saying she didn’t know what she ate. I just kept spraying air freshener and pretending everything was normal.

“His dreadlocks needed saving” — Ibukun*, 29

I was seeing a guy who kept dreads, but they smelled extremely bad. One day, I had to ask him how often he shampoos because I genuinely needed to know.

“I smelt locust beans and weed” — Hassan*, 30

My office crush gave me a ride in her car, and it had this nauseating smell of locust beans and weed. I just kept quiet the entire ride and kept imagining what her house would smell like.

“My family noticed it first” — Dozie*, 25

I don’t even have a strong sense of smell like that. But this babe came over once, and after she left, my mum and sisters threw all the windows open and started spraying air freshener because of her body odour. I felt so bad, I never invited her over again.

“He smelt like raw eggs” — Peace*, 23

I dated someone who constantly smelled like raw egg. He could finish bathing, and within minutes, that raw egg smell would fill the room. It was honestly part of why I left.

“Her perfume traumatised me” — Harrif*, 27

I stopped talking to one babe because of her perfume. It reminded me of when my family had money issues, and we were squatting with my uncle. I hated that smell back then, but I didn’t have a choice. Every time she came close, it just took me back there. I had to walk away.

 *Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.