People stink

I had no clue that some people smell like death. I guess if I would have taken the time to process the information, I probably would have came to the same conclusion without having to digest the smell for hours: people stink.

And, honestly, I've been lucky. I distinctly remember three people - out of the past twenty tattoos - with an awful smell. So lets sit back and reminisce...

1. The first person smelled like corn chips from the kickoff to the final whistle. I think he came directly from work, or at least I hope so. There was no mistaking it. Even the shop felt the effects by keeping the smell alive a few hours after that person was gone - you know, for good measure.

2. Nervous sweat caused one client to emit some kind of onion scent from his left armpit. I was working near the right one, but, for whatever reason, the left was doing duty for both.

3. The last one I understood a bit more. About two hours in, this guy started to feel like hamburger meat and his body got exhausted. I think he was fighting the pain mentally, instead of accepting it, and just couldn't do it anymore. In a matter of minutes he was sweating like a coal miner.

You have to just get used to it. I don't think you build up a tolerance, because it'll still throw you back initially. Now, I've yet to tattoo a lower back and get hit with some internal body air wafting from the nether regions (AKA bottomless perdition). But I've got plenty of time to both accept it and learn how to work through it.

Do you have any doubts about your smell? Do you curiously ruin all of your white shirts with lovely armpit rings? How gracious and wonderful it would be of you to shower before your next tattoo.