Olfactory reference syndrome

Olfactory reference syndrome, abbreviated ORS, is a psychiatric condition in which a person holds a persistent false belief and preoccupation that they emit abnormal body odors which they think are foul and offensive to others. People with the condition often misinterpret the behavior of others, such as sniffing, touching the nose or opening a window, as referring to an unpleasant body odor that in reality does not exist and cannot be detected by other people. The disorder is often accompanied by shame, embarrassment, significant distress, avoidance behavior, social phobia and social isolation. The name reflects the idea of reference, the patient reading everyday behavior of other people as being about the supposed odor.