Is it mean to tell someone you can't help them with their coding problem because you can't take the way they smell?

A coworker of mine has some major BO mixed with cigarette smoke and it makes it hard to focus as I try to help me.

Am I an asshole?

Don't be a douche in the way you tell them.

Other than that, it's not being an asshole imo.

I've had to face that multiple times.
I just try to not focus on the smell and be out as soon as possible.
If I'm asked for help multiple times during that day, I try to resolve it through chat or screen share.

@Stuxnet how do you tell someone that they smell without being an asshole?

I've told someone before to remove their gym tshirt (caused unbearable stench around my desk area) because of the odour. But only because I know them well. But if it were body odour, I don't think I'd be able to ask them to do something about it.

Voice chat?

If you make sure you smell worse, they'll never come and ask you for help.

What's bo?

@netikras body odour.

@dr-ant thanks! I figured business owner doesn't really fit the context :)

@netikras 😆

Two of my colleagues have MO. It's so bad that even when they're sitting at another desk close to me and they sigh or talk, I can smell it.
When they come to me for help and I can't bear it, I usually tell them I don't know how to solve it, and they leave to ask someone else.

@wifi offer them chewing gum every now and then?

There is a lady in the office that wears far too much perfume. An exec asked me if people were not including her because sexism. I pointed out the overwhelming smell and the executive said, “I can’t go tell her to fix her smell.” To which I replied, “Neither can the people that are excluding her either apparently.”

No you are not. I wish you the best of luck with that. I wouldn't blame you if you just told him.
Not that I would, since I'm a coward lol.