Eur Deceit

Some signs feel so obvious they almost seem like something out of a movie. Like finding lipstick on his collar, or discovering a long strand of hair that’s definitely not yours.

You’d think no one actually gets caught like that anymore, but they do. And for a lot of people, little things like this are the first clues that something’s off.

Let’s start with one of the most common: unfamiliar smells.

You know your partner's usual scent. His cologne, his body wash, the laundry detergent on his clothes. It all becomes familiar over time. So when something new shows up, something sweet and floral, it stands out.

And sure, once could be nothing. Maybe he brushed past someone or tested a perfume sample on his way home. But when it keeps happening and the explanation never really makes sense, that’s when you should pause and take notice.

One woman told us her boyfriend came home smelling like fancy lavender soap. When she asked, he said his office had new soap dispensers. But the same smell kept showing up again and again. Turns out, it wasn’t work. It was his coworker.

Here are a few other physical red flags worth paying attention to.

Maybe you spot a smudge of lipstick on his collar or cheek, or a pink stain on his shirt. If you don’t wear red lipstick, and he definitely doesn’t, then where did it come from?

Or, you find random hairs that don’t belong. A long blonde hair on his suit when yours is dark. Curly when yours is straight. You don’t need a DNA test to know when something’s off.

You might also notice a suspicious mark on his neck or chest, he’s claiming it’s from lifting weights at the gym, but come on...

He might start coming home smelling freshly washed when he shouldn’t. Like he changed in the car, or washed just one shirt for no clear reason.

Sometimes it’s what you find lying around. Earrings, bobby pins, lipstick, or hair ties that definitely aren’t yours. You might also come across receipts for restaurants or hotels he never told you about. All of these things are obviously massive red flags.

Then there are the toiletries that don’t make sense. A toothbrush in his glove box. Makeup wipes in his travel suitcase. A condom under the seat. Those things don’t just appear out of nowhere.

You might find hidden stashes too. A change of clothes in the trunk, an overnight bag at work, or toiletries packed like he’s living a second life. It’s all stuff that should make you stop and think.

When someone steps outside the relationship, they end up bring pieces of that back home.

So if you start noticing things that don’t add up, step back and ask yourself:

Is this a one-off, or is it part of a bigger cluster?

And if you do notice something weird, take a photo. Things can be cleaned up or hidden, but photos don’t lie.