Sounds like Self sabotage to me

"The whole place reeks of rotten eggs and dead decaying flesh"

I would not be able to work there. I prefer the opposite. Whatever oder is present I will catch it and it will linger a long time with me. My oder tends to be the reactive type. I used to have a chicken oder a couple of years ago though when I was less reactive. That kind of job is for people with strong immune systems. You are working around a lot of germs.

As for the guy. If I were in your shoes I would let things progress were they may. You don't need to call him if you don't want neither does he expect you to. If he asks why youwon't call you can give him some kind of excuse. If after 3-4 months he still hasn't let up you can try to go out with him.

Just because some people take offense at your odor doesn't mean everyone is. Don't judge yourself. Let them(him) decide.

I used to take jobs that let me work alone too. I worked second shift for the last 11 years... even from before this odor thing. Work conditions are still the number#1 thing I look at when accepting a job. I won't accept a job that puts undue pressure about production. That generates stress makes me sweat and sweat makes me stink (more).

You can have friends even if you are smelly. I remember this one lady from my last job which I used to like. She was older and married, but I used to buy her things and the girls at work. She later became the department leader(not full supervisor). But she protected me until the end. She would give good reviews for me on how valuable what I do is etc. Finally I was tricked me into quiting because they said if I wasn't going to stay they would call it a layoff so they could close down second shift.

I can't even get layed off from my current job. They are putting so much production pressures that I wan't to quit. I give them plenty of reason for them to fire me. Miss a day every other week, Late for work, long breaks, averagish production and work errors. They layed of quite a few people but they still hang on to me because I do the work.

As bad as some people are there are also otthers that will continue to work with you despite the "problems" you present. Also when they are talking they are less likely to notice things like odors.

Be good to yourself
-venk