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Jan 31, 2024 · Men in their 30s and 40s apparently emit an odour that smells like used, old oil and is distinct from old person smell. According to a seven-year study on 800 male subjects by Mandom, the Japanese personal care brand, the smell is typically produced at the crown and back of the head, and peaks from ages 35 to 49. The cause is said to be an ...
- Different ages, different smells
- Chemicals break down with age
- There’s probably a reason behind the smell
- Changes in body odor are perfectly normal
- The bottom line
Your body odor can change throughout your life. Think of a newborn baby — they have that distinct, fresh scent. Now, think of a teenage boy. They, too, have a distinct scent that’s very different from a baby’s.
Older adults are no different. Many describe their scent as being mildly sweet and musty. And despite what popular culture might try to say, a 2012 study suggests most people usually don’t mind this smell at all.
The study’s authors believe people tend to find the scent more unpleasant when they know it’s coming from an older person. This suggests there’s likely some age discrimination at play in how people perceive body odor.
But what causes our body odor to change with age, and why does it happen?
Contrary to harmful stereotypes of older people, age-related changes in body odor likely have nothing to do with personal hygiene. Instead, experts think it’s the result of odor compounds and bacteria interacting on the skin. The major odor compound at play is called 2-nonenal.
When certain chemicals break down in the body with age, 2-nonenal is one of the byproducts. The breakdown of omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids may be the biggest source of 2-nonenal.
Experts have only detected 2-nonenal in people over the age of 40. Levels appear to only increase with age. While environmental and lifestyle factors can also influence body odor, 2-noneal appears to be responsible for the distinct, slightly musty odor associated with older people.
Keep in mind that experts are still trying to fully understand how body odor changes with age. While 2-noneal seems like a probable cause, there’s still a chance it doesn’t play much of a role.
While 2-nonenal is likely responsible for how body odor changes with age, it’s still unclear why this change happens. But experts believe evolution is part of the picture.
Remember, it isn’t just older adults who have a distinct smell. Infants, teenagers, young adults, and middle-aged adults each tend to have slightly different body odors. Experts believe these specific scents help keep the human species alive and well.
Since the discovery of 2-noneal, several companies have started developing personal care products designed to mask the scent of older people, particularly in Japan. But there’s no evidence that these products do anything to target 2-nonenal.
Plus, there’s evidence that people generally don’t mind the smell associated with older people. In fact, that 2012 study found that participants rated the odors of older individuals as less unpleasant and less intense than the odors of some younger groups.
For the study, 44 men and women were divided into three different age categories: 20 to 30, 45 to 55, and 75 to 90. They were asked to sleep in a shirt specially fitted with underarm pads that could absorb odor for five consecutive days.
Participants were also asked to avoid foods that could interfere with their urine’s natural smell while on the sleep test. These included foods containing a lot of spices.
At the end of the five days, the underarm pads were collected and cut into quarters. Each piece was placed in a glass jar. The study’s authors asked individuals to smell the jar and guess the person’s age and sex.
The testers had a hard time detecting differences in scent between young and middle-aged people — they smelled too similar. They had a much easier time identifying samples from the study’s oldest group.
Body odor naturally changes as you age. For older people, this change in smell is likely due to an increase in levels of a compound called 2-nonenal.
No matter the cause, there’s no reason to run from these changes. Research suggests that, while people recognize older adults as smelling different, they don’t necessarily consider it an unpleasant smell.
Apr 19, 2017 · Truth is, “old people smell” ― while arguably not the nicest or most respectful way to talk about our elders ― is a real thing. Here’s how body odor works for older people: Hormonal imbalances that occur during aging often result in more lipid acid, a fatty acid produced in our skin. And as skin matures, its natural antioxidant ...
Old person smell. Old person smell is the characteristic odor of elderly humans. [1] Like many other animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the aging process. Research suggests that this enables humans to determine the suitability of potential partners based on age, in addition to other ...
Hormones can significantly influence body odor, as they regulate the secretion of sweat and sebum. These hormonal changes can affect the skin’s moisture levels and its microbiome, which in turn can change how the skin smells. For example, decreases in estrogen and testosterone levels can impact the body’s natural smell. 6.
May 30, 2012 · Together, the evidence indicates that people recognize a characteristic "old people smell" not because of the aroma's intensity or offensiveness, but because of its uniqueness compared to the body ...
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Jun 20, 2023 · Old People Smell, often referred to as “old person smell” or “granny smell,” is a distinctive odor commonly associated with older individuals residing in retirement communities. The smell is described as musty, stale, or similar to mothballs. While it is not exclusive to retirement communities, the close proximity of individuals in such ...
