Yes, ‘old person smell’ is a thing – but what causes it and can you neutralise it?

[Windwaver]

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/old-person-smell-body-odour-sweat-2-nonenal-ageing-383531

Why does evolution create this unique odour in seniors? And yes, it's a thing. Even the Japanese have a word for it.

You don’t have to have a canine’s superior olfactory system to know that we emit different odours at different stages of our lives. Babies, for instance, naturally smell pleasant even as they produce explosive diapers and regurgitated milk. During puberty, it's what smells like teen spirit – usually reminiscent of onion and sweat – that is likely to be the scent du jour.

Your personal smell-scape changes again in your senior years and it’s not because you’ve adopted a new cologne or perfume. We’re talking about the “old person smell”, which you might have caught whiffs of in the just-vacated MRT seat, lift, taxi interior or if you live with elderly parents or grandparents: An amalgamation of Axe brand oil, moth balls and an unmistakable greasy, grassy odour.

The smell is so distinct that the Japanese even has a term for it: Kareishu, which means the smell of gaining years.

WHAT CREATES BODY ODOUR IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Your personal brand of odour comes down to the sweat and substances that your body produces, said Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Science Centre Board’s chief executive. Generally, you have two kinds of sweat glands: Apocrine sweat glands (in hair-bearing areas such as the armpits and genital area) and eccrine sweat glands (everywhere on the body, including the palms and soles).

“Apocrine sweat tends to contain more lipids and proteins, while eccrine sweat is mostly composed of water and electrolytes,” he said. “When bacteria break down these substances, the resulting odours can vary. Bacterial action on the lipids and proteins in apocrine sweat leads to the characteristic body odour.”

If you're wondering what lipids are, they are an ingredient in sebum, the same pimple-causing stuff you’ve been fighting in your adolescent and adult life. “Sebum primarily comprises lipids, triglycerides, wax esters, squalene and cellular debris. When exposed to air and bacteria, these components can undergo oxidation and breakdown, resulting in a slightly oily and sometimes musty smell,” said Assoc Prof Lim.

HOW DOES THE “OLD PERSON SMELL” COME ABOUT?

A few things can give rise to this unique odour; one of which is 2-nonenal. A study on subjects between the ages of 26 and 75, noted that this colourless, insoluble, unsaturated aldehyde was detected only in those aged 40 years and older. Incidentally, 2-nonenal is the same compound found in aged beer and buckwheat, and has been described to smell greasy and grassy like fat and cucumber. 

The smell-inducing 2-nonenal is a by-product of omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid after oxidation, said dermatologist Dr Eileen Tan from Eileen Tan Skin Clinic & Associates, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. "Age-related body odour likely has nothing to do with personal hygiene," said Dr Tan. 

According to the study, omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid’s level in skin-surface lipids is found to increase up to six times with age. However, the cause of the increase is not clear.

Another factor is sweating less. If there’s one good thing that comes out of getting older, it’s that you’ll sweat less, according to a 2021 study published in Skin Research And Technology by the International University of Health and Welfare in Narita, Japan.

This could be caused by the age-related loss of collagen, which means your skin isn’t able to prop itself up as well as before. As a result, the sweat glands get compressed against the skin’s surface, making it harder for sweat to come out. (On a side note, this is also why seniors tend to suffer from heat exhaustion as they don’t sweat as much as younger people to regulate their bodies’ temperature.) Less sweat means less bacterial action, which then affects your body's odour.

Furthermore, sebum production may also “decrease or change in composition, contributing to an altered scent”, said Assoc Prof Lim. These bodily changes, combined with diet, health conditions, medications and genetics, contribute to the unique “old person smell” characterised by “a more musty or stale scent”, he said.

“The distinct scent typically becomes noticeable in later adulthood, around 60 years old or older” and can be set off and intensified by those aforementioned factors, said Assoc Prof Lim.

WHAT’S THE EVOLUTIONARY PURPOSE OF THE "OLD PERSON SMELL"?

Much like how we try to guess someone’s age by studying their appearance for physical attributes such as wrinkles and grey hair, odour could be another thing we unconsciously sniff out. In a study by Professor Johan Lundstrom, a brain science and cognitive psychologist from Monell Chemical Senses Center, volunteers were able to pick out the middle-agers based on smell alone.

“It might be a way to distinguish the sick from the healthy – not overt sickness but underlying cell decay," said Prof Lundstrom. "The older we get, the more natural decay we have. But no one really knows why animals or people have this ability."

Assoc Prof Lim agreed that the old person smell is evolution’s way to signal ageing and health. “Some theories suggest it could play a role in signalling social behaviours potentially linked to age-related immune changes.”

CAN WE MINIMISE IT?

Ageism may play a role in discriminating against the old people smell. In fact, the first study highlighted in this article found that people generally didn’t mind the odour and even found it less unpleasant and less intense than younger individuals and middle-agers – until they were told that the odour came from older people. Incidentally, the test subjects found that middle-aged men smelled the worst. 

If you are bothered by the smell, “maintaining a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and staying hydrated may help reduce the intensity of the old person smell”, said Assoc Prof Lim. “Additionally, using skincare products that promote skin health and moisture retention can be beneficial.”

"Any scented products will help to mask the smell", said Dr Tan. Or try soaps that contain tannin-rich persimmon extract and let us know; it is said to dissolve 2-nonenal and help in eliminating odour.

Or simply rock your personal brand of eau de toilette.

 

[Jamesc]

If you don't like old people smell, stand next to young ladies.

That's what I do.

[Sosaria]

Didn't know there's a proper jap word for it. Last time in jap company they laughingly call it ojisan smell

 

[Achtung]

Dang, I was wondering why the chicks were coming on to me. Its that odour. Or is it pheromones?

[BanCoe]

On 1/31/2024 at 7:49 PM, Jamesc said:

If you don't like old people smell, stand next to young ladies.

That's what I do.

Boss but you always end up with MiL , somehow 🤣 …… every where 🤣🤣

[Inlinefour]

me love milf smell very much 

 

 

 

[Soya]

Hantu RadX dunno smell like what. Recycled dunno how many times liao 

[mersaylee]

On 1/31/2024 at 7:49 PM, Jamesc said:

If you don't like old people smell, stand next to young ladies.

That's what I do.

Not when you're in the lift with one in the morning...macam no time to bathe and use half a bottle of perfume to mask liddat...😂

[Kb27]

On 1/31/2024 at 7:49 PM, Jamesc said:

If you don't like old people smell, stand next to young ladies.

That's what I do.

Can't stand many of them. They doused themselves with cheap perfume. Many young guys too.

My other senses may be failing, but my sense of smell is still terribly effective.

[inlinesix]

On 1/31/2024 at 9:19 PM, Kb27 said:

Can't stand many of them. They doused themselves with cheap perfume. Many young guys too.

My other senses may be failing, but my sense of smell is still terribly effective.

You mean must buy something like this

[Windwaver]

On 1/31/2024 at 9:17 PM, mersaylee said:

Not when you're in the lift with one in the morning...macam no time to bathe and use half a bottle of perfume to mask liddat...😂

Especially when you're allergic to perfume like me 

[mersaylee]

On 1/31/2024 at 11:47 PM, Windwaver said:

Especially when you're allergic to perfume like me 

Not allergic...but overdose can be suffocating...😷

[Watwheels]

For our kinda weather try not to use perfume.

I use roll on deodorant(nivea men) or body wipes from Gatsby. I will use them if I know I will be outdoors a lot. After shave balm from nivea also, slightly scented. 

For us guys I think armpit gland is the root cause. Either use roll on deo or wipe the armpits with body wipes. For those with heavy or strong BO should see doctor.

[13177]

On 2/1/2024 at 8:42 AM, Watwheels said:

For our kinda weather try not to use perfume.

I use roll on deodorant(nivea men) or body wipes from Gatsby. I will use them if I know I will be outdoors a lot. After shave balm from nivea also, slightly scented. 

For us guys I think armpit gland is the root cause. Either use roll on deo or wipe the armpits with body wipes. For those with heavy or strong BO should see doctor.

Maybe shave off all armpits hair would reduce the odour problem?

[inlinesix]

On 2/1/2024 at 8:48 AM, 13177 said:

Maybe shave off all armpits hair would reduce the odour problem?

Not necessarily.

Use alcohol wipe to kill the bacteria when it is wet

[inlinesix]

On 2/1/2024 at 8:42 AM, Watwheels said:

For our kinda weather try not to use perfume.

I use roll on deodorant(nivea men) or body wipes from Gatsby. I will use them if I know I will be outdoors a lot. After shave balm from nivea also, slightly scented. 

For us guys I think armpit gland is the root cause. Either use roll on deo or wipe the armpits with body wipes. For those with heavy or strong BO should see doctor.

Can also use Anti-perspirant or Snake Brand powder to reduce sweating.

[Jman888]

the research done by some perfume companies ? 

[Inlinefour]

On 2/1/2024 at 8:59 AM, inlinesix said:

Can also use Anti-perspirant or Snake Brand powder to reduce sweating.

Sergeant said Snake powder for KKB only 🤩🤩🤩