Old person smell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone actually read the Scientific American article?

I read it and it was interesting, thanks. But people here are talking about a different smell, an offensive one, that they associate with old people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at a work Christmas party last night and I could smell the old ladies. I am already in my 50s. How do we prevent “old person smell”? This is my nightmare!

Don't:

1. Smoke
2. Wear Estee Lauder perfume
3. Use Aqua Net hairspray
4. Marry a man who makes you want to smell bad so he leaves you alone
5. Work in an office with catty hateful bioches

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before fast cheap fashion people owned much less clothing. Someone would own like three shirts and two dresses, one coat. They didn't wash stuff after each wear. Old people still have this mentality. They also think it's nbd to go a week without bathing. My grandmother is dead now but of the generation that went to the salon once a week for a wash and set and didn't touch their hair in between. This play people really used to use mothballs. All that plus old lady perfume and aftershave (who uses aftershave anymore??) is the smell. I honestly think everyone used to smell like this we just associate it with old people.

You aren’t wrong. But old people definitely have an innate and distinct smell, regardless of washing routine. Washed or not, old and young people just smell differently. The closest scent I can compare it to for old people would be decay. Unwashed younger people can have unpleasant smells too- but it isn’t the same

[Anonymous]

My great grandmother smelled like Italian food. She smelled good. When we took her to a store or restaurant, she really smelled good. She used to wear White Shoulders perfume. On her it smelled so good. I loved her so much ❣️.

[Anonymous]

Buy your parents and grandparents bidets for their toilets and get them installed by professional plumbers so they work properly.

I wish we had acquired them many years before we did. Very helpful for between showers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My great grandmother smelled like Italian food. She smelled good. When we took her to a store or restaurant, she really smelled good. She used to wear White Shoulders perfume. On her it smelled so good. I loved her so much ❣️.

Nice tribute ! 😀

[Anonymous]

Only Americans shower daily. Most people in the rest of the world shower less frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only Americans shower daily. Most people in the rest of the world shower less frequently.

Many affluent middle eastern and Asian families use bidets and they help enormously with staying clean between showers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t they shower regularly?

+1 I always assumed this was it, sort of a musty smell rather than active bo due to much drier skin.

Not shower issue. Natural part of getting old. I suppose you can take the quick way out

[Anonymous]

There is a poor hygiene smell and an old person smell. The old person smell is the oxidized lipid acid, nonenal odor.

Poor hygiene smell can be remedied easily. Nonenal odor takes extra steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if it's been mentioned yet but there's a mango soap that can get rid of the smell. You can order it on Amazon.

Persimmon not mango

[Anonymous]

My parents don’t smell, but my in-laws do. The difference is showering and cleaning clothes/ house regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t they shower regularly?

+1 I always assumed this was it, sort of a musty smell rather than active bo due to much drier skin.

Not shower issue. Natural part of getting old. I suppose you can take the quick way out

DP

Practicing good hygiene and good self care is hardly the quick way out . Many of PPs various suggestions actually hold up to closer scrutiny.

Yes the “nonenal” body odor changes are part of growing old (the amount of 2-nonenal in body odor, and the amount of ω7 monounsaturated fatty acids and lipid peroxides in the skin surface lipids, tend to increase with age) -/ but practicing good hygiene is a key way to mitigate the BO associated with increased production of 2-nonenal.

To mitigate "old lady smells," the best approach is to encourage good personal hygiene practices like regular showering, using fragrance-free soaps, wearing breathable clothing, staying hydrated, and changing clothes often; additionally, consider using specialized products designed to address the "nonenal" which can be found in certain body washes and deodorants.

Persimmon Extract (or tannin) is scientifically proven to help reduce nonenal. Tannin is a chemical with antioxidant properties that dissolves nonenal and neutralizes its odor. A study found that a polyphenol mixture extracted from persimmon and other ingredients had a high anti-oxidative and deodorant effect against nonenal.

Key strategies:
Frequent bathing: Shower daily with a mild, fragrance-free soap.

Breathable clothing: Opt for natural fabrics like cotton that allow for air circulation.

Specialized products: Look for body washes and deodorants specifically formulated to combat nonenal, often containing ingredients like persimmon extract.

Hydration: Drink plenty of water to dilute odor-causing compounds in sweat.

Diet considerations: A balanced diet can also contribute to reducing body odor.

Environmental factors:
Regularly clean bedding, furniture, and living spaces to prevent lingering odors.

Check for Underlying medical conditions if BO continues:
If the odor is particularly strong or persistent, consider consulting a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is offensive OP and you know it. I've reported you.

Why is it offensive? I am old, too.

I applaud you for being proactive about this! My DH’s parents have a severe case of this and it permeates everything in their house. We can taste it in the food, most definitely smell it in the food packaging. It started in their 50s.

There are special soaps and lotions to cancel it. I bet there are detergents too.

What??! No older person in my family has ever smelled at any age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is offensive OP and you know it. I've reported you.

Why is it offensive? I am old, too.

I applaud you for being proactive about this! My DH’s parents have a severe case of this and it permeates everything in their house. We can taste it in the food, most definitely smell it in the food packaging. It started in their 50s.

There are special soaps and lotions to cancel it. I bet there are detergents too.

Ha. Most of us 50+ Gen-Xers still have a kid or two at home.