The “Old Person Smell” Is Real — Here’s How To Find Out If It Will Happen To You

Do you still remember the taste of your favorite grandma? If you think back to a beloved elder, you may recall a memory that’s been described as a smell that’s been described as a mix of old oil and moldy cardboard. It might remind you of opening an old book or unpacking a box of vintage clothing. While it’s much more subtle than the smell of young people’s sweat, it’s definitely noticeable and may stick in your memory as an “old man’s smell.”

It turns out that the smell is an actual biological phenomenon, caused by epidermal changes that occur in everyone as they age. According to skin experts, each birthday after 40 increases the likelihood of these changes in skin odor. Research has identified the culprit as a chemical called 2-nonenal (pronounced nohenehnar), an organic compound called an aldehyde.

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This “aging smell” is caused by increased production of this aldehyde in older adults, which is the source of a distinctive, dusty “granny” smell. By the way, not all aldehydes smell the same. Another example is cinnamic aldehyde, the organic compound that gives cinnamon its characteristic flavor and aroma, explains Dr. Delphine J. Lee, chief of dermatology and residency program director at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

We talked to dermatologists and other experts to find out why this happens.

Here are the changes in skin odor production.

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The compound 2-nonenal has its own unique smell, which increases as people age. “As we age, a few things happen to our skin all at once,” says Dr. Sonal Choudhary, a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The skin’s antioxidant defenses are reduced, sebum composition changes, and cumulative UV exposure and environmental stress increase oxidative damage to the skin.” Because these substances weaken the skin, 2-nonenal has the opportunity to make its presence known.

“Research shows that measurable increases in 2-nonenal typically begin after age 40, with accumulation being more pronounced in the 50s and beyond,” Choudhary said. “It’s a gradual process, not an instant transition. The intensity of the odor varies from person to person, depending on genetics, skin type, lifestyle and environmental exposures.”

Dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye, founder of Bergen Dermatology, says this happens to most people. “There is evidence that the production of 2-nonenal is a common age-related phenomenon and is not limited to a small group of people,” she noted. “Studies have consistently detected this grassy, ​​greasy smell in older adults of both sexes. While levels vary between individuals, there is no evidence that only certain people produce this smell.”

If you make your own, you may not be able to smell it.

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Since a variety of factors, including genetics and lifestyle, can affect your skin condition, you may be lucky enough to avoid the smell of 2-nonenal entirely. Even if that distinctive smell does appear, remember that it’s all in the nose of the beholder. “People may exaggerate that the smell is unpleasant or disgusting,” Lee said. “It may even be more neutral or pleasant than the body odor of young and middle-aged people.”

As Choudhary mentioned, this process happens gradually, which gives your brain a chance to get used to the new smell, thanks to olfactory adaptation. After a while, you may not notice pervasive smells because your brain often filters out familiar smells while remaining alert to new information. An example of this “nose blindness” is that we may notice that a friend’s house always smells a certain way, but may not be able to detect the unique smell of our own home.

Unlike sweat, it doesn’t wash off easily.

Since 2-nonenal is a fatty acid, it does not dissolve in soap and water as easily as sweat. “It’s hard to get rid of this molecule because it’s so sticky,” said Danielle Reed, chief scientific officer at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a nonprofit research organization that studies taste and smell. “It likes to stick to your skin and it likes to stick to fabrics. You get rid of some of it when you shower, but your body keeps producing it, so washing doesn’t cure it.”

Boakhi suggests using an antioxidant cleanser may help. She also said products containing aldehydes such as tannins may help reduce the duration of odor in some people. “Despite the lack of large randomized trials, tannin-containing persimmon soap has a plausible mechanism and a long history of use,” she noted. While none of these experts recommend specific products, Mirai’s Clinical Persimmon Soap (containing Japanese persimmon and green tea extracts) is popular and highly rated.

Recent research has looked at the potential role eggplant extract may play in reducing oxidative stress that contributes to the formation of 2-nonenal. In a study published last year, researchers showed that eggplant fruits, leaves, stems and roots, and its active ingredient N-trans-feruloylputrescine, Exhibits excellent 2-nonenal scavenging activity. But that’s an option “someday,” Lee said: “Human clinical data are still limited, so it shouldn’t be positioned as a cure.”

An earlier study initially showed positive results on how consuming white mushroom extract reduced body odor in subjects aged 50 to 79 years, but this has not yet been followed up with a large clinical trial.

Experts agree that there is still no reliable way to completely eliminate it from the skin. “If you could figure this out, you’d be very rich, but so far nothing has really worked,” Reed said.

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besides? It’s all natural and totally fine.

If you notice this smell on yourself or a loved one, don’t feel ashamed or judged. Chowdhury noted that this was not a sign of poor hygiene, nor was it inevitable or uncontrollable. “This is a normal biochemical change in aging skin, similar to wrinkles or dryness,” she says. “This can often be greatly reduced with attentive skin care, antioxidant support, and proper washing.”

Another consideration is that smell is a subjective realm for humans. “We decided we didn’t like the smell of old people, but we liked the smell of babies’ heads,” Reed said. “Perhaps, as a society, we can learn to like the smell of aging. Not everyone finds the smell unpleasant, and there is something for everyone when it comes to smell.”

We also have the opportunity to learn about this and other age-related changes because they happen whether we like it or not.

“As a dermatologist, I emphasize that aging is a natural, lifelong biological process that we all experience,” Lee said. “We should focus on promoting health and well-being throughout our lives, while recognizing and valuing the wisdom, resilience and life experiences that come with aging. I wish we placed less emphasis on cosmetic or physical changes like body odor or wrinkles that are often part of living a full life.”

This article was originally published on Huffington Post.

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