Understanding the smell of aging: why it appears and what will help in everyday life

When my great-grandmother was still alive, I often wondered if it was just me who smelled a strange smell in her apartment. I was a small child then, and only with the passage of time did I realize that most old people simply smell strange. While it sounds unpleasant, the truth is that this “aging smell” is scientifically explainable.

Sometimes you notice it first in the clothes or possessions of older people. Odor is a sensitive subject, and not just for the people involved. Sometimes they are aware of it, but sometimes they have no idea. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is also very unpleasant for the people around them. I personally feel bad whenever I have a bad feeling about older people because of their smell. Especially when I know it’s simply not their fault.

How and why does the smell of aging arise?

Scientists believe that the development of odor is related to a combination of biological, chemical and physiological processes in the body. The skin changes over the years, specifically the composition of sebum. It contains lipids that can oxidise. The most important of these substances is 2-nonenal. This is an organic compound with the typical odour of elderly people. A Japanese study in 2007 showed that the amount of this lipid increases in people over 40.

Furthermore, the composition of bacteria and yeast on the skin changes with age. These can often cause the typical odour, even if the person washes regularly. Older people often have a naturally increased ability to sweat. Although sweat is odorless on its own, it combines with bacteria and oxidizing lipids to produce odors.

Last but not least, hormonal and metabolic changes can be responsible for odor. All of this combines to create the typical smell you usually perceive in older people, and often not just when you get in close proximity to them. In my experience, it is often pronounced even when you are in the same room with an older person.

How can one get rid of the smell?

Some people are ashamed of their old man smell. I have people in my neighbourhood who talk about the problem, although very reluctantly, and try to solve it. On the other hand, I know many people who are not aware of the problem. And I’m not surprised. It is clear that if a person lives with a smell all the time, it seems normal to him and he does not realize that others may perceive it differently.

“You can’t mask the smell with perfume. Perfume is simply applied to it. Rather, it has to be gotten rid of from within,” explains nutritionist Leslie Kenny. What does this mean? Older people need to focus on thorough hygiene, but also on what they eat and how they look after themselves in general. A diet rich in antioxidants, which can reduce lipid oxidation, is important. If a person consumes healthy fats, plenty of fluids, and maintains regular exercise and adequate sleep, aging odor will not manifest itself as significantly.