Older people scent/smell

[4658Lou]

My mother has lived with me for some time and I have never smelled anything befoe, but recently there is a distinct scent coming from where she is living in her bedroom/lounge bit and bathroom and the only way to describe it without a better way to put it, it smells like old person smell and it’s terribly pungent, to be honest I can’t stand the scent it’s going into the hallway even with the door shut. I have tried to approach the subject very gentle but she is unaware completely she keeps saying the dog must have a doggy smell - which it doesn’t, bathed regular and my house smells fresh and clean it’s only where my mum is living it’s absolutely reeks of that old people scent it’s hard to describe , I’ve offered to clean her areas no she won’t let me - but I think it’s that bad now that it’s in the fabrics the scent? I don’t know how to approach this I’m at a loss and don’t want to hurt feelings but I want the smell to go or to not be as pungent I want to help my mum but she reluctant for me to touch her things etc.

Does persimmon soap have a pleasant smell and does it resemble any other scent?

I have been around a lot of elder people and have never experienced this smell. I have known a few to smell because they needed help with self care and weren't getting it, but i have never experienced this old person smell. Never.

I notice it in some charity shops around the clothes so assumed it was just one of those things that old(er) people get!

My mum (78) has 'the smell' but my dad who is two years older doesn't. I always thought it's because Mum had a stroke and isn't as mobile so doesn't wash herself as thoroughly as Dad who looks and moves like someone a good decade younger.

Thank you to the PPs who posted the biological reasons for it - made for some interesting and informative reading.

Horribly unpleasant thread.

Maybe buy her some of the Japanese persimmon soap for her bathroom without saying anything ? Research also shows that eating mushrooms daily eliminates this smell, so more mushroom based meals maybe. I agree with a pp that she may be less mobile and so missing washing the back of her neck etc, where the scent can be stronger. Does she shower every day ? As the smell could be in her hair more if she doesn’t wash it all that often. Lots of older people grew up with a once a week hairwash, but hair holds body oils and scent so that can then transfer to chairs .
Does she wear clean clothes every day ? Again, older people might not think to do that as they aren’t getting very dirty, but clothes can hold the smell from the skin.

why?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_person_smell

This is so interesting, I didn't know about this at all. Thanks to those who've provided info.

Some older people don’t / can’t shower each day and they don’t want to do or create extra laundry 🧺 ( probably from when back in their day they had a laborious twin tub machine at best )
The not showering 🧼 often could be mobility issues or dry skin issues or indeed a throwback to when it seemed a big thing to put the immersion heater on for hot water .
I remember my elderly mum making a big thing of using hot water and doing laundry even after she had a fully automatic front loader and a tumble drier

Yes, I worked with a woman for several years and she developed a musty, almost savoury smell in her 50s. We were close enough that she told me when she started HRT, so she was definitely menopausal.

She was always well-dressed, put a lot of effort into her appearance (make-up, perfume, professionally coloured hair) and her hair was freshly washed every morning. That smell though - it would be noticeable by 10am and would get stronger throughout the day.

I'm 35 so hopefully it's a long while away for me, but I'll be keeping an eye (or nose) out for it...

I don't think we can smell our own odour.

I have a very strong sense of smell, like other posters I can smell when my children are going to get ill. Public transport is hell for me.

I have hyperhidrosis so very aware of BO smells from myself but worried now about other smells!
I change my clothes at least twice a day. Definitely going to get some of that persimmon soap.

My dad has very poor hygiene, limited mobility and needs assistance but very reluctant to take it. Rarely washes but I have never smelt anything unpleasant from him.
My nephew has additional needs and has had an unusual biscuit smell since he was born. My sister has to make sure he showers daily, fresh clothes including pj and bed sheets but still always smells. I will tell her about this soap.

I dont think the thread is unpleasant, it has been very informative.

I'm in my 70s and very alert to ageism on threads but I don't find this an unpleasant thread. It's a fact of life. I'm not aware of smelling but I've ordered the special soap from Amazon and will increase the temperature that I wash bedding. I'm grateful for the heads up!

Are you sure it wasn’t that distinctive fake tan smell? ? She may have put it on in the morning and the smell gets stronger as it develops, a poster upthread said they smell “old people “ smell on young people and it smells like sweet/biscuits and I immediately thought, young person wearing fake tan.

I have a friend in her 70’s and she smells very pleasant as does her house so I don’t think it happens to everyone.

I don't think my friends smell either but it will do no harm to make sure.

Nonenal, specifically 2-Nonenal, is a chemical compound that contributes to a distinct body odour associated with ageing. It is an unsaturated aldehyde with a greasy, grassy, and somewhat unpleasant smell. This odour is produced when omega-7 unsaturated fatty acids on the skin are oxidised, and it tends to increase with age. While it's a natural part of the aging process, nonenal can be more persistent and difficult to remove with regular washing than typical body odour.

No too sure what to recommend to alleviate the aroma apart from using specialised soaps that target fatty acid build-up, and adopting a healthy lifestyle (exercise, diet, etc.), which can help minimize the impact of nonenal odour.

I can honestly say I’ve never had this problem. I’ve been on HRT for decades though. 🤷‍♀️

I just call it wardrobe smell. It happens when clothes don’t get perfectly dry, a tiny bit of moisture remains in them and then people fold them and put them away. The smell especially lingers when they don’t wear these items often and they stay in the wardrobe/drawers for months. It’s a stale moisture thing. That’s why airing all the rooms on a daily basis is also important, which some old people don’t do regularly.

Then hide it…

Well aren't you the charmer.

No more than you. You find the thread ‘deeply unpleasant’ my advice to you is to hide it. Why on earth would you carry on reading a thread that you find unpleasant! Very odd.

Those who are complaining about the thread aren't explaining why they find it unpleasant or offensive.

Not all older people get it. My. Brother is 75 and he and his wife don’t smell but I can’t stay at my MIL’s house because of it.

Why do you find this unpleasant?
Some people get the smell, some don't.
Some people are bothered about it, some aren't.
Some people would like you to point it out to them, some wouldn't

My mum (80) knows about this genuine phenomena and asked me to tell her if she started to smell. I agreed but haven't needed to tell her yet because for her it hasn't happened.

I am slightly anosmic and worry that I don't notice smells. I hadn't heard of Nonenal so this has been informative, if scary.

OP I think you need to try to find a way to discuss this with your mother. Emphasise that it's not down to poor hygiene and that you may be more sensitive to the smell than other people. Perhaps talking to her GP in case it's health related. Otherwise, you are looking at ways to change her soap, diet, cleaning regime (letting the dog into her room and organising a regular deep clean) without telling her why.