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.

@MikeRafone

I presume that is copy and paste, but "Consider odor-eliminating products: Some products are designed to break down 2-nonenal or neutralize odors."

Might be useful if it actually said what they were.

Odor-eliminating products can either break down odor-causing compounds like 2-nonenal or neutralize odors by altering their chemical structure or trapping them. Specifically, some products utilize ingredients like persimmon extract or green tea extract, known for their ability to neutralize or break down 2-nonenal, a compound associated with aging and body odor. These products offer a more targeted approach compared to traditional soaps and deodorants that might simply mask odors.

https://domsvault.com/2021/10/06/persimmon-soap-review/

I feel like the Japanese have products for everything related to the skin, from unctuous ointments to ultra-resistant sunscreens. They also have soaps with persimmon that help with body odour; more specifically, in Japan, persimmon soap is popular among the elderly as it helps with the distinct old person smell. As we know, our bodies change with age, including chemical shifts in the skin, producing a distinctive smell at a mature age. Even though persimmon soap is popular among the Japanese elderly, it can be used by people of any age who want to reduce body odour.

This looks like marketing wearing the clothes of research. Someone quoted a study above which studied a grand total of 22 (!?) people and that could only go so far as to say “It is conceivable that this level of 2-nonenal may be a major cause of the deterioration in body odor that has been observed with aging.” hardly conclusive. But of course people fear ageing and the disgust associated with smells (due to less washing in this case, most likely) makes people anxious to buy products. So this looks like a win for companies selling soap or junk science magazines selling clicks on ads.

I'll be honest OP I dont have a proper answer only to say I find this repulsive and my parents have this. I can smell it very easily on people and it turns my stomach. I do buy the persimon soap as my partenr is older than me but apparently as you get older you cant even smell it yourself so I hate the thought that its in this house.

My parents. 80 and 77 don't smell but they shower daily and change their clothes daily. Is it a combo of old age and reduced hygiene? Makes you realise that the clothes in charity shoes clearly haven't been washed because that is "the smell"!

Theres also a distinct smell that people develop after being in hospital for some time, I had it myself in my 20s when I was in hospital for a week and also recently when I was more or less bed bound at home for about a week. I cant describe it, its not the neonal smell, its different.

Even your farts smell of it.

I can smell old people smell of some people and I actually could smell it from outside an auction house one time I was walking past. Some antique shops have the smell too. I do have a strong nose on me and can smell the sun off people aswell lol.

Oh yes I can smell the sun on skin too. Thats nice though.

Oh yes the sun smell is lovely. Also people's houses all smell different to me. I could probably tell which family or friends house i was in if I was blind folded and brought there.

Is it a combo of old age and reduced hygiene?

Try reading the thread!

Persimmon soap
mushrooms- oyster & shiitake
blackcurrents
Foods with antioxidants

Can young people also have the "old people" smell?

I don't understand why charity shop clothes all have this smell.

It isn't a given that donations come from old people, is it? And yet everything has that fusty musty smell!

"Mum, I can smell a smell. It is not the dog. It's bothering me. You know I love you and it's not you, but It is coming from your room, so I am going to deep clean it. I am happy to do it myself, but if you want to you can help by ... " and give her a do-able task.

Smelly old folk, hey?! Pee, poo, wind, rotting skin-fats 😂😱

It is the nonenal - it is not their fault.

I could not agree more!

It’s been a while since everyone was buying and trying the soap. How are you getting on?

I know exactly the small you mean. When I was younger we lived in a shared house with an old lady living downstairs and had only just moved in. I came in the street door one day when it was cold and the heating was on and was hit with this overwhelming odour that to me smelt like gas leaking from under her door. I called the emergency number for British Gas to report it. When the man arrived he discreetly took me aside and said that’s not gas. It’s the old lady downstairs you can smell. I was so embarrassed.

She was completely unaware. Odddly over time the smell actually went away. I certainly don’t remember it lasting the remaining time we lived there. I don’t know if that was a coincidence or if it just went away naturally or she changed her diet or hygiene, but it wasn’t exactly something you could address without offending so we just said nothing as she seemed totally unaware anyway. It’s difficult and may be something you’re going to have to accept. If she can’t smell it herself then she may not believe you even if you do come straight out and tell her.

subtle suggestions about certain soaps are all well meaning but if the person doesn’t believe they smell and are in denial, it’s unlikely they will use them.

No, it's an important thread - helping raise awareness and also helping to find ways to deal with it. Ignorance isn't bliss.

Eh?

It absolutely is, theres been a few over the years and people simply dont believe this is a thing. They'll get a shock as they age

I’m guessing you haven’t heard the case of the woman who detected the onset of her husband’s Parkinson’s Disease 12 years before diagnosis because she noticed he started to smell a bit musty and unpleasant?

She noticed the same musty smell on other people at a support group which lead to a university study developing a swab test with 95% accuracy in detecting Parkinson’s.

sometimes horribly unpleasant discussions can change history.

I live in a costal area, popular with retired people, and the scent is very noticeable when you walk into any of the numerous charity shops.

That's probably just the foosty smell, a different thing entirely.