Old person smell is the characteristic

odor An odor (American English) or odour ( Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is a smell or a scent caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds generally found in low concentrations that humans and many animals can perceive ...

of elderly humans. Like many other animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the

aging Ageing (or aging in American English) is the process of becoming Old age, older until death. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi; whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentiall ...

process. Research suggests that this enables humans to determine the suitability of potential partners based on age, in addition to other factors.

Biology

One study suggested that old person smell may be the result of

2-nonenal 2-Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde. The colorless liquid is an important aroma component of aged beer and buckwheat, and is insoluble in water. Odor characteristics The odor of this substance is perceived as orris, fat and cucumber Th ...

, an unsaturated

aldehyde In organic chemistry, an aldehyde () (lat. ''al''cohol ''dehyd''rogenatum, dehydrogenated alcohol) is an organic compound containing a functional group with the structure . The functional group itself (without the "R" side chain) can be referred ...

which is associated with human

body odor Body odor or body odour (BO) is present in all animals and its intensity can be influenced by many factors (behavioral patterns, survival strategies). Body odor has a strong genetic basis, but can also be strongly influenced by various factors, ...

alterations during

. Another study failed to detect 2-nonenal at all, but found significantly increased concentrations of

benzothiazole Benzothiazole, or more specifically 1,3-benzothiazole, is an aromatic heterocyclic compound with the chemical formula . It is colorless, slightly viscous liquid. Although the parent compound, benzothiazole is not widely used, many of its derivativ ...

, dimethylsulphone, and

nonanal Nonanal is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is one of several isomers, all are colorless oil. The nonanals are classified as aldehydes. The linear nonanal is produced commercially by the hydroformylation of 1-octene. It is ...

on older subjects. There are also other hypotheses, such as change of the monounsaturated

fatty acid In chemistry, in particular in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated and unsaturated compounds#Organic chemistry, saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an ...

composition of skin surface lipids and the increase of lipid peroxides associated with aging. In 2012, the

Monell Chemical Senses Center The Monell Chemical Senses Center is an independent, non-profit scientific research institute located at the University City Science Center campus in Philadelphia. Founded in 1968, it is dedicated to interdisciplinary basic research on the sen ...

published a press release claiming that the human ability to identify information such as age, illness, and genetic suitability from odor is responsible for the distinctive "old man smell". Sensory neuroscientist Johan Lundström stated, "Elderly people have a discernible underarm odor that younger people consider to be fairly neutral and not very unpleasant."

In Japan

Old person smell is known as in Japan, where much social value is placed on

personal grooming Grooming (also called preening) is the art and practice of cleaning and maintaining parts of the body. It is a species-typical behavior. In animals Individual animals regularly clean themselves and put their fur, feathers or other skin c ...

, and specific upmarket odor-eliminating soaps are targeted at more elderly consumers.

References

{{Reflist Old age Gerontology Fatty aldehydes Body odor

Biology

In Japan

See also

References