What Causes 'Old People Smell'?

If you've ever associated a smell with old age, you weren't imagining it—it all has to do with the chemistry of our skin.

Hosted by: Stefan Chin
----------
----------
Dooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters: Kelly Landrum Jones, Sam Lutfi, Kevin Knupp, Nicholas Smith, D.A. Noe, alexander wadsworth, سلطا الخليفي, Piya Shedden, KatieMarie Magnone, Scott Satovsky Jr, Charles Southerland, Bader AlGhamdi, James Harshaw, Patrick Merrithew, Patrick D. Ashmore, Candy, Tim Curwick, charles george, Saul, Mark Terrio-Cameron, Viraansh Bhanushali, Kevin Bealer, Philippe von Bergen, Chris Peters, Justin Lentz
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
----------
Sources:

Image Sources:

[CassandraCarter]

Make a new nonenal targeting cleaning product, call it "Actually Old Spice"

[dothedeed]

so there's that to look forward to

[Fiyaaaahh]

Somebody please make an anti-nonenal deoderant kickstarter. It has to be done.

[Primalxbeast]

"Nonenal begins appearing around age 40" Gee, thanks, I'm 47 and I think I could have lived without that information...

[Amiggydala]

I thought it was just Death hanging around them waiting to strike.

[Stldancer]

You guys answer questions I never actively realized I needed answered

[thatvalentian]

It’s basically Death creeping up on you.

[Master_Therion]

Young people, odor status: Nominal.
Old people, odor status: Nonenal.

[amasion]

I’m middle aged and hypersensitive to odors and fragrances. I’ve noticed many people have TERRIBLE odor, including younger people. I don’t mean poor hygiene or bad sweating, just their natural scents. Ironically the more artificial fragrances they wear the WORSE they smell. But I have noticed older men smell is usually the most off-putting to me. What’s cruel is that my friends and family treat my hypersensitivity like an “allergy” to be “cured” by chronic, repeated exposure to the offensive odors. They constantly force me into “incidental” situations where nasty people walk or stand very close to me, forcing me to smell them. In extreme case I suffer severe symptoms including headaches, sore throat, runny nose and eyes, inflamed skin, etc. The extreme stress is also debilitating and causes anxiety. I suffer every day of my life because of this “therapy” and I am no healthier or happier because of it. I will never forget or forgive the excessive and unnecessary cruelty. Asking for a little personal space so I don’t gag on your private odors isn’t expecting a lot.

[robinhoodwasasocialist.]

Yet another reason to feed into my irrational fears of getting older. Thanks sci show

[alrightyaphrodite]

"harry potter and the chamber of-"
"old people smell"

[remraft]

I love that you acknowledged that people have different reactions to this smell and that there are good reasons why. My friend absolutely hates it-- she says it reminds her of her grandpa's miserable last days in a nursing home, and she's very afraid of aging (one of those "I hope I die before I get very old" people). I was semi-raised by my grandma and I absolutely love the smell; sometimes I find myself feeling really relaxed or comforted on a public train and then I realize it's because there's an old person near by and they smell good. It's kind of crazy how closely smells get linked with memories and emotion.

[davidgo]

Way to honor our elders. Good job my friend. Thanks for the great video!

[johnnyli]

What if there was a way to get people to produce more antioxidants? Or if there were lotions with antioxidants in them that would form a barrier against the oxygen?

[EliseLogan]

Hmmm. Would oil-based cleansers break it down? From a purely chemistry point of view, things which aren't water-soluble are often fat or alcohol soluble. Alcohol based cleanser would be unpleasant and very drying, but if it's fat soluble, an oil-based cleanser should work.

[angeloortiz]

I think old people smell is comforting, but that's probably from association

[silverauditore]

My grandma and grandpa smell like old people when they are clean with clean clothes. I have associated that smell with clean clothes and sheets in their drawers and wardrobes, also on the cloth handkerchief my grandpa used to have in his clean pants pocket to wipe away stuff, when I was a small child. I think old people smell for me doesn't stink at all.

[tianamatson]

The old person smell isn't super apparent until you go into their house. Then EVERYTHING smells like it and it puts you to sleep so fast. Its like a freaking knock out gas. Haha

[gaminghoot]

Grandpa smells a little old cause he's been dead for the past 6 years.

[patrickmccurry]

Every age category has a distinct odor. Though back when I had a near superhuman olfactory acuity, I found those with congenital disorders often smelled younger than they were.