(Old People Smell)

[KilljoyKlown]

It's almost a cliche. You hear it on TV or maybe you've heard someone say, it smells like old people live here or worse you remember yourself thinking he or she smells like an old person.

What exactly is “old people smell”? Why does it happen? Can it be prevented?

 

[scheherazade]

The human nose is apparently more sensitive than any technology we have yet developed.

At every stage of our life, there are various hormones that our scent organs are able to detect, even though they may not actually have a strong odor, still we are aware of them.

As we age, certain hormones may actually be produced in lessor quantity and this lack of hormones registers as a different smell.

Diet and medication also affect how we smell to others and older persons frequently have a compromised digestive system, be on several medications or both.

Another source of smell is our choice in personal care products, and lilac and lavender have long been a scent used by older women, and Old Spice is often favored by aging warriors.

Culturally, we consider these scents to be somewhat 'dated' and this also contributes to our perception of 'old people smell.'

Important to consider, also, that many older people live on a fixed income or near poverty, and the residences they may be able to afford are often not in good repair, harboring mold or rot, and the odor of these processes will become affixed to their clothing and person, no matter how meticulous their personal care.

Perhaps a lot of 'old people smell' is the smell of poverty which is largely a burden carried by a significant percentage of our seniors.

 

[NMSquirrel]

Important to consider, also, that many older people live on a fixed income or near poverty, and the residences they may be able to afford are often not in good repair, harboring mold or rot, and the odor of these processes will become affixed to their clothing and person, no matter how meticulous their personal care.

Perhaps a lot of 'old people smell' is the smell of poverty which is largely a burden carried by a significant percentage of our seniors.

it smells like someone needs some money..

 

[chimpkin]

Hmm, makes me almost glad my sinus disease has nuked my sense of smell.

 

[scheherazade]

it smells like someone needs some money..

From what I know of seniors, many of them would greatly benefit from an improved economic situation.

Today's youth might want to consider that someday they will become seniors and they might want to provide for such financial consideration.

A very high percentage of people have NO savings and pension plans may not be an option in future.

If you are perhaps referring to myself, I likely smell of garlic, lol.....as I eat it regularly to keep viruses and people away from my personal space. I don't yet fit the demographic under discussion otherwise.

 

[NMSquirrel]

A very high percentage of people have NO savings and pension plans may not be an option in future.

shit..i am 48 and still have no retirement plans..all my money goes to everyone i owe, there is none left over and it is getting harder to get ahead with all the laws that force a person to spend money..(insurance laws etc)

If you are perhaps referring to myself, I likely smell of garlic, lol.....as I eat it regularly to keep viruses and people away from my personal space. I don't yet fit the demographic under discussion otherwise.

garlic is a good thing for old ppl..and my ex told me whenever i ate it i would perspire garlic smell..

 

[Me-Ki-Gal]

We shit our selves a lot . It is from being displace by the younger better equipped crowd taking over . That is why old people go around murmuring shit , shit , shit , under there breath

 

[nietzschefan]

Speaking for myself, I've noticed I can get BO faster than in my youth.

I used to not feel a need to show every single morning....now I do and have to use deoderant and all kinds of metro-sexual shit to not be gross.

 

[Repo Man]

To expand on what Scheherazade has said, all of us have a smell. We aren't aware of it, because we are surrounded by it constantly. I've heard that black people joke about how white people smell like wet dog. Babies have a very distinctive smell. As far as the elderly go, I'd hazard the guess that it's most likely a combination of factors. Hormone changes associated with aging is likely the biggest single one.

 

[Bowser]

Speaking for myself, I've noticed I can get BO faster than in my youth.

I used to not feel a need to show every single morning....now I do and have to use deoderant and all kinds of metro-sexual shit to not be gross.

I hear ya there. I've grown smelly with age and have resorted to deodorants to combat the problem. I don't know what changed, because I had no scent when I was younger.

 

[scheherazade]

I hear ya there. I've grown smelly with age and have resorted to deodorants to combat the problem. I don't know what changed, because I had no scent when I was younger.

Part of it may be coming from what we eat.

When I eat very little processed food, mostly fruit, veg, nuts and some chicken, I can break a sweat at work and not be offensive.

If I have been hitting the red meat and convenience foods, then you don't want to be standing downwind of my armpits, lol......I would give offense to a water buffalo.

Improper food combining has similar effect as does the compromised digestive system of illness or aging. If food does not get properly digested, the incomplete products of digestion are on our breath, our body odor and eliminations.

 

[Bowser]

Part of it may be coming from what we eat.

When I eat very little processed food, mostly fruit, veg, nuts and some chicken, I can break a sweat at work and not be offensive.

If I have been hitting the red meat and convenience foods, then you don't want to be standing downwind of my armpits, lol......I would give offense to a water buffalo.

Improper food combining has similar effect as does the compromised digestive system of illness or aging. If food does not get properly digested, the incomplete products of digestion are on our breath, our body odor and eliminations.

My diet is pretty simple: Cheerios in the morning, Wendy's Double Stacks in the afternoon, and whatever the wife cooks in the evening. There's a lot of meat during my day--beef and chicken, sometimes salmon. I don't see myself changing my eating habits, so I guess I will be using Deodorant for the rest of my life.

 

[cosmictraveler]

What exactly is “old people smell”? Why does it happen? Can it be prevented?

We smell because we enjoy aromas, fragrences and other things that smell good, we don't lose our sense of smell very often , only our minds! :itold:

 

[KilljoyKlown]

The human nose is apparently more sensitive than any technology we have yet developed.

At every stage of our life, there are various hormones that our scent organs are able to detect, even though they may not actually have a strong odor, still we are aware of them.

As we age, certain hormones may actually be produced in lessor quantity and this lack of hormones registers as a different smell.

Diet and medication also affect how we smell to others and older persons frequently have a compromised digestive system, be on several medications or both.

Another source of smell is our choice in personal care products, and lilac and lavender have long been a scent used by older women, and Old Spice is often favored by aging warriors.

Culturally, we consider these scents to be somewhat 'dated' and this also contributes to our perception of 'old people smell.'

Important to consider, also, that many older people live on a fixed income or near poverty, and the residences they may be able to afford are often not in good repair, harboring mold or rot, and the odor of these processes will become affixed to their clothing and person, no matter how meticulous their personal care.

Perhaps a lot of 'old people smell' is the smell of poverty which is largely a burden carried by a significant percentage of our seniors.

Just got back from shopping and found 11 responses already. What you said does make a great deal of sense. I suspect if you could manage to keep your clothes updated and throw out the old every now and then it would help. Also daily showers using the latest smell good shower gels like Axe or something similar. Maybe try and have a house cleaning service or younger friend help you keep a clean fresh house.

Damn! I keep forgetting about not having enough money and I don't go out much so why shower every day and if my old clothes are still okay why get anything new and if someone doesn't like old people smell, well you know what they say about people who can't take a joke?

 

[NMSquirrel]

We smell because we enjoy aromas, fragrences and other things that smell good, we don't lose our sense of smell very often , only our minds! :itold:

we need some way to locate other ppl, since our hearing and eyes tend to be the first to go..

 

[Me-Ki-Gal]

Part of it may be coming from what we eat.

When I eat very little processed food, mostly fruit, veg, nuts and some chicken, I can break a sweat at work and not be offensive.

If I have been hitting the red meat and convenience foods, then you don't want to be standing downwind of my armpits, lol......I would give offense to a water buffalo.

Improper food combining has similar effect as does the compromised digestive system of illness or aging. If food does not get properly digested, the incomplete products of digestion are on our breath, our body odor and eliminations.

I was going to say that from the post before you said it . I got a challenge for everyone . Drink 16 ounces of grape juice every day for 2 weeks then see how you smell . You will be surprised I think . Everything about your smell will change . You are what you eat . I have heard that a strict vegetarian can smell a meat eater , or if they don't consume dairy they smell the dairy products oozing out your pours. Grape juice makes you smell like flowers . Try it . I challenge you to try it.

 

[Stoniphi]

"Old people smell"???

I guess you liked the remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, eh?

Yeah, some old people smell.

Sometimes babies flat out stink. I know, I have changed them when they did on occasion to make them smell better, among other things. Like stop crying.

Teenagers sometime stink because they haven't yet noticed that they have developed hormones that make that favourite shirt that they have worn without washing or bathing for 3 weeks straight stink like an NFL locker room. There is a house full of teenage girls up the road from me. They all run great distances. When they get home, they stink like girl sweat until they shower. I can smell them when I pass them by out there, and my nose ain't all that good.

Men in their 20's - 40's simply reek when they go by on the trail or the gym. They either stink of sweat or way too much cologne that they have doused themselves with to try and cover the sweat smell. Women in the same age range often use way too much perfume to try and seem 'sexy'. That makes my eyes water it is so strong.

My dog pretty much always smells like a wet dog when she gets out of the river every day, but I have gotten used to it.

Yeah, the joke is that many people of all ages smell pretty bad sometimes, but the inherent ageism in US society makes it easiest to complain about seniors. :shrug:

 

[KilljoyKlown]

"Old people smell"???

I guess you liked the remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, eh?

Yeah, some old people smell.

Sometimes babies flat out stink. I know, I have changed them when they did on occasion to make them smell better, among other things. Like stop crying.

Teenagers sometime stink because they haven't yet noticed that they have developed hormones that make that favourite shirt that they have worn without washing or bathing for 3 weeks straight stink like an NFL locker room. There is a house full of teenage girls up the road from me. They all run great distances. When they get home, they stink like girl sweat until they shower. I can smell them when I pass them by out there, and my nose ain't all that good.

Men in their 20's - 40's simply reek when they go by on the trail or the gym. They either stink of sweat or way too much cologne that they have doused themselves with to try and cover the sweat smell. Women in the same age range often use way too much perfume to try and seem 'sexy'. That makes my eyes water it is so strong.

My dog pretty much always smells like a wet dog when she gets out of the river every day, but I have gotten used to it.

Yeah, the joke is that many people of all ages smell pretty bad sometimes, but the inherent ageism in US society makes it easiest to complain about seniors. :shrug:

That may be so, but the 'old people smell' is a real recognizable smell, not to be confused with ordinary BO or baby smells. I know what old people smell like, and I would prefer to make it less noticeable as I get older.

 

[KilljoyKlown]

I was going to say that from the post before you said it . I got a challenge for everyone . Drink 16 ounces of grape juice every day for 2 weeks then see how you smell . You will be surprised I think . Everything about your smell will change . You are what you eat . I have heard that a strict vegetarian can smell a meat eater , or if they don't consume dairy they smell the dairy products oozing out your pours. Grape juice makes you smell like flowers . Try it . I challenge you to try it.

I might take you up on that challenge. Can you mix the various types of grape juice, I mean like white for a few days then dark or purple grape juice for a few days,...etc.?

 

[Me-Ki-Gal]

That may be so, but the 'old people smell' is a real recognizable smell, not to be confused with ordinary BO or baby smells. I know what old people smell like, and I would prefer to make it less noticeable as I get older.

Some of the house smell is old wood . Pine typically . It can be other wood too. I know the smell well from remodeling . Some times it is furniture sometimes it is the wood work it self in an old house . Old pine as a real distinct smell and it is associated to old people . Then you mix in the diarrhea puke and blood then you got a real nasty smell going for ya . Not as bad as a dairy farm though. The worst smell I ever encountered was a sewer line at the corner of Fair Oaks boulevard and ? Close to the American river . A restaurant we were doing a tenant improvement to . The bathrooms had to be brought up to Handy cap accessibility codes , so we had taken off the toilets and urinals, then It can time to work in there . Shit doggy dog it must have vented a main line . I have smelt some big dead animals plenty of times that would make you puke , but this was beyond . Junior the killer I told some of you about finally made it far enough to plug the holes and stop the venting of sewer gas . Junior was the guy that got out of prison 2 times for murdering people . 7 years per murder. Good thing we had him and he was not in prison that day . I could not do it and I thought I could do anything for buck