Why ‘Old People Smell’ Happens

[gruntlabor]

I do not smell... but I can be a stinker

We could pass another law, get them for possession of illegal armpits

 

[Fritz]

It was explained to me once in the nursing home that as we age and our organs begin to age and slowly die they create an odor. Personally I think perfume makes it worse.

 

[Pappy]

I think it has to do a lot with the meds we take. If they smell as bad as they taste, this could be the reason…or it could be that can of bean with bacon soup I had for lunch…

 

[Deya]

What I do know from first hand experience is that places that laundry adult diapers, stink. During my UPS delivery years, I had to deliver to such a custom laundry and it was so bad I had to hold my breath. They did a good business doing just adult reusable diapers, but how they worked in there is still a mystery to me. It was toxic. Maybe some old folks that have a smell, are just dealing with a ripe diaper.

 

[hearlady]

People have a smell regardless of age. Good hygiene can eliminate odor caused by germs and bacteria, however, you still have a unique smell. As unique as your DNA. If you choose to mask it with products, that's fine.

When I pull out my MIL's quilt from the attic after years it will have her smell and I'm reminded of her. When my mother passed away I cleaned out her house and her things smelled of her.

When my husband was in Korea for a year, I could pull out one of his shirts from the closet and it had his smell. Not his cologne's smell, his. One of the few times I cried. He was with me.


This is all an aside from "Old people smell" but I think we should embrace our natural essence.

File this under hearlady's strange musings.

 

[Della]

Every time my granddaughter came to visit, she always said, "you always smell so nice Nana" Probably because I always have a shower every day and put on a lovely powder, Lavender , by Cashmere Bouquot, my favourite. My Dad always smelled of Old Spice aftershave.

I used to love to hug my elderly Aunt Florence who always smelled like Cashmere Bouquet! I must get some! Or Chic's essential rose!

I found many sources that support the article in the OP, but it didn't say much about poor hygiene, like not showering regularly, and a tendency to wear the same clothes over and over - practices which may be more common among the elderly. Also, seniors are often on multiple medications, and some of those like blood pressure meds, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs can have an impact.
That's been the simple answer for most of the bad smelling old people I've known. I imagine they're probably thinking, "Well I can't see any dirt on my clothes and I haven't done anything to work up a sweat so I don't need to shower and change." Sadly they haven't considered, bacteria, air pollution, body oil, dead skin cells, etc.

My father always said we can't smell ourselves because of the olfactory fatigue thing, so we'd better just bathe everyday to make sure.


I expect I usually smell like a combination of, Windex, Clorox Ajax, Mr. Clean, Old English polish and Dawn. Sexy!

 

[Beezer]

Eau du elderly is characterized by top notes of mothballs and wet cardboard coupled with basement, expired canned goods and dead leaves.