What Causes 'Old People Smell'?
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- čas přidán 5. 02. 2018
- 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.
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Sources:
www.jidonline.org/article/S002... - back-bb0055
www.jidonline.org/article/S002...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
www.agingcare.com/articles/ol...
www.dana.org/Cerebrum/2001/Ah,...
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Image Sources:
pixabay.com/en/baby-child-kid...
www.thinkstockphotos.com/image...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
pixabay.com/en/skin-brown-ski...
pixabay.com/en/roses-rosebush...
so there's that to look forward to
😂
Add it to the list.
Why did I read that in John Green's voice? 😂😂😂
That will be the least of your problems.
The lady that has those Lumi products claims that also gets rid of old people smell but who knows if it's true and she says people who have old people smell can't smell it on themselves ... so I guess the only way you know is if your loved ones or others tell you ?
Make a new nonenal targeting cleaning product, call it "Actually Old Spice"
Cass Carter
I'd go with "More Old than Spice"
Cass Carter Old Spice I just got that funny
POOOOOOOWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRR !!
That is legitimately brilliant.
Haha but believe it or not the lady that has those weird commercials for the cream that you put on your private parts to get rid of the smell ... ? Lumi ... she claims her products get rid of the old people smell and she explains the science behind it of what causes the smell like this guy did and well the other thing is she claims people who have the old people smell don't know they smell like that😂😢
Somebody please make an anti-nonenal deoderant kickstarter. It has to be done.
Fiyaaah PLEASE
Or a soap that does the same!
The Shifty Dark
That would be worth some money
I dont know, old people are a dying market badum tsss
Seriously though, crowd funding and old people probably wont go well together. Hard to get funding over the internet when your target audience barely knows how email works.
"Nonenal begins appearing around age 40" Gee, thanks, I'm 47 and I think I could have lived without that information...
did you sniff yourself too?
Primalxbeast It’s okay, gramps. That means you’re wise and stuff
IKR !!! WTF
Happy belated/early 50th birthday i guess XD
i am 19 and i started to find myself smelling
You guys answer questions I never actively realized I needed answered
Ikr
I thought it was just Death hanging around them waiting to strike.
same
Kinda mean?
That’s amazing
A minute ago this comment had 21 likes I reloaded the page 36 likes wowza.
Nah you can’t smell death because normally it’s discreet
It’s basically Death creeping up on you.
That1Valentian 😂😂😂
Angry Old Hank Green
Oh, not you. You will never die. I will personally start a petition for Hank to live forever. We get to 2 million votes, he’ll have to stop aging.
or them
Yet another reason to feed into my irrational fears of getting older. Thanks sci show
👍🏾
Just pray you get there
"harry potter and the chamber of-"
"old people smell"
november coffee Exactly what I thought of 😂😂😂
Young people, odor status: Nominal.
Old people, odor status: Nonenal.
Master Therion
Cookie Monster, odor status: Nomnomnominal
You're on fire today. Keep it up!
What? Does that 1st part even make sense? Lol. Young people smell like "existing in name only?"
love it!
Cesar: In aerospace jargon, "nominal" also means "functioning normally," or "in good condition."
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.
Way to honor our elders. Good job my friend. Thanks for the great video!
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.
That's pretty mean of them. I also have a strong sense of smell and my family trusts my nose now after so many situations where it came in handy. Mainly melting plastic of trapped serving spoons in dishwasher melting, things left to burn in the oven overnight when someone fell asleep, etc. The only times I dont trust my nose is in winter with burning smells cause sometimes my furnace puts off a smell like hair is burning in the vents or something and I'm freaking out.
But anyway, the worst jokes or flack I get for my sensitivity is them saying I've the nose of a bloodhound, but its said with affection. I can't imagine people forcing me to be miserable bc they know my weakness.
Im super sensitive to odors especially sickening body odors. It make me feel like vomiting.
Thank God for everything and ask him to do his will on you , don't stress yourself feel free
I think old people smell is comforting, but that's probably from association
Angelo Ortiz when it's my own family, I agree, but old people I don't interact with often always smell weird to me, like sour....
"a survivor!" that was nice and your writers are just lovely :)
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
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?
Thanks Stefan-I'm 76 and you just made my day.
I’ve been looking at buying a house lately, and all the ones I’ve seen have the same “old person” smell - didn’t even question why! Awesome to now know! 🕵🏻♀️
I've always wondered why all old people smell the same!!
+
Science with Katie Sadly I've never smelled it :/ Am I missing out on much? Lol
I know what you mean. I live in a Co op complex in Connecticut most of the residents here are elderly. In the height of the summer the air-conditioners pump out the stank ass smell throughout the complex. It’s smells like death butt and rotting gardenias. Absolutely awful.
Marry me
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.
Kudos to Stefan for being an engaging and clear-spoken host.
I'm 45 years old. I'm proud of my age. Being this old is an accomplishment because many people never get this far.
The Cat Ate My Shoe we’re all very proud of you
Jnan Mckenzie
You'll be dead by then.
i don’t want to make it to 45. Hell I don’t even want to make it to 18.
Muzik Bike LOL im 19 and really dont wanna turn 20 😩😭
I couldn’t agree more. I’m cracking 50 this year. The fellow young ones think they’ll be 25 forever. Lol. They don’t realize how fast time will fly
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.
like one of those dogs that smells illnesses?
I always wondered this. Thanks for doing a video on it.
That's pretty interesting information! I used to love the smell of my grandpa and grandma. It was pleasant and made me feel happy.
I felt the same way about my grandma. However, my father only in his late 60s already smells bad. His entire room smells like him too. Even my mom can't stand his smell as well, so they sleep in separate rooms. I wonder why does he smell so bad? But my grandma who was older - in her 70s to 80s smelled way better. She smelled lovely actually. So it's more on individuals, rather than generalizing all elderly smell bad, which is unfair like any other stereotypes.
I sprout mung beans on a damp paper towel in my desk drawer. Very nutritious. But they smell like death
I know exactly what he's talking about
lol, creed.
Yes
Weirdo
This is the correct answer
Informative, professional...thank you
always love this channel...
I always thought it was that shampoo from the 1970s they get from the pharmacy that only old people go to. And hand lotion.
When I was in China, I travelled a lot of cities. But only the people in Wuhan had that distinct old people smell regardless of age. So can other factors like food lead to that smell?
I mean this sincerely: THANK YOU for explaining it. I swear, just the other day I saw someone who has that smell (he's 83) and after he hugged me and I walked away, I had that smell ALL OVER ME. It grossed me out so bad that I had to come home, shower and change clothes. But at least now I know what it is...and maybe can convince my brain to not be so repulsed.
give it time and give you something to look forward to.. thank god you are not my grand daughter..
It's an awful smell to be honest
Now I am really looking forward to getting old!...thanks for that!
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.
I was really afraid this was going to be agist but was pleasantly surprised. Nice job!
I feel bad for the guy in the stock photo in this episode. imagine being the "old person smell" dude
He’s handsome
My son, who has had exposure to dmt, has told me that it smells exactly like old people. This makes a lot of sense considering that our bodies make it and have an excess of it near the time of death. This is why the brain goes through all the psychedelic experiences at the moment of death (as proven through NDE and people who have taken dmt)
This is the content I subscribed for.
I don’t want to get old!!!
BleTrick
Don’t worry - heaven is real.
Greg Caesar What does heaven have to do with anything?
BleTrick
No need to fret shriveling.
Said Said I’m not old yet tho!
Said Said
We all will eventually.
Well, except me - I’m the first immortal human.
I have recently been dismayed that after a thorough shower - I still smell. My clothes smell after Ive washed and dryed. I thought, what in the heck is happening NOW?! Thanks for the explanation. Im fighting this! 65 yrs old.
Man y'all are lucky :( my grandparents all died before I met them
MrLeft Hand
Same :/
Rest in peace grandparents :(
I dont know, my grandma's dementia grows stronger every day. Not knowing someone may hurt less than seeing someone you love fall apart.
Riesenfriese, you will regret having these thoughts sooo much when she passes...
I'm sorry that I have to say this but I read that as "yucky" instead of "lucky"....
I love how you try to make it seem better at the end of the video.🤣
what about using lotions/creams/oils with antioxidants to help combat the oxidation and therefore nonenal production??
My grandma just smells like rose hip lmao
At 0:28 is it 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal
Pavel kuma I did think that name was weird
Yeah that's the correct IUPAC name
Thanks for pointing this out
Great video
Would antioxidant lotions help reduce the smell ?
Does increasing antioxodant intake make up for the body producing less?
man... i dont wanna get old. the white hair is kinda cool but that's about it.
I was in a candle store last month, they had a candle that smelt JUST like old people. It was called wedding day
NICE.... VIDEO INFORMATION .....!
I had some heavy duty dandruff shampoo called T/Sal that no joke smelled like Old people which was doubly strange to me as I couldn't be sure if I had ever smelled that exact scent before yet for some reason Old people was the first thing that came to mind.
InMaTeofDeath I stopped using that shampoo cause it smells so gross, rather live with psoriasis!
Interesting, I've always wondered this.
My only great parent that I ever knew was my mother's mother who died in her 70's in the 70's, she was born in 1900. I kind of remember her smelling bad but I think it was due to a cream she used. My dad is now 80 years old and I do not associate any odor with him, good or bad. Other "old" peoples I know or encounter in public places do not smell either. I'm 54 so maybe my nose is not as good as it used to be, I know my taste buds and ears aren't.
+SlyPearTree I have to wonder if you're on to something, if you lose the ability to pick up the old people smell as you get older. I'm in my early 30's, though, and I only sometimes pick up the odor. But I remember, when I was little, I really hated to be around old people. I found the old people odor absolutely overpowering, like really strong mothballs.
Maybe it's because you smell old now, starts at 40 so...
I gotta attest the same thing happens regarding cat odors. You can get used to some smells quiet easily after a long period of time. Its how Cat ladies can stand living in their apartments with dozens of fricken cats everywhere messing up everything.
MarcusDarkstar cats don't have strong odor unlike dogs...
You havnt owned cats then and do not know what I am talking about. Its not body odor that I refer to.
So if it's not water soluble, might it be oil soluble? In K-beauty, we have both an oil cleanser and water based cleanser. Why not try it with this?
I have a question... usually an aldehyde is the product of a REDUCTION from a carboxylic acid (like fatty acids). Does anyone know what is oxidised to make nonenal?
Good, very good. Now you can proceed to explain the curious reason as to why a plastic shopping cart from the store I used to work at also smelled greatly of old person. It practically radiated it like heat or something. man, it was just that one cart too
Maybe make a moisturizer that includes antioxidants to keep the oilds from turning into nonenal?
This is a good one.
cant you wear some antioxidant? idk if they have that in any weird lotion or maybe some food you eat...
Nonenal, Ear Hair, Tricep Hair, Grey Hair, Loose Skin, Achey Joints, Slower Cognition.... At least I've still got Death to look forward too.
Some questions should not be answered but i still love it
I don't know why people say they rate it as neutral, old people smells like stuffiness and slowly dying
Why can't people get over the fact that normal body odour is a natural thing and get over it. If you are hugging someone accept that you will experience it, including older people or infants.
So i can find out what cause the bad smell .. nonenel ! There are some product for them.. but it looks like they don't use it . may be they get used to their smell ! I understand old people
But sometimes i can't stand the smell
Couldn't it 2-Nonenal further oxydized with a KMnO4 solution to an acid to make it more soluble in water?
I haven't really noticed that smell in decades. I remember hating that smell as a kid.
didn't you already talk about this already
thx for this ha bisky review if you did I always enjoy learning and repetition works best
Thank you.
Do a video on "Courtesy Flush at public restrooms". That starts the video out in a way that when i go to one and someone is stinking up the whole bathroom and halfway down the hallway, maybe if they hear the video playing, they will flush before they are done and finish with a final flush before they leave.
Nice video, I really needed to know this! Why don’t you make a video on the alternative theories about the Universe on CZcams this would be interesting and good for the CZcams community!!!
Great.
I remember a Lady at church who smelled like vinegar every time she walked by.
is eating more antioxidant solves the problem?
Totally the human equivalent of hearing a fuse fizzing and sparking.
Is it the same with other mammals? I always hear that puppies have this puppy-smell and it smells a little weird. Not bad weird.
He’s gonna get so many free cookies for that last frase
My father smelled like a combination of old bacon and yeast in the last year or two of his life. It was way worse than "greasy".
😂😂😂my grandma too.
“I know exactly what he's talking about. I sprout mung beans on a damp paper towel in my desk drawer. Very nutritious. But they smell like death.” -Creed Bratton
They're breaking down
Maybe wash with Dawn dishwashing soap to cut through the grease???
When I walk into an area that is heavily populated by a family member that is over 75, I smell stink, sweat, and lingering body odor. Sometimes when it's absolutely do the laundry day, I smell this too, After 1.5 weeks of putting off laundry too long. Thing is, they smell like this daily. Observing people over 70, they seem to not bathe themselves as often as when they were younger. If you are an old hoarder, the smell of where you live is super stinky! Finger and toenails are very long and dirty. This level of self hygiene is disgusting! It gets horrendously worse after that. Gagging when you walk into the door.
Thanks for making me even more terrified of growing old.
Basically it’s the smell that tells others your body is in the process of dying
i wonder if oil cleansing would help?
Coming to us all. Yes you too.
Soo... since fat solve fat, using some type of oil to was could potentially clean away the old person smell?
I've never noticed that smell
maybe because I live with my grandparents
lol
Not every old person smells ‘ old’. Ive come across 80 yos that don’t smell, while I know a 60yo that does. Why is that?
Interesting!
I could see someone watching this and smiling at the end for his backhanded reassurance, followed by a cry of self pity 🤣
Grandpa smells a little old cause he's been dead for the past 6 years.
Gaming Hoot
Hairdryer?
Peter Connell whys it not funny? It's true, my grandads have been dead for 6 and 17 years. Soooo
+Peter Connell I don't always like a *remake* but I found +Gaming Hoot's comment quite funny 🤣
Peter Connell wow you really took offence to my post 😂😂
Peter Connell here's a tip. Not everyone has a special bond with their family, I can understand you getting annoyed by a simple joke made on a video. Because it seems that you love your grandparents very much. But I loved mine too, it was a simple joke about how dead people smell. That Is all.
I think they did a video similar to this a while ago. Unless I'm thinking of a different channel altogether.
Very polite
Hey, I've got a question here:
How often do you fill you bathtub with warm spaghetti sauce and then slooowwly sink and pretend your a _spicy meat-a-ball,_ and how does it feel?
+Lagudaegz
Mmmm… spaghetti sauce.
Delve
Weirdo. Why can't you pretend to be a lasagna noodle like everyone else?
@@ericolens3
*Not*
Not noy
I love that word
I love to hug old people! :-)
I'm 19 and some people say I have that nice baby smell. Also, is nonenal production genetic? I've noticed the smell around most older people but not my 75 year old grandmother. Maybe it has to do with my apparent scent?
Or race bc black smells strong even with perfumes and colognes on
It's not the nonenal I have issues with, it's the greasy hair, alcohol withdrawal sweat, toe jam from unkempt feet, and leaky urinary tract infections that I can't tolerate (I work in a hospital).
I've been stinking of this for about 4-5 years and I'm 37!, its gross even 30 mins after a bath or shower I sometimes smell it when I move my head back and catch the stink.
I've smelt "old person smell" on people before, but never on anyone in my family. Is there a reason for that?