Old Person Smell
en.wikipedia.org
Old Person Smell
1–10 of 14 posts
Re: Old Person Smell
#2In an other thread HN's user Raducu wrote about "the old person smell". I didn't know such a thing existed but noticed it myself sometimes without thinking much about it, including in my own house (I am 64).
I wonder if HN's users have some insights to share?
Re: Old Person Smell
#3In an other thread HN's user Raducu wrote about "the old person smell". I didn't know such a thing existed but noticed it myself sometimes without thinking much about it, including in my own house (I am 64). I wonder if HN's users have some insights to share?
59 and yes. It exists. Can smell it when I come back from longer away.
Sensation fades rapidly. I have little doubt younger friends and colleagues get more of it, alas.
Re: Old Person Smell
#4In an other thread HN's user Raducu wrote about "the old person smell". I didn't know such a thing existed but noticed it myself sometimes without thinking much about it, including in my own house (I am 64). I wonder if HN's users have some insights to share?
I'm 27 and I can smell it around some older people. It might be anecdotal, but I think it was less noticeable in people who kept physically active.
FWIW, for me personally it's not a strong or bad smell, and it's pretty neutral. So, I don't think anyone needs feel self-conscious about it!
Re: Old Person Smell
#5This doesn't surprise me. While I don't go as far as this:
Not washing with soap ever: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/05/i-dont-...
Consider if you are stressed, have not slept, are hungover or ill. Often you smell pretty pungent.
I imagine that over the years we have excessively washed (with soap, certainly need to go under water) to cover poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and general detritus from our cities.
Then ended up forgetting how important our smells are.
Re: Old Person Smell
#6How can they be so little research in this topic? The article says almost nothing.
Re: Old Person Smell
#7In an other thread HN's user Raducu wrote about "the old person smell". I didn't know such a thing existed but noticed it myself sometimes without thinking much about it, including in my own house (I am 64). I wonder if HN's users have some insights to share?
I'm 27 and I can smell it around some older people. It might be anecdotal, but I think it was less noticeable in people who kept physically active. FWIW, for me personally it's not a strong or bad smell, and it's pretty neutral. So, I don't think anyone needs feel self-conscious about it!
Smells are linked to emotional. Old people smell as good as you like old people. (Same as almost any smell.)
Re: Old Person Smell
#8In an other thread HN's user Raducu wrote about "the old person smell". I didn't know such a thing existed but noticed it myself sometimes without thinking much about it, including in my own house (I am 64). I wonder if HN's users have some insights to share?
There's a very particular "nursing home smell" and oddly an old family car would produce it if you ran the heat. My best guess was a dead animal in there somewhere.
Re: Old Person Smell
#9Ugh. My maternal grandparents' house reeked of it. I think they failed to clean their house properly because they were infirm. I suspect diet and hygiene play a part in it too. If there were a way to eliminate or neutralize it like a geriatric deodorant, it's probably a good idea (Japanese might buy it). Also, I wonder if very fit elderly people have this issue or just aged people who don't take care of themselves.
Re: Old Person Smell
#10This doesn't surprise me. While I don't go as far as this: Not washing with soap ever: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/05/i-dont-... Consider if you are stressed, have not slept, are hungover or ill. Often you smell pretty pungent. I imagine that over the years we have excessively washed (with soap, certainly need to go under water) to cover poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise…
I wake up with night sweats from sleep apnea, metabolic issues, and/or being overweight by 30 lbs. (of 240 lbs.).