What is old people smell? And is the internet wrong about it?

Chemistry For Your Life

#186

In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the common notion that elderly people have a distinct smell. They delve into the scientific basis behind this observation, discussing the role of volatile organic compounds, fatty acids on our skin, and how these compounds can change with age. The episode features discussions on different studies that have attempted to identify specific compounds associated with 'old people smell' and debates their findings. It also touches upon cultural and dietary influences on body odor, the impact of hygiene practices, and the psychological aspects of scent perception. Additionally, the hosts reflect on the influence of other environmental factors like hospital scents on our perception of 'old people smell.' The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion on favorite smells, emphasizing the complexity and variability of human olfactory experiences.

00:00 Introduction to the Mystery of the Elderly Scent
00:41 Diving Into the Science: What Causes the Elderly Scent?
01:25 Community Shoutout and Listener Contributions
03:48 Exploring the Chemistry of Skin and Aging
07:37 Scientific Studies and the Debate Over Elderly Scent
15:17 Cultural Factors and the Universality of Elderly Scent
21:29 Concluding Thoughts on the Science of Scent and Aging
23:22 Exploring the Science of Smell and Age
23:54 Perceptions and Variables in Smell Research
24:42 Personal Anecdotes and Smell Associations
26:24 Consumer Products and Their Influence on Smell
29:05 The Debate Over Persimmon Soap
32:00 Skepticism Towards Marketing Claims
35:09 Favorite Smells and Personal Memories

References from this Episode

1. https://scholar-google-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/citations?hl=en&user=5fCySaUAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/well/live/do-older-people-have-a-different-smell.html
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574753/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3364187/
4. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-202X(15)41198-4
5. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/old-person-smell/
6. https://www.reddit.com/r/chemistry/comments/1at59dv/why_doesnt_regular_soap_work_on_nonenal_old/
7. https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/unftyx/til_what_causes_old_people_smell_as_our_skin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Nelly Silva
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.