# Is there a body chemistry change that makes men smell 'older'? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866 "2019-03-10T02:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/1 "2019-03-10T02:19:02Z")
You remember what ‘old’ men smelled like when you were a kid? Not even necessarily elderly, because everybody was old then, but say middle-age on. Is there some kind of body chemistry change that happens in men middle age or later that makes them smell different? I mean I’m sure that in any one person chemistry can change, but I’m talking about a uniform occurrence. The reason I ask, is that I have noticed that I smell ‘old’…which is what I used to associated with the smell of older men. For example, one morning not too long ago I went into the bedroom and was reminded of the smell of my parents’ bedroom when I was a kid, which had never happened before. Or just a bit ago I had been out of the shower for a bit, where I had used pomegranate body wash (shut up, it was on sale) and then put on the same deodorant that I have been using for a while. But I caught a whiff of myself and thought “damn, I smell like an old guy…” Now one theory is that yes, I use Old Spice deodorant/antiperspirant. But that’s nothing new, I’ve gravitated toward that for years. And I’ve never associated the smell of the particular produce I use with ‘oldness’ until now. I have evolved from the ‘Axe-y’ smells over the years, which definitely smell like a younger guy. So I was wondering if, maybe on top of the musk-y Old Spice smells, there’s something else being added. I believe I’ve read that women’s perfume ‘works’ for some and not other because of their natural scent. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/2 "2019-03-10T02:21:15Z")
Old person smell is real. It’s something to look forward to in our future. Kind of like wrinkles and missing teeth. 😉 I’ve noticed it in my house. > **[Old person smell](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_person_smell)** > > Old person smell is the characteristic odor of elderly humans. Much like many animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the aging process. Research suggests that this enables humans to determine the suitability of potential partners based on age, in addition to other factors. > One study suggested that old person smell may be the result of 2-nonenal, an unsaturated aldehyde which is associated with human body odor alterations during aging; ho... > **[‘Old-Person Smell’ Really Exists, Scientists Say | TIME.com](https://healthland.time.com/2012/05/31/old-person-smell-really-exists-scientists-say/)** > > Elderly people have a distinct smell, confirm researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, but contrary to stereotype their scent isn't all bad. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/3 "2019-03-10T02:28:09Z")
Huh…interesting [info](https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)41198-4/fulltext) in one of the papers cited in the Wikipedia article. > [@](#): > > In this report, the body odor components that adhered to the subjects’ shirts were analyzed by GC/MS. It was demonstrated that 2-nonenal, which had not been reported previously as a human body odor, was indeed present in increasing amounts in the body odors of persons of 40 y or older. > > 2-Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde that has a characteristically unpleasant greasy and grassy odor Greasy and grassy…that’s me! :eek:😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/4 "2019-03-10T02:28:39Z")
I know the exact, well not the minute, but time frame when Mr.Wrekker got that smell. I think sweat glands must produce differently with age. I kinda like it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/5 "2019-03-10T02:29:52Z")
I’ve started using more scented talc. I’ve used Clubman Talc most of my life. It’s what my barber applied after my haircut. Now, some on the chest and pits seems helpful. > **[Clubman Pinaud Finest Powder, White Classic Powder for Men, Protection Against...](https://www.amazon.com/Clubman-CLBPOD4-Powder-4-oz/dp/B00133XNSY)** > > Buy Clubman Pinaud Finest Powder, White Classic Powder for Men, Protection Against Sweat and Body Odor, 4 oz at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/6 "2019-03-10T03:51:33Z")
Damn… it’s real… it wasn’t just my imagination! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/7 "2019-03-10T12:48:57Z")
Huh. I always assumed it was the smell of pee. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/8 "2019-03-10T18:59:58Z")
A while back, I noticed a different body odor after not showering for a day. It reminded me of my father’s smell when he had the flu, and was bedridden for a couple of days, not showering. But he was only about 40ish when he had this smell. I’m 73. Maybe I had it all along, but never noticed it. My husband never mentioned it to me, and I haven’t noticed any out-of-the-ordinary smells coming from him. I think a lot of it has to do with medications. How many older guys don’t take any meds? And don’t you suppose they find their way out of our pores? And then there’s garlic. Mmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-body-chemistry-change-that-makes-men-smell-older/830866/9 "2019-03-11T19:04:33Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I know the exact, well not the minute, but time frame when Mr.Wrekker got that smell. I think sweat glands must produce differently with age. I kinda like it. That is heartening.