Do You Think 'Old Person Smell' Is Real?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/06/01 19:00:00

Related Topics: Old, Person, Old Person, Old Person Smell, Smell, Funny, Older, Bad, Socks, Middle, Scent, Image, Middle Age, Elderly

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	Yes	735 votes	80%
	No	185 votes	20%

We can still remember the funny smell our grandpa had ... kind of like a pair of slightly stinky socks. Turns out, it wasn't all in our head! A new study shows that elderly people have a distinct scent... old person smell, to be exact.

In the study, published this week in the journal PLoS ONE, participants were able to differentiate the armpit smell (ew) of people 75 and older. "The results of this study support the cross-culturally popular concept of an 'old person odor,'" the study says, according to LiveScience.

However, the old folks didn't necessarily smell bad. Elderly people were said to smell less unpleasant and to have less of an intense stink than young people (20 to 30 years old) and middle-aged people (45 to 55 years old). Men, in fact, were found to have the foulest, most intense smell in middle age, while women were found to have a weaker smell than men (no big surprise there). Do you think old people have a distinct smell?

+29

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DeborahLakeHelen 2012/06/02 04:48:35

No

+10
Not particularly. I take care of elderly people for a living, and the only ones I've encountered that have an odor are those who need a bath.
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Cat 2012/06/04 17:34:07

Yes

+1
Huh... I just assumed that it was a preference for a specific fragrance or cologne that they may have taken a preference to as a younger adult. My grandmother preferred one that smelled of lilacs, which was not as popular for my mother or my generation. Interesting concept though...

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Dodgerfan 2012/06/04 17:27:11

Yes

The smell of death approaching.

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Vijay Pawar 2012/06/04 17:21:03

Yes

+1
Indeed it is true, the reason, movements in old age decrease, substantially, causing less, activity. So sweat not out sourced. reason as my logic goes.

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Tamara McMillan 2012/06/04 17:20:19

Yes

+1
If you think about it there are many reasons why. General maintance of ones own body and home they live in gets more difficult as we age and get ailments to deal with.

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Honeybuns 2012/06/04 17:11:52

Yes

+2
Yes but old people are so sweet and nice. I love my grandparents.But sometimes they do have a certain smell.

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May 2012/06/04 16:58:41

Yes

+1
Unfortunately some do, but not sure why. It is a distinct smell that is different from other smells. Strange, but Oh Boy, something else to look forward to as we age! At least it is something we gain instead of lose.

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no no 2012/06/04 16:55:37

Yes

+1
Undoubtedly and unequivocally yes. Something that awaits us all if we live long enough. Some are more smelly than others, not because they don't bathe, but some were even smelly when they were young. Diet, hygiene, genetics, and even the environment plays a part. With some it simply becomes worse with age.. Some never notice because it has been with them all of their lives. Best if just not left to become stinky. Camouflage and make corrected attempts in whatever way one can.

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daveygater 2012/06/04 16:55:27

Yes

+1
my parents are experiencing a diminshing sense of smell, and i believe that is a common geriatric problem .... they cannot tell when they have excessive .b.o. .... also i believe some retired people cannot afford to bathe aevery day (water is getting much more expensive that when i was in college)

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Louis Contreras 2012/06/04 16:53:10

Yes

+1
No doubt

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NinjaRebecca 2012/06/04 16:47:20

Yes

+1
Definitedly real

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dzzshadz 2012/06/04 16:45:31

Yes

+1
Only when they start pissing them selves and or not fully bathing. Other then that no.

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rosebud 2012/06/04 16:34:31

No

+2
Maybe the "imagined" fragrance comes from fewer baths and less activity?

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toti 2012/06/04 16:30:22

Yes

+6
Take it from a person that lives in Arizona,where "snowbirds" flock in the winter months --there is such a thing as "old person smell". I wouldn't describe it as slightly stinky socks -- that's kind of harsh! I've noticed they smell more like babies -- lots of talc use going on versus baths. But who can blame them for not showering as often as they'd like? A fall can result in death -- hip breaks land them in convalescent homes and many times they pick up some other bug there and that's the end of that. I guess I'd rather stink a little than risk broken bones!

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Howard L. Chapman 2012/06/04 16:29:41

Yes

+1
Yes, and by god I wish I could get rid of it, even two showers a day doesn't do it!

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txtumlin to Howard ... 2012/06/04 22:52:02

How about a new wardrobe? Treat yourself. All the way down to the skivvies! :D

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WilliamLClay 2012/06/04 16:23:02

Yes

+1
yes, ive noticed older people smell, butt they use lots of perfume, butt every living thing smell's.!!! my "NOSE" can smell anything, i have sex alot cause i can "SMELL" a female in heat. i think i was a WOLF in my last life.!!!!!

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sokoyah to William... 2012/06/04 21:28:20

+1
Are you the guy in the photo? If so you appear to qualify as an old person and not the hot stud you imply...be careful what you expect us to believe dude. (((-:

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kmay 2012/06/04 16:05:08 (edited)

No

+1
Only when they don't shower daily!

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MooMuck 2012/06/04 15:48:55

Yes

+2
Yes.

And babies have a distinct baby smell. And preadolescent boys have a distinct smell as do early adolescent boys and older adolescent boys...

shifts in hormones and body chemistry that tend to be similar at different ages makes this seem pretty simple and obvious.

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Sarah Alexander 2012/06/04 15:48:50

Yes

+1
I love elderly people and spending time volunteering with them at the elder care facility, but they do have a scent unique to people of their age.

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DavideShalome 2012/06/04 15:48:17

Yes

+1
yes from urine, and the odors given off by their glands, and medications

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lou 2012/06/04 15:40:40

Yes

It's okay to say Old people smell ,but have you ever stood next to Blacks who smell ? Yuk I moved away

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Builder to lou 2012/06/06 11:22:15

By god there is always one who has to go there! They don't smell any worse than we do. Like the Blacks said most people don't even know when they are being bigoted! are you aware that the statement you just made is bigoted?

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charles nelson 2012/06/04 15:36:21

Yes

+2
Personally, its usually when I don't change my diaper every week.

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txtumlin to charles... 2012/06/04 22:53:51

There is ALWAYS a comedian!

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charles... to txtumlin 2012/06/17 12:24:05

In some places diapers are a delicacy.

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bob 2012/06/04 15:19:05

Yes

+1
Yes I've smelled the grandpa grandma smell

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Brandon Coburn 2012/06/04 15:10:56

Yes

+1
Am I a good person Because I have skills that might get me far or will it not?

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Bob 2012/06/04 15:09:21

Yes

+1
In some cases yes, but not all.

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cin 2012/06/04 15:05:20

Yes

+1
yes!!! But they all have their own distinct smell. Like to me my grammas smell like little wrinkly rays of sunshine, and someone else will say they have old people smell. But old persons definitely smell like old persons.

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darlenedoskas1969 2012/06/04 15:05:14

Yes

+1
honestly, it freaks me out... my great grandmother was SCARY!!

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PapaBC 2012/06/04 15:02:22

No

There is young people smell thought for those that do not take a bath.

But there is nothing like a freshly clean 21-30 yr old yound lady.

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Elaine Magliacane 2012/06/04 14:47:10

Yes

+2
DUH... how much tax payer money was wasted on THIS STOOPID study?

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Groundskeeper Willy 2012/06/04 14:45:49

Yes

+1
Ever walk into a nursing home? the smell of incontinence, mush for food..

Generally, I don't think one notices the smell until the person's self care is non-existent, and the staff in the nursing home doesn't give a "sh*t".

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mikeyavelli 2012/06/04 14:38:23

Yes

+4
foolish to think not. our body chemistry changes with each phase of oir lives. some of us will be lucky to smell like an old person. none of the ages smells bad, it's just that we judge them from only our own age, which is the one that currently smells the best.

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Glenda.Butaud 2012/06/04 14:37:28 (edited)

Yes

+2
As previously stated all people have a distinct smell and with good hygiene it's virtually undetected but What bothers me the most is that those housed in convalescent homes have to tolerate unnecessary smells that uncaring aids and housekeeping leaves behind. I think the smell of the elderly is unimportant it is the wisdom they can pass on that is priceless.

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Bruce 2012/06/04 14:37:19

No

Depends on the Old Person

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mk, Smartass Oracle 2012/06/04 14:31:49

Yes

+4
Yes I am an old fart and smell like one too

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Mr.Hoodz the Truth Troll 2012/06/04 13:05:30

Yes

+1
Ahhh... The smell of a rotting living corpse. Lol!

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LADY LI... to Mr.Hood... 2012/06/04 16:15:43 (edited)

IT's YOUR OWN SMELL!!!!!!!!!

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