At first glance, it may seem cruel and stereotyped, but we all know and associate a certain peculiar smell with elderly people. This smell is difficult to describe, but it can be associated with something rancid and sour., similar to that of a stale fruit. And on certain occasions it also has a sweet and metallic touch.
In 2001, Japanese scientists introduced the term “Kareishu” to respectfully refer to the characteristic smell of older people.
This smell is difficult to remove and It is common that the places where the elderly live or frequent, also have this aroma that is usually associated with lack of hygiene. But the reason for it is something completely natural to the body and is caused by a molecule.
And this is not only characteristic of humans. Many animal species also experience changes in odor over time due to chemical variations related to aging. Research suggests that this evolution in smell may be key. in both humans and animals, to evaluate the compatibility of potential partners based on age.
Molecules that smell really bad
In an interview with El País, chemist José María Antón, CSIC biotechnology expert and founding president of Prima-Derm, indicated that This characteristic odor originates from a specific molecule: 2-nonenal.
After the age of 30, the molecules responsible for bad odor begin to increase.
As Antón explains, this smell “is caused by 2-nonenal, a molecule that It is generated in the skin when the fatty acids of the lipid barrier are naturally oxidized. (…). 2-nonenal smells really bad. So much so that when we open a capsule with that molecule in the laboratory, everything stinks.”
And you don’t have to be older to emanate it. This smell can begin to be noticed from the age of 30. The expert explains that “The hormonal changes typical of maturity lead to an increase in the production of lipids in the skin. At the same time, our natural antioxidant capacity is reduced.”
We might think that a good shower would eliminate this smell, but that is not the case. “The lipids They are not soluble in water, so the odor derived from fatty acids is difficult to eliminate“he points out. Furthermore, this odor is not related to sweat or other body fluids.
Neutralize odors as a solution
While this odor cannot be eliminated with a shower, it can be neutralized. In fact, In Japan, which are very respectful of cleanliness, they have been selling hygiene and personal care products specifically designed for older adults for years.which neutralize those odors.
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Prima-Derm cosmetics also launched a unisex body fragrance designed specifically for this purpose. The fragrance contains active ingredients such as Sirtalice and Seadermium, derived from microorganisms found at a depth of 3,400 meters near Reunion Island. These molecules encapsulate bad odor molecules, effectively neutralizing it.
Although we try to be attentive to this issue, We may not notice when we begin to give off this characteristic odor. This is because, as we age, we lose our olfactory ability and it becomes more difficult to detect both pleasant and unpleasant odors. After the age of 70, our sense of smell is very similar to that of children under 8 years of age, who have not yet fully developed their olfactory sensitivity.
