Can
you
remember
how
your
favorite
grandma
smelled?
If
you
think
back
to
a
beloved
elder,
you
might
be
able
to
summon
up
the
memory
of
a
scent
that’s
been
described
as
a
blend
of
stale
oil
and
musty
cardboard.
It
might
remind
you
of
opening
up
old
books
or
unpacking
a
box
of
vintage
clothing.
And
while
it’s
much
more
subtle
than
the
sweaty
body
odor
of
youth,
it’s
definitely
noticeable
and
probably
filed
away
in
your
memories
as
“old
person
smell.”

As
it
turns
out,
that
smell
is
an
actual
biological
phenomenon,
caused
by
an
epidermal
change
that
happens
to
everyone
as
they
age.
According
to
skin
experts,
every
birthday
after
age
40
increases
the
likelihood
of
these
changes
in
the
way
skin
smells.


Research

has
identified
the
culprit
as
something
called
2-nonenal
(pronounced


noh-neh-nahl),
an
organic
compound
known
as
an
aldehyde.

That
“aging
odor”
is
caused
by
increased
production
of
this
aldehyde
in
older
people,
which
is
the
source
of
a
distinctive,
dusty
“granny”
smell.
Not
all
aldehydes
smell
the
same,
by
the
way,
and
another
example
is
cinnamaldehyde,
the
organic
compound
that
gives
cinnamon
its
characteristic
flavor
and
aroma,
explained


Dr.
Delphine
J.
Lee,
chief
of
dermatology
and
residency
program
director
at
Harbor-UCLA
Medical
Center.

We
spoke
with
dermatologists
and
other
experts
to
get
to
the
bottom
of
why
this
happens.

Here’s
what
changes
in
your
skin
to
produce
the
scent.

The
compound
2-nonenal
has
its
own
unique
scent,
and
it
proliferates
as
people
get
older.
“As
we
age,
several
things
happen
simultaneously
in
our
skin,”
said


Dr.
Sonal
Choudhary,
a
dermatologist
from
the
University
of
Pittsburgh
School
of
Medicine.
“Antioxidant
defenses
in
the
skin
decline,
the
composition
of
our
sebum
changes,
and
our
cumulative
UV
exposure
and
environmental
stress
increase
oxidative
damage
in
the
skin.”
As
these
things
are
weakening
the
skin,
2-nonenal
has
an
opportunity
to
make
its
presence
known.

“Research
suggests
measurable
increases
in
2-nonenal
typically
begin
after
age
40,
with
more
noticeable
accumulation
in
the
50s
and
beyond,”
Choudhary
said.
“It’s
a
gradual
process,
not
an
instant
switch.
The
intensity
of
the
smell
varies
significantly
from
person
to
person
depending
on
genetics,
skin
type,
lifestyle
and
environmental
exposure.”

It’s
something
that
happens
to
most
people,
said
dermatologist


Dr.
Naana
Boakye,

founder
of


Bergen
Dermatology.
“Evidence
suggests
that
2-nonenal
production
is
a
common
age-related
phenomenon,
not
something
limited
to
a
small
subset
of
people,”
she
noted.
“Studies
consistently
detect
this
grassy,
greasy
scent
in
older
adults
of
both
sexes.
While
levels
vary
between
individuals,
there
is
no
evidence
that
only
certain
people
produce
it.”

You
may
not
be
able
to
smell
it
yourself
if
you’re
producing
it.

Since
so
many
factors,
including
genetics
and
lifestyle,
contribute
to
the
condition
of
your
skin,
you
may
get
lucky
and
avoid
the
2-nonenal
odor
altogether.
And
even
if
that
distinctive
smell
does
show
up,
remember
that
it’s
all
in
the

nose
of
the
beholder.
“People
can
exaggerate
that
this
smell
is
unpleasant
or
disgusting,”
Lee
said.
“It
may
even
be
more
neutral
or
pleasant
than
the
body
odors
of
younger
and
middle-aged
people.”

As
Choudhary
mentioned,
this
process
happens
gradually,
and
that
gives
your
brain
an
opportunity
to
become
accustomed
to
the
new
scent,
thanks
to
something
called
olfactory
adaptation.
You
might
not
notice
a
prevalent
scent
after
a
while,
since
brains
often
filter
out
familiar
odors,
while
staying
alert
for
new
information.
An
example
of
this
“nose
blindness”
is
that
we
might
notice
a
friend’s
house
always
smells
a
certain
way
but
are
probably
unable
to
detect
our
own
home’s
unique
scent.

Unlike
sweat,
it
doesn’t
wash
off
easily.

Since
2-nonenal
is
a
fatty
acid,
it
won’t
easily
dissolve
in
soap
and
water,
the
way
sweat
does.
“It’s
hard
to
get
rid
of
this
molecule,
because
it’s
very
sticky,”
said


Danielle
Reed,
chief
science
officer
at
Monell
Chemical
Senses
Center,
a
nonprofit
research
institute
that
studies
taste
and
smell.
“It
loves
to
stick
to
your
skin
and
it
loves
to
stick
to
fabrics.
You’ll
remove
some
of
it
when
you
bathe,
but
your
body
is
constantly
making
it,
so
washing
isn’t
a
cure.”

Boakye
suggested
it
might
be
helpful
to
use
antioxidant-based
cleansers.
She
also
said
products
with
ingredients
that
bind
aldehydes,
like
tannins,
may
help
reduce
odor
persistence
in
some
people.
“Persimmon
soap,
which
contains
tannins,
has
a
plausible
mechanism
and
a
long
history
of
use,
though
large
randomized
trials
are
lacking,”
she
noted.
While
none
of
these
experts
recommended
specific
products,


Mirai’s
clinical
persimmon
soap,

with
Japanese
persimmon
and
green
tea
extract,
is
popular
and
highly
rated.

Recent
research
has
looked
at
the
potential
role


eggplant
extract

might
play
in
reducing
the
oxidative
stress
that
contributes
to
2-nonenal
formation.
In
a
study
published
last
year,
researchers
said
the
fruits,
leaves,
stems
and
roots
of
eggplant,
along
with
their
active
ingredient

N-trans-feruloylputrescine,

exhibited
excellent
2-nonenal
scavenging
activity.
But
that’s
a
“someday”
option,
Lee
said:
“Human
clinical
data
remain
limited,
so
this
should
not
be
positioned
as
a
cure.”

An
older


study

was
initially
positive
about
how
the
consumption
of
white
button
mushroom
extract
could
alleviate
body
odor
in
subjects
aged
50
to
79,
but
there
have
not
been
large
clinical
trials
to
follow
up
on
that.

So
there’s
still
no
sure-fire
way
to
completely
eliminate
it
from
your
skin,
experts
agreed.
“If
you
could
figure
this
out,
you’d
be
very
rich,
but
so
far
there’s
nothing
that’s
truly
helpful,”
Reed
said.

And
also?
It’s
all
natural
and
perfectly
OK.

If
you’re
noticing
this
scent
on
yourself
or
someone
you
love,
don’t
be
ashamed
or
judgmental.
Choudhary
noted
that
it’s
not
a
sign
of
poor
hygiene,
nor
is
it
inevitable
or
unmanageable.
“This
is
a
normal
biochemical
change
of
aging
skin,
similar
to
wrinkles
or
dryness,”
she
said.
“With
thoughtful
skin
care,
antioxidant
support
and
proper
laundering,
it
can
often
be
minimized
significantly.”

Another
consideration
is
that
smell
is
a
subjective
area
for
humans.
“We’ve
decided
we
don’t
like
the
odor
of
old
people,
but
we
love
the
odor
of
babies’
heads,”
Reed
said.
“Perhaps,
as
a
society,
we
could
learn
to
love
the
smell
of
aging.
Not
everyone
finds
this
smell
unpleasant,
and
there’s
always
something
for
everybody
when
it
comes
to
smell.”

There’s
also
the
opportunity
to
lean
into
this
and
other
age-related
changes,
because
they’re
going
to
happen
whether
we
like
them
or
not.

“As
a
dermatologist,
I
emphasize
that
aging
is
a
natural,
lifelong
biological
process
experienced
by
us
all,”
Lee
said.
“We
should
focus
on
promoting
health
and
well-being
across
our
lifespans,
while
recognizing
and
valuing
the
wisdom,
resilience
and
lived
experience
that
accompany
advancing
age.
I’d
like
us
to
place
less
emphasis
on
cosmetic
or
physiological
changes
such
as
body
odor
or
wrinkles,
which
are
often
part
of
a
life
fully
lived.”

The
original
version
of
this
story
was
published
on
HuffPost
at
an
earlier
date.