“In the Japanese study, when researchers did not tell participants what the odor was, they rated it as ‘inoffensive,’” Dr. [Johan] Lundstrom says. “But when they said it was from an old person, it was rated as ‘nasty.’”
— Dr. Lundstrom is with the Monell Chemical Research Center. Read more at Do Older People Have a Different Smell? at The New York Times.
When I read this article in the NYT yesterday, it made me so sad.
My mom was a fastidious person who smelled of wonderful things when I was younger. Tabu, Halston, Fendi, even Chantilly. In my minds’ eye as a child, I can see the bottles of Arpege, Evening in Paris and My Sin on her dressing table
In her last years, she would ask me over and over if she smelled.
She flossed her teeth every night until one month before she died. She smelled faintly of a small box of African Violets powder I had found for her along with a touch of Olay and Coty Airspun.
That particular study seems very sad…
I hate it when people use the term old lady for perfume, it’s a very similar attitude.
I hate when people say old lady in general, Robin.
Now, should I choose to call myself that one day, its a different story.
This is interesting. I’ve taken care of both of my parents into their 90s and my father had a distinct odor – I call it old man smell. He’s gone now but he had a bath aide and clean clothes and sheets but I had to wash all his things separately because the smell never came out, though I tried different detergents, bleach, vinegar etc. Everything had to be thrown away. My mother doesn’t have a noticeable smell except for her perfume, thank goodness.
ringthing,
I hope my comment didn’t sound like a rant. I think my moms death still is tender at the bone and she worried so about smelling old.
My dad had dementia and had full time care. Everything was a mixture of smells. He loved cologne was a classic Aramis and Devon dad.
Not at all! My dad had dementia too. I’m sorry about the loss of your mother
It sounds like we have both been lucky enough to have mothers who enjoyed perfume! I can picture your mom’s dressing table
I can picture your moms, too!
I read that article, too, and many of the comments. My mother is careful about staying clean. Dad still goes out to mow the lawn, though Mom and I tell him we could hire someone for that. When he comes back in from working outside, he certainly needs a shower. I don’t notice anything objectionable when he’s freshly showered and has clean clothes on. Dad’s still pretty mobile, though.
Mom has had a number of knee injuries over the past several years, but is still able to bathe. Also, she has me to help her with washing her back or legs or feet when she needs the assistance.
I certainly noticed odors when I worked as a nursing aide in a nursing home, but continence issues were involved there. When a resident was freshly bathed, it was much better.
A couple of the people who commented on the article had a point about the smell of teenage boys. (LOL)
But I think if a senior citizen is able to keep up with hygiene and keeping their home clean, there shouldn’t be an unpleasant scent from them. I remember that when Mom’s mother was still in good health, she smelled pleasantly of powder and lotion — they must have been Avon products. The lotion was in a yellow bottle, I think.
There’s much more of a scent from my room currently than from my parents’ room. It’s a mix of the last few times I wore fragrances, a couple of broken or leaky perfume sample vials among my stash, and some spicy-scented soaps. I’ve tried to put a lot of things in plastic bags, but need to do a bit more work there. But Mom lets me know if she can smell any sort of scent on me. lol. She may not mention that after my hair has gotten wet, it’s dried into elf-locks, but she’ll mention any sort of odor.
I think that for whatever age, having a clean body and clean clothes makes the difference.