Old person smell

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Old person smell

Old person smell (/oʊld ˈpɜːrsən smɛl/), also known as nonenal odor or aging odor, is a term used to describe a specific scent associated with aging individuals.

Etymology

The term "old person smell" is a colloquial phrase used in English-speaking cultures. The scientific term for this phenomenon is "nonenal odor," derived from the chemical compound nonenal that is believed to be the primary source of this scent. Nonenal is a type of aldehyde, a class of organic compounds that often have strong odors.

Description

Old person smell is often described as a sweet, musty odor. It is believed to be caused by the accumulation of various skin secretions and the breakdown of fatty acids into volatile organic compounds by the skin's natural flora. The primary compound responsible for this scent is nonenal, which is produced when the body's natural oils oxidize.

Related Terms

  • Nonenal: An unsaturated aldehyde that is believed to be the primary source of old person smell.
  • Aldehyde: A class of organic compounds that often have strong odors. Nonenal is a type of aldehyde.
  • Volatile organic compounds: Organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. They are responsible for the scent of old person smell.
  • Oxidation: A chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons from one substance to another. The oxidation of the body's natural oils is believed to cause old person smell.

See Also

External links

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