As we know, our body’s scent is always changing as we age because of our health, the medications we take, our diet, and our hormonal changes. Because it can change our body’s scent by making us sweat more, or because of our changing skin chemistry and diet.
Here some top reasons for why we have such different body scents the older we get.
- Aging skin
When fatty acids meet the air, it can increase a chemical known for its sour, gassy, and greasy smell: 2-nonenal. So the “old people smell” is real, since the smell of their skin actually changes! - Living with some illnesses
As we get older we are more likely to have health problems. And some diseases like diabetes can change how we smell, no matter our age. Diabetes is known for its fruity and syrupy scent as our bodies create a large amount of ketone.
Other illnesses are known to change our body’s scent, like hyperthyroidism and liver disease.
- Changing your diet with age
Foods like fish, spices, and red meat can impact how you smell. After our food is broken down in our bodies we release the chemicals through our sweat, which can sometimes be very strong! - Our changing hormones
We may not even beware of it, but our body’s hormones change often, especially when humans menstruate and experience menopause. One study even tells us that men find ovulating women the most attractive because of their body odor!
Other hormonal changes like puberty and high stress can also change how we smell throughout our lives.
