What is old people smell? And is the internet wrong about it?

#186 In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the common notion that elderly people have a distinct smell. They delve into the scientific basis behind this observation, discussing the role of volatile organic compounds, fatty acids on our skin, and how these compounds can change with age. The episode features discussions on different studies that have attempted to identify specific compounds associated with 'old people smell' and debates their findings. It also touches upon cultural and dietary influences on body odor, the impact of hygiene practices, and the psychological aspects of scent perception. Additionally, the hosts reflect on the influence of other environmental factors like hospital scents on our perception of 'old people smell.' The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion on favorite smells, emphasizing the complexity and variability of human olfactory experiences. 00:00 Introduction to the Mystery of the Elderly Scent 00:41 Diving Into the Science: What Causes the Elderly Scent? 01:25 Community Shoutout and Listener Contributions 03:48 Exploring the Chemistry of Skin and Aging 07:37 Scientific Studies and the Debate Over Elderly Scent 15:17 Cultural Factors and the Universality of Elderly Scent 21:29 Concluding Thoughts on the Science of Scent and Aging 23:22 Exploring the Science of Smell and Age 23:54 Perceptions and Variables in Smell Research 24:42 Personal Anecdotes and Smell Associations 26:24 Consumer Products and Their Influence on Smell 29:05 The Debate Over Persimmon Soap 32:00 Skepticism Towards Marketing Claims 35:09 Favorite Smells and Personal Memories   References from this Episode https://scholar-google-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/citations?hl=en&user=5fCySaUAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/well/live/do-older-people-have-a-different-smell.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574753/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3364187/ https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-202X(15)41198-4 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/old-person-smell/ https://www.reddit.com/r/chemistry/comments/1at59dv/why_doesnt_regular_soap_work_on_nonenal_old/ https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/unftyx/til_what_causes_old_people_smell_as_our_skin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter! Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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