Older People Have Distinctive Odor

A new study published in the journal PLoS ONE reveals that older people do have a distinctive smell but it is more pleasant compared to the smell of younger people. The study was conducted by researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia who collected armpit odor samples of 41 young, middle aged and old volunteers. The volunteers were made to wash themselves every night using odorless soap and shampoo and were also made to stay away from booze, cigarettes and spicy foods.

They were made to sleep alone wearing a t-shirt which were the stored in air tight bags every morning for five days. Another group of people were then asked to smell the shirts and rate them depending on the intensity and pleasantness of the odor and were also asked to estimate the age of the individual who had worn the shirt.

The researchers said that the team was successfully able to differentiate the shirts from older people but added that they viewed the smell to be less unpleasant and less intense compared to the other two groups.

Source-Medindia