Can you smell but not be aware of it?

Do you have any health issues? Diabetes?

Oh Tennisnan - you did make me laugh. I was just picturing your son running to open the windows. I can’t tell you ‘what’s going on’ because I haven’t been near you 😂
But it’s not a laughing matter to you. I don’t have any answers, but I can say, we sweat less as we get older (I read that somewhere), so we really shouldn’t smell that much. Good luck in your search for an answer.

Apparently people do give off an ‘aroma’ as they age. It’s why older people’s bedrooms smell slightly stale in the morning. I found this online:

“As our skin matures, its natural antioxidant protection declines. This decline results in greater oxidation of lipid acid. When lipid acid is oxidized, the chemical compound nonenal is produced, giving off the “old people smell” that many of us are familiar with. Exactly why this happens is still a mystery.”
🥴

On dear, there is an older people smell, it's not unpleasant but it's a real fact, but there is an answer to it, I am not sure if I have it but I use a soap from Japan that gets rid of it, having googled it as I remember when younger going into elderly relatives and noticing a smell that I didn't smell in other houses, it's ok if our body changing ,it's normal but nice to know you don't have to have it

I think you should ask your son what is going on and done with it! I bet you will be so relieved with the answer... but,

when working, a colleague smelt and not one of us told her and wondered why her family didn't!

You say you shower every day, but do you also wash your hair? I find the smell of unwashed hair quite unpleasant 😷
Alternatively do you use quite a strong perfume that your sons might find a bit overwhelming?

You're very brave to ask!!

A massive difference between smell which is hygiene related, incontinence related, or health/age realted. The first two have fairly simple solutions- the last one, not so easy or possibly impossible to solve.

Yes, I would ask him quite simply and directly- and make it clear you won't get offended, but need to understand, so you can try and do something about it.

Shel69

On dear, there is an older people smell, it's not unpleasant but it's a real fact, but there is an answer to it, I am not sure if I have it but I use a soap from Japan that gets rid of it, having googled it as I remember when younger going into elderly relatives and noticing a smell that I didn't smell in other houses, it's ok if our body changing ,it's normal but nice to know you don't have to have it

Does the soap have a pleasant smell that you can actually smell on yourself?

I find that various soaps and shower gels smell lovely when I’m using them but as soon as I’m dressed I can’t smell anything at all.

Is it possible that you are putting on too much perfume?

I take it you aren’t a smoker?
Maybe it’s your perfume that both sons have taken a dislike to?
I think I’d take a deep breath and just ask what’s going on.

The only way to find out is to ask someone. If it were me I would rather text, making it easier for the person you ask. Ask them to give an honest opinion as you won't be offended.

Nose blindness is definitely real.

Thank you so much for some great advice. To answer questions above - yes hair gets washed about every 2 or 3 days. Hardly ever wear perfume or just a dab if Ch no 5 for special outings. None of the health issues so it must be the old person smell then. Shel69 any more details on the soap please?

Apparently taking anti oxidants can help. Blackcurrant supplements are deemed very effective. Also drinking green tea.

Could it be a body lotion or moisturiser? Scents are such a personal thing and what is gorgeous to one person is horrible to another. But perhaps it's true that just asking one of your sons if you can will hopefully solve it for you

That's interesting. OH and I have separate rooms as he snores and I sleep badly. I've noticed a musty smell in his room although he's very clean and bed linen is changed very regularly. I don't notice any body odour but he does have an office space in there. I wonder if he thinks my room smells? I don't think we do notice our own smells.

OP hasn’t said but do you use a deodorant or antiperspirant every day? Some older people think that showering is enough but I doubt it is.

I would definitely ask saying you are concerned in case you do as we don’t smell our own scent do we.
Personally I’ve grown concerned as I age because I always remember an old person’s smell from certain relatives but more so their homes than they themselves to begin with, as cleaning while carried out by a cleaner could not have been the same as regular/daily bits of cleaning.

That odour is a definite, called old people odour. There are odours all through life, sweet smell of new baby, teenage boy hormones, different ovulating hormones to increase the population, then as my dd (medic) says the scent of decaying cells as we age. It is a fact, eyes deteriorate, olfactory sense deteriorates and old people odour would be determined first by those younger who still have the acute senses

That special soap from japan is available in the uk

Ask your son straight do I have bad breath or some other problem. Tell him you do notice he opens windows etc when you are around and would like to know why. It’s your son not a stranger what’s wrong with asking questions.
Both my son and daughter were brought up to be direct they wouldn’t hesitate to tell me of a problem. Equally I would put them straight if something needed pointing out to them you are never too old to be told.

as your son opens the windows in the room you will be using I think he is just airing it for your use

Why not just ask them? If things like this can't be mentioned between mother and son, what can?

I have worked with very elderly people and have not found any with the 'old person smell' some talk of. the people I've worked with were able to wash/shower themselves so I presume the 'old person smell' is people who cannot wash due to health reasons..

I think this is the soap mentioned www.amazon.co.uk/Japanese-Kakishibu-Antibacterial-Prevents-Perspiration/dp/B075NDLBYR?tag=gransnetforum-21

I wonder why you don't keep a window open at night? I find all bedrooms smell musty if they are not aired.. my son sleeps with his windows closed which I couldn't do, even in winter..