What Is “Old Person Smell” & How Can You Keep Your Chicago Home Fresh?

Between work, family, and trying to enjoy everything Chicago has to offer, keeping your space fresh and clean can feel like a constant battle. If you’ve noticed a persistent, musty odor in your home—sometimes called “old person smell”—you’re not alone, and there’s actual science behind it.

The Real Science Behind That Mysterious Odor

As we get older, our body chemistry naturally changes. Hormones shift, and the substances our skin produces evolve. After age 40, certain biological processes that influence our scent begin to change. Researchers have identified a specific compound responsible for what many describe as “old person smell,” and understanding it is the first step toward a fresher home.

Meet the Culprit: Nonenal

Scientists discovered that a compound called nonenal is the primary source of this distinctive odor. You don’t need to remember the name—just know it’s the main actor in this story. To understand why it happens, we need to talk about sebum.

If you had acne as a teenager, you’re already familiar with sebum—it’s the oily substance our skin produces. As we age, sebum’s composition changes along with our body’s ability to break down certain components. One component that becomes more prominent is omega-7 fatty acids.

The Oxidation Process

Our skin’s natural antioxidant defenses decline with age, leading to increased oxidation. Think of a sliced apple left out too long—it turns brown. That’s oxidation, and a similar process happens with the compounds on our skin.

Omega-7 is released through our sebum, but as we age, we can’t break it down as quickly. The byproduct of this slower breakdown is nonenal—the compound that carries that distinctive scent.

How This Affects Your Home Environment

Now consider this: when you combine slower skin turnover with factors like non-breathable fabrics and inadequate ventilation, nonenal can accumulate in your living space. This compound settles into furniture, bedding, curtains, and carpets, contributing to that persistent odor in your home.

If you’re struggling with persistent odors despite your best efforts, sometimes you need deep cleaning help to thoroughly refresh your space. Many Chicago residents find that regular apartment cleaning makes a significant difference in maintaining a fresh environment.

Practical Tips for a Fresher Home

Whether you’re dealing with age-related odors or just want to maintain a clean space, here are some effective strategies:

• Increase ventilation by opening windows regularly
• Choose breathable fabrics for bedding and furniture
• Wash linens and curtains more frequently
• Use air purifiers in commonly used rooms
• Consider professional cleaning for hard-to-reach areas

For busy Chicagoans, finding reliable cleaning services in Chicago can be a game-changer. When you need fast cleaning services that actually work, it’s worth investing in a trusted Chicago cleaning company.

When to Call in the Professionals

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you need extra help. If you find yourself searching for a cleaning service near me that can tackle stubborn odors, consider reaching out to a professional home cleaning service. They have the tools and expertise to clean your apartment thoroughly and eliminate odors at their source.

If you need someone to clean my apartment who understands the unique challenges of Chicago living, it’s easy to schedule a cleaning that fits your busy life. Many people find that regular home cleaning service appointments make it easier to maintain freshness between visits.

Researchers discovered a specific compound in old person smell and it’s called two no. Let’s talk about what old person smell actually is. As we get older, our body chemistry changes. Hormones, the different things that we are producing that come off of our skin, all of that changes as well. And after the age of 40, by the way, I’m currently 43 as we’re shooting this video, some of these processes in our body that create old person smell start to change. Researchers discovered a specific compound in old person smell and it’s called two nonenol. And you don’t have to worry about remembering the name. You just have to understand that that is the culprit here. To understand a bit of the science behind why this happens, think about seabbum. This is something that we are often first introduced to as teenagers going through puberty. And as someone who had real bad acne growing up, I was intimately familiar with seabbum. As you age, the seabbum contents change along with our body’s ability to break things down in certain ways. And one of the things that is more prominent is omega 7. For example, our skin’s natural antioxidant defense declines with age. This results in increased oxidation. I want you to think about an apple. If you slice that apple in half and expose it to air for too long, it starts to turn brown or it starts rusting. So that whole process, that is where the smell comes from. Omega7 is released through our seabbum. We can’t break it down as quickly. There’s a byproduct called tunonol and that’s the one that has the smell. Now, compound this with slower skin turnover as well as perhaps not breathable fabrics, and you can start to understand how this compound can really add to the smell of your home, your body, and your clothes.