Why ‘Old Person Smell’ Can Start After 40—And What Your Body Odor May Be Telling You

Characteristics include:

• Thick, greasy tongue coating
• Tendency to sweat easily
• Sticky sweat
• Noticeable sour odor on the body that often lingers on clothing and in the surrounding environment

Recommendations include:

• Emphasize eating fresh vegetables
• Reduce sweets, fried foods, and heavily salted dishes
• Rinse your mouth with water after each meal to maintain oral hygiene
• Include foods and herbal soups that help dispel dampness, such as Si Shen Tang (Four-Ingredient Soup)
• Shower in the morning and evening, as people with a damp-heat constitution tend to sweat during sleep

In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, TCM practitioners often recommend herbal teas to help improve a damp-heat constitution. One daily remedy Chou recommends is a tea made with cassia seeds and jasmine green tea.

Cassia Seed and Jasmine Green Tea

This simple herbal tea combines roasted cassia seeds and jasmine green tea, ingredients commonly used in TCM to support metabolism and help reduce excess dampness in the body.

Ingredients

• 10 grams roasted cassia seeds
• 28 fluid ounces water
• 5 grams Jasmine green tea

Instructions

1. Place the roasted cassia seeds in a pot and add the water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat, add the jasmine green tea, and steep for three minutes.
3. Strain out the tea leaves and cassia seeds before drinking.

Note: Cassia seeds should be roasted before brewing. If you have raw cassia seeds, dry-roast them over low heat until they darken slightly and release a fragrant aroma.

Cassia seeds, which come from a leguminous plant, can help improve metabolic syndrome.

Blood Stasis Constitution: An ‘Aged’ or Stale Odor

“Blood stasis” is a concept in TCM that refers to poor blood circulation and obstruction of the flow of qi and blood. Clinical observations show that people with this constitution often suffer from hypertension, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids. As people age, reduced activity and less sweating can make it harder for the body to eliminate metabolic waste. Unlike the strong sour odor seen in damp-heat constitutions, blood stasis tends to produce a duller, heavier, or “aged” smell.

Characteristics include:

• Purplish-dark lips
• Frequent shoulder and neck stiffness or soreness
• Joint and muscle discomfort
• Cold hands and feet

Recommendations include:

• Exercise regularly, with sweating being the key
• Use hot baths or hot springs to promote sweating if joint pain limits exercise
• Drink a one-to-one mixture of water and sports drink after bathing to maintain electrolyte balance
• Consider TCM herbs such as Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen), which can help protect blood vessels and support circulation

Qi Deficiency Constitution: Fatigue and Poor Metabolism

“Qi deficiency” refers to a lack of vital energy in the body, leading to fatigue, reduced circulation, and a weakened ability to eliminate dampness. This condition is commonly seen in people over 60. As metabolic function declines, sebum oxidation becomes more pronounced, and body odor tends to accumulate more easily on the skin surface. People with pure qi deficiency usually do not have a strong odor, but it is often accompanied by phlegm-dampness or infections, making the odor harder to eliminate.

Characteristics include:

• Fatigue
• Reluctance to speak
• General lack of energy.
• Cold hands and feet
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Lower back and knee soreness or weakness
• Loose stools or difficulty with bowel movements

Recommendations include:

Use qi-tonifying Chinese herbs to promote qi and blood circulation, such as black ginseng

Include Chinese yams (shan yao) and black soybeans in meals or rice dishes to help replenish energy

Liver Qi Stagnation Constitution: The Greater the Stress, the Stronger the Odor

Many people experience what is sometimes called “stress odor.” In TCM, prolonged stress leads to “liver qi stagnation.” The liver’s energy system is closely related to the function of the sympathetic nervous system. When the sympathetic nerves remain hyperactive for a long time, it can disrupt the metabolism of sweat and sebum.

Recommendations include:

• Prioritize relaxation and adequate sleep
• Drink rose or lavender tea regularly, as these flowers are believed to soothe the liver and regulate qi, helping balance the autonomic nervous system

Other Causes of Body Odor

In addition to the body odors caused by the conditions mentioned above, Chou said people with severe diabetes may develop a sweet-and-sour odor reminiscent of rotting apples due to ketone accumulation.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol intake can also affect body odor. For example, chronic alcohol drinkers often carry a strong alcohol smell combined with a damp, heavy sweat odor. Even when they are not drinking, they may still emit a distinctive odor due to impaired liver metabolism. In smokers, tar and cigarette smells can penetrate the skin and clothing, and may persist in the body odor for days even after they have stopped smoking.

Why Older Men Often Have Stronger Body Odor

Chou noted that older men often develop more noticeable body odor, mainly for two reasons:

Differences in Skin Care Habits: Women are generally more consistent with skin cleansing and moisturizing. Well-moisturized skin helps maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier and supports a healthier sebum balance, which can reduce body odor.

Age-Related Prostate Enlargement: After age 50, many men experience enlargement of the prostate, which sometimes leads to incomplete bladder emptying and small amounts of residual urine after urination. Residual urine may stain underwear and contribute to unpleasant odors over time. Taking a few extra seconds to fully empty the bladder and changing underwear regularly may help reduce this issue.