5 Reasons This Japanese Secret Eliminates Aging Body Odor (Before Anyone Notices)

Dr. James Mitchell
By
Dr. James Mitchell

In over 20 years of treating patients with skin concerns, there's one conversation I have more often than almost any other — and it's the one nobody wants to have.

After age 40, your body begins producing a compound called nonenal. It's an oily, waxy substance that creates a persistent musty odour on the skin, hair, and clothing. You might know it as "old person smell."

Here's what makes nonenal so difficult: you cannot smell it on yourself. Your nose adapts to your own scent over time. But the people around you — your friends, your children, your grandchildren — they notice. And almost none of them will tell you.

I've watched patients break down in my office when they finally learn what's been happening. That's exactly why I'm writing this.

Because nonenal is not a hygiene failure — it's a natural body chemistry change. And there is now a remarkably simple, scientifically-backed way to neutralise it.

Note: Read this BEFORE your grandkids start making excuses to avoid hugs!

What Is Nonenal?

Nonenal is an odor compound that develops naturally as skin oils change with age. Unlike sweat odor, it can linger on the skin and clothing even after bathing, which is why ordinary soaps often don't seem to solve the problem.

How Nonenal Forms

1. Lipid acid (oil) is produced.
2. It gets oxidized.
3. Oxidation happens much faster because your skin's natural antioxidants decline with age.
4. Nonenal (pronounced now-nee-nuhl) is formed.
How Nonenal Forms

You Can Shower Every Day... And Still Smell Less Than Fresh

You use quality soap. You stay clean. Maybe you even wear expensive cologne or perfume.

Yet something still seems "off."

That's because the odor many adults notice after 40 often isn't caused by sweat or poor hygiene. It's linked to a naturally occurring compound called Nonenal, which forms as skin oils change over time.

Unlike everyday body odor, Nonenal is oily and persistent. It can cling to skin, towels, clothing, and bedding, making it difficult for ordinary soaps to fully remove.

Many products simply cover it with fragrance. The better approach is helping wash away the compounds responsible for the odor in the first place.

That's why Curo's persimmon cleansing formula is designed specifically for age-related body odor—not just everyday sweat.

Age Related Body Odor

Why Do People Develop an "Older" Smell?

It's a normal part of aging—not a sign of poor hygiene. As antioxidant activity in the skin naturally declines, skin oils oxidize more easily, leading to the formation of Nonenal.

Oxidized Skin Oils

As skin chemistry changes with age, oils become more susceptible to oxidation, increasing the likelihood of Nonenal formation.

Changes After 40

Natural changes in the skin barrier, microbiome, and oil composition can all contribute to a scent that's different from earlier in life.

5 Areas to Wash for Maximum Freshness

Nonenal tends to remain where skin oils naturally collect. Give these areas extra attention during every shower for the best cleansing routine.

  • Behind the ears
  • Back of the neck
  • Underarms
  • Chest & Back
  • Feet
5 Areas to Wash

FAQ

Nonenal is caused by the oxidation of omega-7 fatty acids on aging skin, especially after age 40. As antioxidant levels drop, these fatty acids break down, producing nonenal an odor linked with aging. Mirai Clinical targets this at the source with persimmon extract.
Nonenal typically starts appearing after the age of 40, when the skin's antioxidant defenses weaken. This allows fatty acids to oxidize and release a noticeable odor. Mirai Clinical offers solutions specifically formulated for this age-related change.
Older adults smell differently due to the production of nonenal, a compound formed by oxidized skin lipids. It's a natural part of aging, not poor hygiene. Mirai Clinical products are designed to gently eliminate this odor without harsh chemicals.
Nonenal body odor is a distinct, grassy or waxy scent caused by skin lipid oxidation in people over 40. It sticks to skin and clothes, unlike typical sweat odors. Mirai Clinical's persimmon-based formulas help neutralize this hard-to-remove scent.
Nonenal clings to fabrics and resists normal detergents. To remove it, pre-soak clothes in vinegar or baking soda, then wash with odor-neutralizing agents. Mirai Clinical recommends using persimmon based fabric solutions for best results.
Regular soap can't break down nonenal. Use products formulated with Japanese persimmon extract, like Deodorizing Soap with Persimmon, which effectively neutralize and remove the odor at its source without irritating aging skin.
No, regular soap cannot effectively remove nonenal because it doesn't break down the oxidized fatty acids. Only targeted formulas like Mirai Clinical's Persimmon Soap are proven to eliminate nonenal odor from skin.
Nonenal odor has an unpleasant grassy, greasy, or musty odor. It is often hard to detect on oneself, but will linger on fabric such as shirt collars and pillow cases. Nonenal odor often persists in confined environments, such as nursing homes, and hence is sometimes referred to as "old people's smell". While familiar to physicians in Japan, nonenal remains little known in the U.S. The Japanese have an open and healthy attitude towards aging odor, which they refer to as "kareishu". Because it is oil (fatty acid) based, Nonenal is not easily removed by convention soap and water.
Usually around age 40, when the skin's antioxidant defenses start to weaken. Although most may think body odor comes from poor hygiene, that's not always the case as it can also come from age-related body changes.
There are two distinctly different sources of Body Odor: 1. Sweat (apocrine and eccrine) glands which secrete "sweat", comprised of water and organic substances that provide a fertile environment for bacterial growth. Bacterial breakdown of sweat compounds results in traditional body odor. Since sweat is water based, this type of body odor is easily removed with soap and water. 2. Sebaceous glands which produce lipids (fatty acids) which "oxidize" with oxygen in the air, and are transformed into an organic compound, Nonenal, which produces its own unique body odor. As our skin's anti-oxident defenses naturally decrease with age, Nonenal formation–and resulting odor–may increase. Unlike sweat, lipid acids are not water soluble, and therefore remain on the skin despite intense scrubbing. This also explains why Nonenal persists in even the cleanest environments.
1. Many women experience changes in body odor during menopause. This can be a combination of both increased sweat-based odor, as well as Nonenal-based odor, which can result in confusion and frustration when the odor cannot be easily eliminated. Hot flashes and night sweat during menopause cause excessive perspiration and increased fatty acids, resulting in Nonenal. 2. A recent Swedish study showed that middle aged men often have the worst body odor amongst all age groups. This could be due to higher testosterone ratios in men and related Nonenal production. 3. Stress can exacerbate the production of Nonenal in both women and men.
Soaps with Persimmon Extract eliminate 97% of Nonenal instantly compared to conventional soaps. In addition, the powerful anti-oxidant properties of purified Japanese Green Tea extends the effectiveness of the Persimmon Extract to provide all day freshness and deodorant protection. Persimmon Extract (or tannin) dissolves nonenal, thereby eliminating its odor.
Deodorizing Soap with Persimmon

Deodorizing Soap with Persimmon

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