Tracking Down The Scent of Youth

Research shows that as we age our body gives off a different scent then when we are young. Here’s how to smell like the fountain of youth - By Colette Bouchez

There is anti-aging make-up, anti-aging skin care, and anti-aging treatments too numerous to count. But the latest buzz to hit the Boomer circuit: Anti- aging fragrances.

Indeed, if you want that new face lift or Botox injection to be really convincing, some perfumers are telling women you’ve got to start smelling as young as you look. And there’s actually some science to back up the concept.

It seems that as we age, both men and women produce more of a body chemical known as “noneal” – which occurs as a result of breakdowns of fatty acids in the skin.

According to Wataru Takekoshi a scientist working for Japanese skin care company Shiseido that breakdown results in a type of unsaturated aldehyde which has an unpleasant ‘ greasy ‘ odor with grassy undertones. And that, say experts is the natural body scent of aging.

Takekoshi also says this particular body odor is rarely found in those their 20’s or 30’s – but can be very prominent beginning around age 40.

And in fact in one study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology researchers found that women over 40 have more than twice the levels of 2-Nonenal in their skin than younger women. The same study found women over 40 also have higher levels of Omega 7 and certain other lipids which, when broken down in the skin may contribute to a kind of "odor" commonly associated with older people – both women and men.

The end result: Aging does have an associated smell , which some say can be perceived on both a conscious and unconscious level, making us "seem" older than we might look.

Men Can Smell A Woman’s Age

But it isn’t only the “natural” scent of aging that can give away how many candles should be on your birthday cake. In one study conducted by a team of Rutgers scientists, it was learned that men appear to subconsciously “age” a woman based on her choice of fragrance.

In their research 15 men aged 20 to 60 were asked to smell various fragrances and associate it with the age of the women who would wear them. Among the scents tested were vanilla, lavender and rose, together with scents from fruits like apple, and vegetables including broccoli.

The result: Almost universally the men associated the scent of roses with an “old” woman, while associating the scent of apples with young women.

This almost mimics the findings of a study done in 2005 by the Smell and Taste Research Foundation. Here it was learned that the scent of grapefruit was most often associated with the perception of youth while roses signaled that retirement is closing in.

Covering Up The Smell of Age
While some say any good perfume can tuck away the secret of your age, not everyone agrees. Perfumer Harvey Prince says it takes a specific combination of essential oils and fragrances to not just cover up the scent of age, but actually neutralize all those smelly lipid odors.

Not coincidentally, Prince just released his first anti-aging fragrance, a perfume called Ageless Fantasy, which he says not only does away with that “old lady” smell, it can knock ten years off your perceived age. At least to those close enough to take a good whiff!

While Prince says the formulation of Ageless Fantasy is a proprietary secret, I can tell you that the main essences found in the fragrance are tropical notes of pineapple, mango and leafy greens which the company says promotes memories of a happy childhood (but maybe only if you grew up in Hawaii and not Brooklyn!). The fragrance also contains oils of Lily of the Valley and peony, which are thought to promote feelings of well being and happiness. In combination Prince says it's the magic formula that makes a woman smell younger than springtime.

As unique a promise as this is, Ageless Fantasy is not the originator of the concept. Following the discovery of noneal back in 2000 Shiseido produced a line of products called Care Garden designed specifically to neutralize the odors of fatty acid breakdowns in 40 plus skin. They report Care Garden became one of the fastest selling lines in the history of the company.

Smell Younger – For Less!
Whether or not Ageless Fantasy will leave you smelling younger is anybody's guess - but it’s going to cost you to find out. A 3 ounce bottle retails for $120.

But if you’re not quite ready to trade a tank of gas for one last whiff of youth, you should also know that simply paying closer attention to skin hygiene may, in fact help distill some of the scent of aging. Indeed, studies show that while noneal is produced equally in the skin of older men and older women, experts say the odor is more identifiable in men simply because they generally pay less attention to skin hygiene.

So if you want to try sending a few years down the drain - and still leave enough in the piggy bank for one more wrinkle injection – there are any number of drugstore shower gels or body lotions that might do the trick; just lather up daily. And if you don’t smell younger, at least you’ll smell cleaner. :)

For the most inexpensive top ten scents that can make you smell younger visit www.RedDressDiary.com

You might also enjoy reading:
More Hope In A Jar : The Latest Anti Aging Skin Care Ingredients
Hope or Hype: Anti Aging Make Up

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