Nonenal odor, sometimes called “aging odor,” is something many people ask about. In this video, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dray explains what nonenal odor actually is, why it happens, and whether popular products like persimmon soap really work.
Dr. Dray discusses the science behind nonenal odor, the role of skin lipid oxidation, and why regular soap may not fully address certain persistent odors. She also reviews the claims behind persimmon soap, explains why these claims are largely anecdotal, and shares her personal experience testing the Mirai Clinical Deodorizing Body Wash with Persimmon.
This video focuses on evidence-based skincare, realistic expectations, and practical tips for managing body odor.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
0:36 What is nonenal odor?
1:29 Why regular soap may not address nonenal odor
3:21 Persimmon soap claims explained
4:23 Dr. Dray’s experience with Mirai Clinical persimmon soap
6:53 Did persimmon soap work for odor?
8:55 What can we realistically say about persimmon soap
9:37 Practical tips for managing body odor
14:34 When to see a doctor
15:24 Closing thoughts
🧴 PRODUCT MENTIONED
Mirai Clinical Deodorizing Body Wash with Persimmon
This is not a sponsored video. Product mentioned for educational discussion only.
🎥 WATCH NEXT
Why you stink
How to stop armpit odor
Why your feet stink
Hygiene mistakes to avoid
Lume deodorant review
Hibiclens review
Betadine review
FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links.
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Disclaimer: This video is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content provided on this Youtube channel is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Youtube channel should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The statements made about specific products throughout this video are not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
How did you do on the quiz?? Nonenal odor is something many of you have asked me about, so I wanted to take a science-based look at what it is and whether products like persimmon soap actually help.
As I mentioned in the video, claims around persimmon soap are largely based on personal anecdotes, not clinical studies. While I found the Mirai Clinical body wash to be gentle and pleasant to use, there is no strong evidence that it neutralizes nonenal odor.
👉 Product mentioned in this video:
Mirai Clinical Deodorizing Body Wash with Persimmon
https://amzlink.to/az0wuctakbdfI
If body odor is a topic you want to learn more about, you may also find these videos helpful:
Why you stink
https://youtu.be/sNOoR78jqHU
How to stop armpit odor
https://youtu.be/6ixaan4mUzM
Why your feet stink
https://youtu.be/kYhTRaeM63Y
Hygiene mistakes to avoid
https://youtu.be/1YUP7eX6EIk
Lume deodorant review
https://youtu.be/VG94wXKW2yY
Hibiclens review
https://youtu.be/FdQb1tz6wlQ
Betadine review
https://youtu.be/4w1BzT51PKw
I’d love to hear from you. Have you noticed changes in body odor over time? Have you tried persimmon soap or other odor-targeting products? Please share your experiences or questions in the comments below.
Thanks so much for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Dr Dray, I am not done watching your video but I paused it to inform you of something that works 100% of the time for me to quickly and fully release those onion and garlic smells off the fingers. After washing your hands with any soap, rub your wet fingers and hands (or do this under cold, running water) over a stainless steel pot or stainless steel flatware (I use a huge spoon under running water). Scent completely neutralized! The chromium binds to the sulfur/allicin!
It’s kind of funny but I have heard some else talk about this and they said that it could come from not cleaning properly behind the ears. I don’t remember where exactly I heard it. I mean I don’t know if that is the cause or not but since I have entered my late forties I have been noticing I now sweat a lot behind my ears and I never remember that being that way previously. It could be a contributor in my opinion.
My dog had a bad habit of going after skunks… but skunks also had a bad habit of going after him so it was a struggle at night with him. He had gotten sprayed too many times than I would like to remember. I tried everything to get the skunk smell out… the only thing that worked was taking tomato pastes and coating him in it and leaving it on his skin for 20+ minutes… my take is the tomato paste was turning into a vinegar. Then washing the tomato paste off with dish soap and then applying some veggie oil… persimmon is similar to tomato and my inference is that tomato paste is possible just as effective 😅
Try chlorophyll supplements. NOW makes a good one.
😂😂😂
Thank you. My mom is 102 and doesn’t have that odor, making me hope I won’t either. Thanks for another great video.
102?! Omg god bless her!
My Dad recently passed at 91 years old and he did not have this issue. 👏
@jt8142I’m sorry for your loss.
@MrSincerity88 thank you ❤
Yes! My mom will be 102 in about a week 🎉. She doesn’t have that odor either, nor does her apartment, or clothing.
I’m 72 and have been using Mirai for years. I do not use it all over the body. I use it where their soap box recommends to, pits and groin. I feel it works. After using it I don’t smell a fragrance. I don’t smell anything! Which is exactly what I want.
I didn’t know this was even a thing.. cue new fear unlocked 😨
Same! I foresee myself secretly trying to smell older relatives to see if they have it for fear I’ll get it LOL
Oh yes, there is no rest for us that freak out about things like this.
Yet another crappy thing about getting old. Wonderful.
It’s BS!
Oh you’ll know when it happens to you. I feel like I smell like a rotting corpse when it starts up. I use a persimmon bar soap tho that works far better than Lume or anything I’ve heard advertised
I’m 73, super dry skin, yes I have developed stronger urine and body oder. I tried the persimmon soap and like it but saw no change. I cover myself with a mix of jojoba oil and castor oil after I shower and that helps my dry skin. Now I’ve learned dehydration, common in seniors, may be a problem, so I’ll work at drinking more water all day. Getting old requires serious maintenance, just like old cars!
Love Dr. Days advice.
Crazy how dehydration happens as we get older when u think your drinking enough … luv those oils I use the same .. I’d like to wrap myself exp this awful winter like a mummy in those oils 😂 I find my self continual usage during the day on my hands because if hand washing ..
Iv also found changing up mixing a little coconut oil , squalene oil , argon oil , glycerin oil w a bit of a great face moisturizer helps
Wish I did more for myself when I was younger but I didn’t need it
The odor maybe cause by the lymphatic system is stagnant. You might try lymphatic massage. Laroche posay foaming cleansing oil makes an excellent face bodywash. They even have refills. Prequel Gleanser for face and body is 50% glycerin. It’s very gentle and non- drying. I used too much on my face and it was a little difficult to wash off.
After trying a litany of pre-made products I went back to basics and also use a mix of jojoba oil and castor oil in ratio of 2:1, however, i apply it over over glycerine mixed with waterwhich i pat on like a toner. I have no idea if it helps odour but not constantly scratching my skin off due to dryness causing itchiness and irritation is enough benefit to me.
That’s really interesting, thank you for posting that. I’m 68 and I haven’t noticed a change in body odor but I do drink a lot of water every day. And it’s also very possible I’m so used to my funk that I just don’t smell it anymore. Oh well, I live alone and my cat doesn’t seem to mind.
@trilbynhissMy dog loves my many scents. 😊
If you are dealing with Nonenal, wash clothes with HOT water and avoid polyester!!
Yes, I also add a tablespoon or two of the purple package of oxyclean to every single load.
It’s almost impossible to avoid polyester. They’re like in a lot of fabric mix.
Cotton is essential.
I’ve kind of made it a side mission in life to hunt down natural fiber clothing – it’s out there. If you’re not into second-hand garments, there are brands that specialize in natural fibers. They can sometimes be pricey though.
@KimberleyNicholle they really are expensive but if you can afford them it’s the best way to dress.
Persimmon soap has been helpful for my perimenopause changes in smell.
My wife was very distressed with this odor developing on my scalp as I have gotten older. We tried a lot of shampoos and even vinegar rise. She ordered something off of amazon called Citrus Plus shampoo and body wash. After 2 days of use the nonenal odor was gone! She said I had began to smell like her dad with “old man smell”when he was older and it permeated drapes clothes etc because of it. This wash IS for this specifically and my wife says she needs no scientific proof. She said her nose knows. I cannot smell it on myself, but she sure could. This product DOES contain persimmon and it does work for me.
I think I see your wife’s review on the Amazon website!
Thank you for sharing!
Is she sure it is not her going thru menopause? My sense of smell during menopause is almost as heightened as it was during pregnancy. Sometimes I cannot take my hus’s natural smell
God protect men from wifes like yours. I bet it was hard for you to hear her constant complaining about your smell. And probably she is the one who stinks from menopause, like someone mentioned before.
@flutterfli007og obviously not… because the shampoo worked.
Thank you for talking about overstuffing washing machines. One of my pet peeves.
OMG on the nose. My daughter tried to pressure load the washer. It works much better if there is room. Iput my laundry in and to HURRY IT UP she crams another load in on top of it. This results in dirty clothing that still smells bad. On many medications, at least one of which seems to INCREASE the odor as a side effect.
@valkyrie1066There’s a product called Dead Down Wind that comes in pods like Tide that hunters use to get their hunting clothes clean and odor free so animals won’t smell them. I thought it did a good job. The very best thing I tried is a product called Consume. It has live enzymes that activate in warm water. I soak my stinky stuff in it for twenty minutes, and the smell is completely gone. Green and white bottle. 👍
It’ll wear out the machine faster, too.
Me too. Its a box with a capacity, not a magic trick
I agree, I get so aggravated when someone overloads. My machine. They wear out much more quickly. Just makes sure they’re just loosely in there so they can actually whoosh around ppl not just barely move. Because if someone has sweaty clothes in there then all the clothes come out smelling sweaty.
Perimenopause changes a lot. I’ve noticed more odor since I turned 42.
Weird menopause reduced the odors I could smell on my body.
Using hormone replacement brought those smells back.
@mlatham23 That’s interesting. Did your hrt include testosterone?
@mlatham23Same
Our sense of smell lessening as we get older can be a blessing!
God yes. 🤦♀️
As an aside, if your hands smell funky after chopping garlic, rub your fingers/hands on your stainless steel sink or any surface that is stainless steel. The odor will disappear. Works like a charm.
I’ve never had it work 😢what am I doing wrong😅 my mom had a stainless steel “soap bar” she got from pampered chef (for this exact reason) and it never worked😅
@JaimeLeeSquirtus those stainless steel bars work well. Just have to move slowly, be patient, and gently rub every inch of the skin that came into contact with garlic or onion. Try it!
It’s crazy but grabbing your steel faucet or sink after cutting garlic and onions works great.
@JaimeLeeSquirtus just wear medical gloves
I always grabbed the blade of the knife, carefully, and hold it under cold running water. It works very well. I never thought about the faucet or the sink, duh.
No one speaks about things like this. Except doc Dray🎉
There are many others on YT that do😉
This is talked about everywhere. Especially in major newspapers where people love to talk about how they bath as little as possible
There are other videos on YouTube about it.
She even says that everyone else was already talking about this which is why she chose to tho…I read about the marketing studies pushing this overpriced soap some time ago and rolled my eyes. Lemons work as well as persimmons anyway
I noticed my grandmother had this odor. Even in her 70s. My mom never has. She’s mid 80s right now. My grandma only washed her hair every week or week and a half(wash and set). And didn’t shower super frequently. Wore polyester pants and tops and no natural fiber.
My mom showers and washes hair daily,and only wears natural fiber based clothing. Maybe that helps.
I think showering infrequently was the main culprit.
I will try this, I had a student that said I smelled like his grandma…
Yes with the polyester pants. I associate this odor with exactly those garments, as well as upholstered waiting room chairs lol. Synthetic fibers definitely hold odors and allow the bacteria from our sweat to thrive.
That’s exactly what it is. I care for the elderly, and those that bathe and regularly wash their hair have no problem
The not washing everyday (or every other day) and polyester I believe definitely increases this odor.
The way I remember my grandma is by the rust brown or just plain brown polyester pants she ALWAYS wore.
She also was a rancher and did all kinds of chores every day. And then piled on that ick Mexican perfume
I’m 53. So she passed a couple decades ago. I have always felt that polyester was ick. Especially as a kid in the 70s when my mom made me wear polyester clothes. I hate them. I much prefer cotton hemp and silk.
Just my experience
You can use vinegar in place of softeners rather than adding it with the detergent, and your clothes won’t smell like it at all. I’ve been doing this for years because it helps get rid of residual detergent, mineral buildup in fabrics, softens your clothes without added perfume, and it helps keep your machine running well.
I do that too, it’s been very good imo
Just plain white vinegar? How much per a full load?
15% citric acid solution works as well, without any odor.
Vinegar is also essential in removing pet odors.
@ogadlogadl490I just pour it directly in the softener dispenser
My grandmother passed 3 weeks shy of 107 years old in 2018…. She always smelled like roses. 🌹
Mine smelled like geraniums. I miss her very much.
Mine, too. Mine died in 1978. I miss her every day!
Mine too. Except she drowned herself in perfume to the point of making me nauseous.
Did she use Rosehip Essential Oil I wonder? Life was – in a way – simpler yet harder then. Life is so much different in only a couple of decades….
@veramariecano289she loved rose water. She had the softest skin ever!
I noticed a couple of comments that nonenal smell is caused by modern living. That’s not true. I am 70. I remember when I was a child that I was very aware of this smell in old people. It was much more common than today. I do believe that more regular showering and cotton underwear helps significantly. Use moisturizer after the shower. It’s harder to wash as you get older, that’s why people skip it. Bathing aids help…..non slip rugs, a bathing chair in the shower and warm towels are all helpful.
It takes a lot of energy to shower. I lived with my dad the last 8 1/2 years of his life, until sadly he passed away at 91 years of age. He showered less the older he got and he always napped afterwards. I am 70 years old now myself. I find myself needing to mentally prepare to shower and wash my hair now. I used to wash my hair almost daily. Now I wash it every 5-7 days. I remember when I was a younger woman I was somewhat grossed out by older women who had their hair washed once a week when they went to the hair salon. Now I understand. The scalp is less oily. I still shower daily and I am much more cognizant of washing in the folds of skin that now exist because of gravity.😂
@Sand1955Yes. When I was young, I showered and washed my hair every day, and shaved my legs every other day. Now, not so much (too tiring)!
My parents had this. They did lose a little bladder control and less mobility to wash as vigorously as they used to when younger. Still very clean but I noticed a metallic smell as they became older. I wondered if was also the meds they both took, ie statins and anti inflammatories. Their breath changed too, not offensive but suddenly noticable as they aged. Again I wondered if it was meds. I recommended a tongue scraper and oil pulling. But they couldn’t get their head around it. To be fair, it was not worth bugging them about it, but they were pure magic and wonderful parents. If their hygiene wasn’t as perfect as it was but they were happy in their own home doing what they wanted after years of working hard, then who were we to insult them and tell them to wash more. I would give my right arm to sit in a musty room with them right now talking up a storm and playing all their old records no matter how they smelt, good, bad or otherwise.
I hear you! But, for many, they could wash every day and it still wouldn’t help, unfortunately.
Thank you.
You sound like a wonderful child. They raised you right!. God bless you
I totally feel ya, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give for one more day with my dear mama. I didn’t even mind helping her with her hygiene. But I’m glad she’s not stuck in that broken body anymore. They are free now.
🫂🕊😇
I’ve never used a tongue scraper, but I’ve always vigorously cleaned my tongue with my toothbrush and toothpaste. It’s always clean and no white stuff on it when I’m done.
I have heard some people don’t brush their tongues though and that always surprised me with the amount of the white stuff that grows on our tongues as well as our teeth from the bacteria that eats the sugars.
I used to bath my grandmother and I remember her having this odor. I tried different things but nothing worked, I then thought I should try adding baking soda to her bath water, and low and behold that worked. Completely took the odor off of her. I used it on myself from time to time when I feel like my own skin needs an odor reset!
Thanks for the tip!😁
Hmmm, that’s interesting, especially since baking soda is ph alkaline. Typically, the best products for skin will be pH acidic, same as your skin.
Thank you I will figure how to try this with my mom. Maybe make a bottle with baking soda and distilled water mix…
That’s a great budget solution!
please please use baking soda borax and salts in the bath it will pull out toxins and help your health DO NOT BE AFRAID it is perfectly safe and cheap if you buy in bulk at walmart =)
I lost my beloved father, God rest his soul, last year. He didn’t like bathing but always smelled pleasantly of leather & sweet oil. I adored hugging & holding him. He was 80. Appreciate them while you can 🕊️
What was his reason for not showering often?
What is sweet oil?
I just lost my father yesterday. He always smelled of shaving cream and old school old spice. I agree, appreciate them while they are here.
@snowwhite5842 Oh, Snow White 😔🙏 I am so sorry. Words can’t express my deepest condolences. I’m just a stranger on the Internet but I would like to say a prayer for your peace and comfort at this difficult time 🤍🕊️ Sending light to you and yours🕯️
@chrisneukirch864 most commonly, it’s another name for olive oil. It’s sold as ear drops to help break up earwax. It’s the same thing as the regular olive oil that’s sold for cooking, just more expensive and sold in a small dropper bottle. Some companies will mix olive oil with almond oil and/or essential oils and also call _that_ sweet oil, which is sort of confusing. But usually it refers to olive oil unless otherwise specified.
There’s also sweet _crude_ oil, which is crude oil (petroleum) with less than 0.5% sulfur content, but I would assume that they’re not referring to that lol.
I am 70 years old and am one that experiences the nonenal odor. I started bathing twice daily to try to avoid it. No real success there. I tried a persimmon bar soap from Amazon that seems to truly work. Actually I haven’t smelled that odor since I started using it. In addition I’ve never felt cleaner, it’s non drying, but it leaves no residue or scent on my skin. It does have a very light clean scent , but I can’t do fragrance, thankfully it does not qualify as scented. It comes three bars to a pack for $10 and included with each bar is a very soft net bag to use. I keep the soap in the bag in the shower and use it instead of a washcloth or loofah. So it gently exfoliates in addition to allowing the soap to completely drain and dry in between showers. I am sold on this product and find that I don’t really want to try others. Signed, Back to one shower a day. Oh the name is yoniagood.