5) The Japanese approach: persimmon and green tea in cosmetics
In Japan, body products that use persimmon extracts, often for their tannins (known for their ability to “bind” certain odors), as well as green tea for its antioxidant properties, are popular. Such products are most commonly found as soaps and shower gels.
There’s no need to chase specific brands. If you decide to try it, look for formulas with persimmon extract (persimmon, kakishibu) and/or green tea, and see if your skin tolerates them well.
The home also matters: clothes, dust, pillows, upholstery
Odors are “locked” in textiles. That’s why bathing alone is often not enough if:
The wardrobe is full of old clothes that haven’t been worn in years.
underwear and pajamas are washed at a low temperature and rarely aired
the pillows are very old and retain grease and odors
upholstered furniture is rarely cleaned
Useful habits:
ventilate regularly, especially the bedroom
do wet cleaning at least once a week (dust contains many microparticles, including from skin)
Go through your wardrobe and remove any clothes that are just “just in case”
Wash bed linen and pillowcases regularly, and replace pillows if they are worn out and do not freshen up even after washing.
Important note: not every unusual smell is simply the smell of age.
The smell associated with 2-nonenal itself is not considered dangerous. The bigger problem is the social one: many older people don’t notice it on themselves, but others notice it and sometimes start to distance themselves, leading to isolation.
But there is another side: sometimes sudden, strong or new body odor can be related to medical problems (metabolic changes, infections, liver/kidney disorders, dental and gum problems, etc.). If the odor changes abruptly, if it is accompanied by symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, excessive thirst, fever, pain, rashes), or if your loved ones tell you that it has become unusually strong, it is wiser to consult a doctor rather than just changing cosmetics.
