This is what a person who is about to d.ie smells like, according to an expert (Page 2 ) | July 26, 2025

This characteristic odor is unique. However, we can also give off other odors (which have nothing to do with the presence of bacteria or hygiene habits). These can be a bit uncomfortable.

In that case, many people have wondered what those who are about to d.ie smell like. Believe it or not, they also give off a distinctive odor, and right now, we’ll show you what a nurse at a Los Angeles orphanage explained.

What do people smell like before they d.ie?

Julie McFadden, a nurse at an orphanage in Los Angeles, USA, spoke with Ladbible about a phenomenon that’s not often known. It’s the distinctive odor that people give off before they die.

According to her, people who are about to die emit very specific odors. According to her, the presence of these odors could be a sign that d.eath is imminent.

The nurse explained that these odors come from two chemical compounds: putrescine and cadaverine. These are released when the body begins its decomposition process.

“People ask me all the time, ‘I smell a smell coming from my loved one,’ and I tell them it could be those gases.” McFadden, who has experience caring for terminally ill patients, mentions this.

Putrescine is an organic compound that, along with cadaverine, is largely responsible for the unpleasant odor of decomposing flesh. This explains the unpleasant smell, along with other possible causes.

The body undergoes one last change before d.eath.

Other changes that occur in a person’s body before d.eath include changes in metabolism. These can generate distinctive odors on the breath, skin, and bodily fluids. McFadden mentions that these could resemble nail polish remover.

Illnesses can also contribute to a change in odor. “If a person is d.ying of bowel or stomach cancer, this odor can be quite strong.” However, this isn’t all, as there are also sounds characteristic of this natural process.

This is the “de.ath rattle,” a crackling, wet sound that can be quite impactful to those who hear it. According to the nurse, this occurs when fluid accumulates in the patient’s throat. Due to the deterioration of the body, the patient loses the ability to swallow or cough.

“It’s a normal part of the process, although the distinctive sound can be very distressing for loved ones.”

Next: All the grandkids wanted seconds and grandpa ate three of them.

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