Is it possible to smell death

But despite its distinctive scent, few know why it actually smells the way it does. Even forensic scientists may not have identified all of the compounds behind it yet — they are still in the process. Understanding the pattern of change of the chemicals that make up the scent during the process of decomposition could be of huge benefit to forensic science.

Not only could it help determining the time of death of a victim, it could also lead to more scientifically rigorous training of cadaver dogs. The smell of death is actually a very complex symphony of scents, with different notes waxing and waning as decomposition progresses. To date, more than different volatile organic compounds have been captured and identified from human cadavers, and more than have been identified from porcine cadavers.

My team profiles here and here has identified hundreds of chemicals given off by decomposing pig cadavers, both on land and under water. Porcine cadavers are frequently used for forensic research in the UK because of their physiological similarities to humans and the relative ease of obtaining them. Sign up. Not convinced? Find out more ». Share this article via facebook Share this article via twitter Share this article via messenger Share this with Share this article via email Share this article via flipboard Copy link.

Under certain circumstances, some odors will be produced prior to dying, as well as shortly afterwards. In general, death only has a scent under certain circumstances and conditions. Jawn, M. Specific circumstances can lead to odors and may be indicative that the individual is close to death. These can include "certain metabolic abnormalities, Jawn also stated that, "cauterizing a patient who is near death and bleeding out can lead to a smell of roasting flesh.

The dying process will vary for each individual, but just before death, many individuals will experience similar changes. In general the signs that death is near include:.

It also varies slightly according to the exact composition of the bacterial population in and around the body and the interactions between them, the climate of the habitat, and to a lesser extent the genetic make-up and diet of the deceased.

The compounds given off can vary, but there may be core compounds with concentrations that change in a consistent way. If so, analyses of the exact composition of the smell given off by a body could eventually help forensics investigators to estimate the time of death more accurately. Chemists typically analyse the smell of death using a technique called gas chromatography, which enables them to separate the compounds in the mixture and determine the concentration of each.