It’s Not Just 2-Nonenal — How Persimmon Extract Tackles Every Type of Body Odour

2-nonenal gets a lot of attention when it comes to body odour after 50 — and rightly so. It's the compound responsible for the distinctive change many women notice as they age. But here's what doesn't get talked about enough: body odour is rarely just one thing.

If you've ever found that even after addressing 2-nonenal, you're still dealing with underarm odour, foot odour, or that general feeling of not quite smelling fresh — this post is for you. Because persimmon extract doesn't just target one type of odour. It tackles several. And that's what makes it genuinely different.

The different types of body odour

Body odour is actually a catch-all term for several distinct mechanisms:

Bacterial odour is the most common — bacteria on the skin break down sweat into compounds like butyric acid, producing that sharp, sour smell. This is what most deodorants target.

Sweat odour itself (from apocrine glands in the underarms and groin) is odourless when fresh, but the warm, moist environment allows bacteria to thrive quickly.

Hormonal odour — changes in estrogen and progesterone during perimenopause and menopause alter the composition of sweat, making it more pungent and more prone to bacterial breakdown.

2-nonenal — the age-related fatty acid oxidation we’ve covered elsewhere — produces a different kind of smell altogether: greasy, musty, distinct.

To truly manage body odour after 50, you need something that can address more than one of these. That’s where persimmon becomes remarkable.

How persimmon’s polyphenols tackle bacterial odour

Persimmon is extraordinarily rich in polyphenols — plant-based compounds with well-documented antimicrobial properties. Research has shown that persimmon polyphenols inhibit the growth of common odour-causing bacteria, including Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium species — the main culprits behind underarm odour.

Unlike synthetic antibacterial agents, persimmon polyphenols do this without disrupting the wider skin microbiome. They’re selective in a way that harsh chemicals simply aren’t — which matters for mature skin, which is more delicate and prone to disruption.

Persimmon vs foot and underarm odour

Both foot and underarm odour are primarily bacterial in origin — but they’re stubborn. Warm, enclosed environments encourage rapid bacterial growth, and the smell can linger even after washing.

Studies on persimmon extract have shown it to be particularly effective at reducing foot odour, with Japanese research demonstrating meaningful reductions in odour levels with regular topical use. The same antibacterial and odour-binding mechanisms apply to underarm odour — which is why a body wash containing persimmon isn’t just addressing 2-nonenal but providing broader deodorising coverage across the whole body.

Why persimmon works on hormonal odour shifts in menopause

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen levels change how the body regulates temperature and alter the chemical composition of sweat. This makes post-50 body odour genuinely more complex than it was in earlier decades.

Persimmon’s combination of antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, and odour-binding properties means it addresses not just one pathway but several simultaneously. It’s not fighting one fire — it’s building a system that’s more resistant to multiple types of odour development.

Why Florin is a soap formulation, not just a deodorant

Most persimmon-based deodorant products are applied only to the underarms. Florin is a full body wash — and that’s a deliberate choice.

2-nonenal isn’t produced only in the armpits. It’s produced wherever sebum is secreted, which is across the entire body surface. Foot odour, torso odour, the smell that lingers in clothing — all of these can be influenced by 2-nonenal and bacterial activity across the skin.

A body soap means you’re addressing all of it. Every wash. Consistently. That’s how you get lasting results, not just spot treatment.