Study Finds the Human Body Senses Approaching Death—And It Begins in the Nose

Your Body Might Sense When Death Is Near—And It All Begins With a Smell

Despite decades of scientific progress and technological innovation, the human body still holds many mysteries. One of the more surprising discoveries in recent research suggests that we may have a built-in, subconscious ability to sense death approaching—starting with our sense of smell.

While some people speak of having a "sixth sense," scientists now believe there may be a biological basis for this intuition. After death, the human body quickly begins to release a chemical called putrescine—a foul-smelling compound associated with decay.

Though it may sound unsettling, humans can detect this odor at a subconscious level. And the body responds to it almost instantly and instinctively.

According to researchers Arnaud Wisman of the University of Kent (UK) and Ilan Shira of Arkansas Tech University (USA), our reaction to this scent mirrors the survival instincts seen in other animals. When exposed to putrescine, people tend to move away—displaying both conscious and unconscious signs of discomfort or distress. This automatic response suggests that our bodies are wired to treat the smell as a warning sign of danger.

“People often don’t realize how much scent shapes their emotions, preferences, and behaviors,” Wisman and Shira explained. “We're largely unaware of the subtle influence smells have on our reactions.”

While it might seem strange to associate fear with a scent, certain odors are known to heighten alertness. For example, pheromones—chemical signals linked to sexual attraction—can subtly influence behavior and emotions without our awareness.

But where pheromones attract, putrescine repels. The study found that the scent doesn't just prompt avoidance—it can also trigger hostility or increased vigilance. And most people aren’t even consciously aware of smelling it, nor do they immediately associate it with death or danger.

These findings shed light on the profound role that scent plays in human behavior, even when we’re not consciously aware of it. Our noses, it seems, may be tuned into far more than we realize—possibly even the presence of death itself.