My Nan's house does smell.
Although it's not bad. It smells slightly like a pretty perfume, and whatever she's been cooking. But doesn't smell like old people.
My Great Auntie Dorothy and her house used to have that funky sorta smell. Along with my Great Grandmother, before they both passed.
No, Love. Your Grandparent's house smelt just fine. Smelt like roast chicken!
Old,
old people smell, in theiry musty old houses.
You have to think, older women wear Lily of the Valley perfume. Young women don't.
Older people also use creams and medications. Something like 25% of what you digest is actually excreted through the skin.
Older people also put mothballs in their drawers to protect their clothing.
According to most google articles, it's a mix of mothballs, and how you smell as your body starts to grow old and fall apart.