How long does it take for a dead body to start to smell?

Question

Before you ask, no, I'm not trying to hide a body. I have a paper due in my WV history class tonight and I am doing part of the paper on the Greenbrier Ghost. (I know, due tonight, I am such a slacker)

Part of the "legend" says that Mary Jane Heaster (victim's mother) removed the sheet from the coffin after the wake. The wake and burial were held the day after Zona Heaster Shue was murdered. Mary Jane noted that the sheet had an "odd odor." So I'm just curious as to how long after death that a body would start to smell.

And this would have been back in January of 1897 so it was probably cold already anyway and Shue would not have been embalmed.

Before you ask, no, I'm not trying to hide a body. I have a paper due in my WV history class tonight and I am doing part of the paper on the Greenbrier Ghost. (I know, due tonight, I am such a slacker)

Part of the "legend" says that Mary Jane Heaster (victim's mother) removed the sheet from the coffin after the wake. The wake and burial were held the day after Zona Heaster Shue was murdered. Mary Jane noted that the sheet had an "odd odor." So I'm just curious as to how long after death that a body would start to smell.

And this would have been back in January of 1897 so it was probably cold already anyway and Shue would not have been embalmed.

There were no apparent abdominal injuries and the official cause of death was a broken neck.

Answer 1

Depending on the temperature and humidity a body will start smelling in a few hours. If it was January and the body was exposed to the elements, freeze would have slowed the decay. Being a wake the body would have been in the warmer temperatures of a home, The mention of the odor on the sheets implies that the odor was there but only just becoming evident to those around. As for the previous mentions of Jesus and Lazarus after three days the bodies would have been bloating in the middle Eastern weather.

Answer 2

The answer depends on many things and the time varies from at once to never.

Immediate smell is usually caused when the muscles relax and the bowels evacuate. If the body sustained damage to the bowels prior to death or if the abdominal cavity had be opened, smell would be present. A much more muted odor is present if blood in copious amounts is present.

Otherwise, temperature is the operative factor. The higher the temperature, the sooner the body begins to smell. If the body is frozen, no smell will be present until it thaws.

Answer 3

I suppose part of the answer would depend on how recently the deceased had bathed. In the Bible, the proof that Jesus and Lazarus really had been dead when they came back was that they had been in the grave three days and would stink. But I doubt it would take three whole days. How long would it take a steak to start smelling if you left it out of the refrigerator? I think after one day in cold weather the "odd smell" might have been something else. Maybe the sheet was moldy.

Answer 4

when a body dies, decomposition starts shortly after, as far as the smell.... there are many factors that would have to be known, condition body was found in, location and climate (cold or hot)...... But if you want a really Nasty website with REAL dead people go to Rotten.com...... Not suggested for faint of heart...... this is a very disturbing site.

Answer 5

If it is very warm out the body should start to smell in about 36 hours pending on climate and the presence of maggots.