How long before you can see or smell decay?

The stages of decomposition: http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/decomposition/index.htm

Depends on conditions - embalmed or not, temperature, humidity, etc.

HoraceJames said:

Depends on conditions - embalmed or not, temperature, humidity, etc.

Click to expand...

Exactly, plus it would also depend upon the circumstances regarding death. The chronically ill can have the smell of death while they are still walking around.

HoraceJames said:

The stages of decomposition: http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/decomposition/index.htm

Depends on conditions - embalmed or not, temperature, humidity, etc.

Click to expand...

I should not have clicked on that. I really should not have clicked on that.

*pats BM on the hand, there there*

Certain coma/drug OD situations can reduce the heartbeat/respiration to extremely low, & some yoga adepts can induce trance-like states that can approximate death. Many decades back, (EA Poe: The Oblong Box, Fall of the House of Usher) the fear of being entombed/buried alive was so great due to comas, a line was affixed to the inside of the coffin/tomb and there to the main house where if the person believed dead wasn't--s/he could pull the bell and summon help.

Also, these states may or may not include control of the sphincters and one thought dead/in a coma may void themselves whilst out of it--or in fear of being buried alive--upon awakening in the coffin.

Of course, several Catholic saints are reputed not to have decayed at all.