Immediately upon seeing the commander they snapped to attention, saluting and straightening as if they were frozen statues. I wrinkled my nose at the strong odor wafting from them. It wasn't pleasant or foul... just odd, an earthy musky odor with a metallic tang that set my teeth on edge.
The smell is unique to elves, especially the ancient who have lived over a thousand years. It's one reason races like dragonkin, balors, vampires, demons and others find them unappealing, their more sensitive noses suffer more and their stomachs turn quicker in close quarters.
Older elves can curb it by bathing monthly in specially treated water, but the soldiers here clearly hadn't bothered or perhaps hadn't had the supplies.
