CONTROL ODOR NATURALLY WITH COTTON

Activewear is no longer limited to tough workouts. But no matter the activity, consumers don’t
want to be bothered by odor issues. Being odor free and having garments that wash clean is
essential. With the natural performance of cotton, consumers can stay fresh and odor-free in
their activewear.

SCIENCE OF ODOR. 1

Clothing worn next to the skin during workouts creates a moist

microclimate which fosters the growth and spread of bacteria.

Sterile
Body
sweat - Bacteria
odor
odorless

Frictional forces caused by movement of the skin against the fabric

facilitates the transfer of sweat and bacteria making fabrics more
susceptible to absorbing odor compounds.

Carboxylic acid build up is what creates the odor. A controlled study conducted by the
University of Alberta shows polyester generates and retains more carboxylic acid than
cotton. This leads to more intense odor before and after washing.
washed
cotton 1,288,138
Polyester activewear
washed
polyester 13,795,473 smells worse and
doesn't wash clean.
unwashed
cotton 5,236,073
unwashed 35,683,381
polyester

carboxylic acid 0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 35,000,000 40,000,000
(sum of total peak area gas
chromatography analysis)

Research shows polyester captures and retains more odor than cotton.
washed
cotton 20.6
Odor on Odor on
washed polyester is polyester is

62% 93%
polyester 33.5

unwashed 31.1 more intense more intense

cotton after washing after workouts
than cotton. than cotton.
unwashed 60.2
polyester

odor intensity 0 20 40 60 80
 CONSUMERS CARE. 2

More than 8 in 10 consumers say they would be bothered by odor issues in their activewear.
Cotton Incorporated’s Customer Comments Research reveals that synthetic activewear is more
likely than cotton activewear to have customer complaints.

65%
of consumers make activewear
92%
of consumers say they
66%
of consumers say they would
love to wear their activewear
purchase decisions based on wear activewear for
odor and washing clean. purposes other after working out, but they are
than exercise. often too smelly to wear for
the rest of the day.

Consumer comment 2 of 5 stars.

Women’s nylon/polyester active top

“ I like how this shirt fits, but after you sweat in it and wash it, it smells
horrible! I have tried washing it with vinegar to get rid of the smell,
but it will smell fine until I sweat. Then, the smell comes back in full
force! I am too embarrassed to wear this shirt to the gym anymore. I “
know if I can smell it, everyone around me can as well!

THE SOLUTION.
Implement cotton moisture management technologies. TransDRY® and WICKING
WINDOWS™ technologies are high-performance moisture management technologies that will
keep you feeling good and odor free.

1
McQueen, Dr. Rachel et al. The Retention and Build-up of Body Odor in Cotton Fabrics: A Field Trial. U of Alberta, 2012.
2
Cotton Incorporated's Lifestyle Monitor™ Survey, Sports Apparel Survey and Consumer Comments Research.

Cotton Incorporated
Cary, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Osaka, Mexico City
www.cottoninc.com
www.cottonuniversity.org
AMERICA’S COTTON PRODUCERS AND IMPORTERS. Service Marks / Trademarks of Cotton Incorporated. © 2015 Cotton Incorporated.