Odor in textiles: A review of evaluation methods, fabric characteristics, and odor control technologies

Abstract

During use, textile items can develop unpleasant odors that arise from many different sources, both internal and external to the human body. Laundering is not always effective at removing odors, with odor potentially building up over time due to incomplete removal of soils and odorous compounds and/or malodors transferred during the laundering process. Textile odor can lead to consumer dissatisfaction, particularly as there are high expectations that clothing and textile products meet multiple aesthetic and functional needs. The problem of odor in textiles is complex and multi-faceted, with odorous volatile compounds, microorganisms, and precursors to odor, such as sweat, being transferred to, and retained by, fabrics. This article reviews the literature that specifically relates to odor within textiles. Methods for evaluating odor in textiles, including methods for collecting odor on textile substrates, as well as sensory and instrumental methods of odor detection, were reviewed. Literature that examined differences among fabrics that varied by fabric properties were reviewed. As well, the effectiveness of specific odor controlling finishing technologies to control malodor within textiles was also examined.

The Role of β-Cyclodextrin in the Textile Industry—Review

“…In the area of textile finishing, cyclodextrins can have many applications; they are able to absorb unpleasant odors, and act as an encapsulation agent for essential oils [38,76,78,112,113], vitamins [114], hormones [77] and biocides [6,115] in order to preserve compounds and/or control their release, as shown in Figure 4. The loading of active ingredients allows the incorporation of specific and desired functions into textile materials, which may act differently under particular uses, such as in medicine [116], cosmetics [117], and engineering [118]. In numerous cases, the complexation of active ingredients by CDs improves their physicochemical properties, controls their release, maintains bioavailability, increases shelf life, provides storage conditions, reduces environmental toxicity, increases chemical stability, protects against oxidation, and favors resistance to repeated washing [6,7,114,119,120].…”

“…In the area of textile finishing, cyclodextrins can have many applications; they are able to absorb unpleasant odors, and act as an encapsulation agent for essential oils [ 38 , 76 , 78 , 112 , 113 ], vitamins [ 114 ], hormones [ 77 ] and biocides [ 6 , 115 ] in order to preserve compounds and/or control their release, as shown in Figure 4 . The loading of active ingredients allows the incorporation of specific and desired functions into textile materials, which may act differently under particular uses, such as in medicine [ 116 ], cosmetics [ 117 ], and engineering [ 118 ].…”

Determination of the Odour Adsorption Behaviour of Wool

“…The factors like temperature, humidity, and air flow have an effect on odour retention and odour release by textile materials, as well as formation of odour. [8,9,10]. There are many studies and patents reporting the works done on the removal of smell through various methods involving the evaluation of an apparatus for this aim.…”

“…Besides, ingesting foods (garlic, onions, etc. ), alcohol and some therapeutic drugs strengthen the body odour [10] (Figure 2.). A highly complex and versatile odour problem resides within textiles.…”

“…Hydrophilicity of textile materials has effect on odour sorption. Fibres can sorb odorous substances directly and desorb them in a different amount [10]. Ormondroyd et al [8] concluded that these differences cannot be directly assigned to the variation in fibre composition because the history and the treatments of different fibre types is not known.…”