As the weather warms up, here are the fabrics that minimise sweat and BO - ABC Everyday (2024)

The weather's warming up —and with those hotter days comes sweat.

But not all outfit choices are equal when it comes to trapping perspiration and body odour. We asked Rebecca Van Amber, a senior lecturer at RMIT's School of Fashion and Textiles, which fabrics to choose to minimise sweat and BO on hot days.

Opt for cotton, linen and other natural fibres

Dr Van Amber recommends choosing natural fibres in the warmer months.

"Especially in summer, I prefer to wear something like cotton or linen," she says.

Although those fabrics do absorb water, they tend to be less smelly than synthetic fabrics, she says.

She cites research out of the University of Otago that studied the "odour intensity" of various fabrics. That 2007 study found that cotton had mid-to-low smelliness factor.

If you're not able to spend the big bucks for pure linen or cotton, consider a linen blend or a cotton blend, which tend to be affordable, Dr Van Amber says.

"A linen-rayon or a linen-viscose blend is a beautiful fabric to wear," she says.

"It's still absorbing moisture and water, and because that linen is blended with the rayon or viscose it doesn't wrinkle as much."

Consider merino wool (yes, wool)

Dr Van Amber also recommends merino wool T-shirts as an option for hot days.

"People think wool is a cold-weather fibre but it also performs well in warm weather," she says.

"It's kind of like nature's miracle fibre."

Wool also scored lowest in "odour intensity" rankings by the University Otago researchers —so it's decidedly non-stinky.

There are downsides of merino wool T-shirts, though: "You have to know where to look to find them," Dr Van Amber says. And in the stores that carry them, "these are generally expensive items."

Merino wool in thinner fabric form, as in T-shirts, can also be prone to developing holes, she adds.

Beware polyester and other synthetic fabrics

Polyester, polyester blends such as cotton-polyester, and other synthetic fabrics are likely to leave you feeling sweaty and smelly, according to Dr Van Amber.

The University of Otago research found polyester fabrics rated highest of all on the odour front, Dr Van Amber notes.

Consider second-hand – or invest in quality for long-term wear

Keep in mind that polyester and other synthetic fabrics are the most common choices of low-cost fashion chains and "ultra-fast fashion" brands.

"When you're buying from those big fast fashion brands you're much more likely to get a synthetic fabric," Dr Van Amber says.

"A lot of it is 100 per centpolyester and a lot of it is poor quality."

Polyester and polyester-blend fabrics are also not sustainable options, in that they're not biodegradable at the end of their life, she adds.

Sustainability-wise, buying second-hand is generally a better option than buying new.

But Dr Van Amber notes that "in op shops, its really hard to find good quality basics that are in good condition."

"If you're looking for 100 per cent linen, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that at an op shop."

Consignment stores tend to carry more natural fibres than op shops, but they have a higher price point.

You can also try searching for linen and cotton items on social media marketplaces, says Dr Van Amber.

And if you are looking to buy new, her advice to consumers is to "just buy the best quality that they can — buy once, and look after it".