Now available in major brands including Patagonia, a new generation of apparel comes with built-in odor protection.
Let’s face it, we’ve all thrown out shirts, especially polypro shirts, because they became permanently stinkified (aka "The Stank”). And throwing out perfectly good baselayers – solely due to their permafunk – is expensive and bad for the environment.
There are a growing number of companies on the market aiming to change the smell equation. By employing specific chemical compounds, primarily silver chloride, these ingredient brands are preventing the growth of odor-causing bacteria and fungi as sweat builds up in the apparel’s fibers. One of the leaders in this field in Polygiene, a Swedish company and a name you’ll see on many hangtags alongside Patagonia, Adidas and others.
In order to compete for your dollars, brands are adding more depth to their product stories, including encouraging fewer washings — and a longer lasting product — by preventing the build-up of body odor. This is particularly true with the re-launch of the Capilene Collection from Patagonia that highlights greater longevity in the field, less water use and reduced consumer waste as the garment lasts longer. Notably, and in line with its European-inspired environmental ethos, the silver Polygiene used is silver reclaimed from electronics that would otherwise have been buried in a landfill.
Look for Polygiene and other odor-fighting ingredient brands like Sciessent to become more prevalent in outdoor gear, hunting apparel, travel wear and even denim. So far, this invisible technology hasn’t elevated the retail pricing of items like tees, baselayers, and socks from our favorite outdoor brands. And if it saves water and makes our clothes last longer, hey, maybe it’s a Mad Scientist idea that works in the real world.