Dealing with body odor in clothing on long trips

Those sprays are basically masking the odor. They do work, but you might also consider swapping your synthetic shirts for wool shirts.

I seem to recall a forum poster who worked with theater type costumes used a spray bottle of vodka to freshen them up. Haven’t tried it myself yet.

What works for me is, instead of synthetic materials clothing which does not “breathe,” I purchased and worn lightweight merino wool clothing that doesn’t retain odors and I can wear items several times between hand-washing. I recently returned from cruising for 24 days, and the merino wool items I brought were wonderful. Another bonus is that I can sink wash in the early evening, roll up in a towel to remove excess water, hang dry, and then the items are completely dry by the next morning. There are several manufacturers that offer merino wool travel pieces. I’ve purchased items from both Unbound and Quincy, and I’ve been very happy with both.

I try to be very conscious of this problem after being on numerous tours. It’s not fun having to sit next to someone that’s worn a top too many days. I have found that the lightweight merino wool and the Patagonia capilene tees do not retain odor and also both dry quickly so they’re easy to rinse out and dry by morning.

Edit…I might also add that my favorite top for travel is the Orvis Tech Chambray short sleeve shirt. I rinse it out and it’s dry by morning with no wrinkles. It is polyester and no, I haven’t worn it multiple days so I don’t know how long it could go nor do I intend to, just not my thing. I have it in a variety of colors but even though it has a collar it would not be dressy enough for evening wear although not many have ‘dressed up’ for dinner on any of the RS tours we’ve been on.

Another vote for lightweight merino wool. It sink washes easily and dries overnight.

I have several 'natural fiber' long-sleeved shirts that do well, but I try to carry a few 'collared shirts' for a dressier look at night. My standard issue Ralph Lauren 100% cotton shirts are great, but are too heavy/bulky. I've been exploring various synthetic options from Eddie Bauer and they are ultra-light, and wrinkle-resistant, but - seem to be prone to odor, hence the original question.

If you hand-wash merino wool in the sink, and wring it heavily, does it still dry without wrinkles?

"Some of the shirts I wear fare pretty well with this strategy but some of the lightest, wrinkle-free synthetic garments that are ideal for travel sadly seem to get 'stinky' after just one outing."

I had a Land's End athletic wear shirt do this one time. It did not make the travel team after that one time and the smell only comes out with a machine wash. I now give my shirts a try in the summer heat before they make the travel team unless they are a blend that I know won't hold oder. For me that is a cotton/modal blend.

If you decide on Merino, try it at home first. I found that even with a good brand it makes me itchy. I did like how it performed. I was in Paris solo during an August heat wave a number of years ago and decided I would wear a nice Icebreaker merino daily to see how many days it would take to get smelly. I made it 6 days in the heat wave and honestly I was so grossed out by that time that even though it didn't smell I washed it.

Forum Member Mardee is the one that used to be a theater costumer and suggests the spray bottle of Vodka. I'll ping her and let her know about this thread in case she has something to add.

Or, if you don’t want to smell like a Martini, your shirts will last a couple days if you apply cologne to your underarms after showering.

As a fellow traveler who gets migraines from men’s & women’s colognes/perfumes, I wouldn’t be able to sit anywhere near a person on the tour who was using cologne to help mask odor.

My husband & I both had some synthetic fabrics that didn’t make the packing list (& are out of our house now) because they tended to have this issue after one wearing. Lightweight cotton & other natural fabrics don’t have this issue.

I pack extremely light but still wash shirts or dresses after every wearing. One thing that has helped is to weigh every natural fabric shirt you’re considering with a kitchen scale & pick the lightest ones. Those tend to dry faster. I sink wash with shampoo, squeeze out the water, roll it in a bath towel and give it a big hug. Then I leave it rolled up for a couple of minutes before removing the towel & hanging it to dry. It’s the rare exception that the item isn’t dry the next morning.

I have dance costumes that can't be laundered due to all the embellishments, and spraying vodka does help a lot. I don't think it has to be vodka, specifically, though. I think it can be any kind of alcohol. So, I'm wondering if a non-scented hand sanitizer might do the trick.

I'm another one who, alas, cannot wear merino. My skin is extremely sensitive to wool, even good quality merino wool.

Silk is a good option for underwear, but probably wouldn't be great for a travel shirt, due to wrinkling.

Forum Member Mardee is the one that used to be a theater costumer and suggests the spray bottle of Vodka...

Is she suggesting that you use the vodka to spritz the garments directly, or just to drink the vodka so you don't care about the smells you (or others) might be giving off? You might need more than a little vodka...

Another person unable to ever wear wool next to my skin. Yes the wrinkle free synthetic shirts do retain odor. Stick with cotton, linen or cotton blends. I have also heard of a German bar of soap sold on Amazon that gets those odors out though I’ve never tried it.

Some reading
https://www.popsci.com/smelly-gym-clothes/
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2018/06/how-to-minimize-the-lingering-smell-on-your-workout-clothes.html
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2020/07/research-reveals-why-its-hard-to-get-the-smell-out-of-polyester.html
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2024/07/new-research-offers-fresh-insights-on-why-some-clothes-get-smellier.html

Personally, for general wear I avoid polyester and stick to cotton and wool. Then I pack lightweight quick dry pair of shorts and t-shirt just for lounging in.

Rick Steves Store sells, "Rick Steves Quick Fresh Odor eliminator". I bought some and it works pretty well. Comes in a 2 fl oz size. I bought it in person, so you would need to check to see if the online store carries it.

Another vote for the vodka trick! On my recent trip I took a small empty spray bottle and bought an airplane size bottle of cheap vodka at my destination. I sprayed my shirts at the end of each day and hung them up to air/dry. It really helped!

@Jean -

I sink wash with shampoo, squeeze out the water, roll it in a bath towel and give it a big hug. Then I leave it rolled up for a couple of minutes before removing the towel & hanging it to dry. It’s the rare exception that the item isn’t dry the next morning.

Dry, yes, but - how about wrinkles? The reason I'm exploring synthetics is that my cotton shirts need a good ironing if I wring them and hang-dry them.

Our hotel in Murren (Switzerland) was barely big enough for me to stand in, let alone hang clothes in ... so hand-washing just isn't a reliable option. Finding a local laundry service is probably a better bet.

@ Deb B - surely any alcohol would do ... though I suppose it's easier to find a liquor store selling vodka than a pharmacy selling isopropyl alcohol, as a tourist maybe ...

Drinking alcohol is 'ethyl alcohol' (aka 'ethanol'); 'drug-store' cleaning alcohol is Isopropyl alcohol. Does anyone know if Isopropyl alcohol works as well as vodka/ethanol? I guess I can do a test at home!

Save the Vodka and Everclear for drinking.

All you need is Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol).

Unless it is easier to obtain a mini-bottle of the drinkable stuff than looking for a drugstore/pharmacy if you haven't brought any along.

I wouldn't use hand sanitizer. What else is in that to make it a gel, or "moisturizing"???

You can get travel-sized atomizers in the same place you find travel-sized bottles.

Carry an empty atomizer to fill at your destination if you don't want to pack it.

And I absolutely agree with those who are allergic to scented products. Marinating yourself or clothing to mask odor is not the way to go. Now we have flowery-fruity smelling BO which is so much worse.

Dry, yes, but - how about wrinkles? The reason I'm exploring
synthetics is that my cotton shirts need a good ironing if I wring
them and hang-dry them.

If God intended cotton to be permanent press, it would grow that way.

Sign me,

A Cotton-farmer's daughter, grand-daughter, niece and sister-in-law.

Smoothing it out when you hang it to dry helps.

“if I wring them and hang-dry them.”

The key for me is not to wring them. I lay my shirts flat on a towel (sometimes reinforced with the fresh bathmat), roll and press down. I usually fold the roll in half then kneel on it on the bed. IF your shirts need pressing you may be able to shake some of the wrinkles out. I can do this with tee shirt fabric but don’t travel with other fabric.

Hey all, as Pam said, I worked in theatre for many years, and our wardrobe crew was adept at getting odors out of armpits and other places in costumes that could not be dry cleaned each night. They used vodka with a spray bottle. That was their go-to. I wouldn't try rubbing alcohol, and as someone pointed out, vodka is easier to find.

Seriously, it removes odors and does not leave any residue. Try it yourself with the "sniff" test. Every professional theatre I've worked in has used vodka to deodorize costumes that can't be cleaned every night (especially the period garments). I've even used it at home with my grandson's shoes. They get pretty stinky after his soccer games and it gets the odor completely out.

Rick Steves Store sells, "Rick Steves Quick Fresh Odor eliminator". I bought some and it works pretty well. Comes in a 2 fl oz size. I bought it in person, so you would need to check to see if the online store carries it.

I just looked at the online store and didn't see it. Would you mind taking a look at the label on the product you bought and telling me the active ingredient?

From what I've been reading, common Febreze 'odor eliminator' uses "Cyclodextrin". An anti-microbial cleaner uses "Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride". Do you see either of those on the label, or some other ingredient?

Ya know, those heated towel racks are pretty nice for drying clothes on too.

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing) vs Ethyl alcohol (ethanol/drinking alcohol).

Found this online ... it's Google's AI and doesn't directly credit a source, so I'll just paste it verbatim:

===========================

For removing odors, ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is generally considered better than isopropyl alcohol. While both work primarily by killing odor-causing bacteria and evaporating quickly, ethyl alcohol (specifically in forms like inexpensive vodka) is more effective at breaking down the organic enzymes and compounds that cause smells.

Here's a breakdown:

Mechanism of Action: Both alcohols eliminate odors by denaturing proteins and rupturing the cell membranes of odor-causing bacteria, effectively killing them rather than just masking the smell.

Effectiveness: Ethyl alcohol is often cited as being more effective at deodorizing various surfaces and fabrics. Isopropyl alcohol is also effective, but may not break down the odor-causing substances as thoroughly.

Residue and Scent: Ethyl alcohol, especially in high-purity forms or as vodka, evaporates quickly and leaves virtually no residual odor or residue behind. Isopropyl alcohol has a more distinct, pungent chemical-like odor that can sometimes linger, though it generally fades as well.

Fabric/Surface Safety: Ethyl alcohol is considered gentler on many fabrics and less likely to cause damage or discoloration compared to isopropyl alcohol, which can potentially damage certain materials like silk, wool, rayon, or some painted surfaces.

===================================

I guess I'll do some tests at home, and potentially go vodka shopping on the next trip!

As far as wrinkles, I like to get my travel shirts laundered with heavy starch before the trip. That helps keep them wearable more than once. chris, you mentioned Febreze in passing, but some people rely on it. It can be an overpowering smell itself, but better than BO.

Residue and Scent: Ethyl alcohol, especially in high-purity forms or
as vodka, evaporates quickly and leaves virtually no residual odor or
residue behind. Isopropyl alcohol has a more distinct, pungent
chemical-like odor that can sometimes linger, though it generally
fades as well.

This is absolutely true. It is why we drank Vodka before class in High School..

But I will say the usable solution (the booze) and the crazies (dousing yourself with Old Spice) were both informative and entertaining.

Summer is easy, I wear a lot of quick dry synthetic stuff (meaning I wash in the evening); but winter can be a challenge, so thank you guys.

I have a friend who is a flight attendant and they wear those uniforms several days in a row and she never stinks. She has a charcoal based odor eliminator that she hangs in the uniform with the coat hanger, and those uniforms are not natural fibers

After hearing that I went and bought one because I figured it works for her. After all she’s been through. It works for me. I have used it. I do think it works.

You can buy these on Amazon and I’m sure other places

Okay, for the curious. my bottle of Rick Steves “Quick Fresh” does not list ingredients , but it does list a manufacturer in Bellingham. You can purchase the same product under the name “mirazyme odor eliminator.” Mirazyme is described as “a powerful, all natural blend of microbes and enzymes that removes odors caused by algae, bacteria, mold, and more. ”

Okay, for the curious. my bottle of Rick Steves “Quick Fresh” does not list ingredients , but it does list a manufacturer in Bellingham. You can purchase the same product under the name “mirazyme odor eliminator.” Mirazyme is described as “a powerful, all natural blend of microbes and enzymes that removes odors caused by algae, bacteria, mold, and more. ”

Looks like 'Mirazyme' is now sold as 'Gear Aid' 'ReviveX' https://www.amazon.com/Gear-Aid-Eliminator-All-Natural-Footwear/dp/B0009RRTO4/ref=sr_1_5 (it says this down in the details: "Revivex Odor Eliminator (previously Mirazyme)..."). Also available from Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mirazyme-Odor-Eliminator-2-0-Fl-oz/43164301 (still referred to as Mirazyme).

Chris, I believe the two items you linked to need to be used as a wash and not a spray.

However, this item look like it does the job and is travel friendly:

https://www.target.com/p/funkaway-extreme-odor-eliminating-travel-spray-2pk/-/A-88383038

I believe the two items you linked to need to be used as a wash and not a spray.

The Product Description for the first item includes this: "It is gentle enough for all types of outerwear and gear, so you can apply it as spray or soak to treat outerwear, shoes, tents, and wetsuits. Or easily add it to a machine wash to keep gear fresh season after season. ". It also says "Spray or soak for hard-to-wash gear"

Since it's supposed to be the same product as the 'Rick Steves' cleaner, it makes sense that it an be used as a spray. What isn't clear is ... what is the concentration. Something used as an additive to a wash-load would typically be much stronger than something directly applied. Also - it does say '... outerwear' ... could there be issues with skin contact?

I may buy a bottle and check it out. I'm also leaning towards the Vodka solution!

The 'Funkaway' product you listed also looks interesting. Has anyone actually tried it on clothing?

Maybe start looking closer to the "source" - do you really perspire that much to begin with? Do you wear a tee-shirt under your shirt - that way the tee-sirt absorbs the perspiration. There are also studies out there suggesting that diet can have a bearing on body odor - fewer toxins and specific substances can result in less-offensive sweat.

As for wrinkles - why should you care? You aren't going for a job interview - you're on vacation,

And in regards to synthetic vs. natural fibers - the sport apparel industry couldn't survive using natural fibers, as "technical" performance clothing relies on synthetics - which are woven to be breathable.

As for wrinkles - why should you care? You aren't going for a job
interview - you're on vacation,

Personal standards?

do you really perspire that much to begin with? Do you wear a tee-shirt under your shirt - that way the tee-sirt absorbs the perspiration. There are also studies out there suggesting that diet can have a bearing on body odor - fewer toxins and specific substances can result in less-offensive sweat.

Regarding perspiration, I’d say I perspire ‘moderately’, but - I don’t use antiperspirant and there’s no way I could possibly wear a tee-shirt under my shirt - just not something I’ve ever done and would make me way too hot. I do understand how it could help.

When I’m on vacation my #1 goal is to try all the local foods so worrying about how food might affect body odor is just not going to happen.

Thinking more about perspiration, I guess I perspire in two situations - when exercising, which is obvious, but also when under ‘stress’ or in socially anxious situations … like when sharing a dinner table with strangers. I can put on a clean shirt for dinner and end up sweating like a pig just sitting there!

I get it. No biggie. In the summer carry a lot of quick dry clothes and wash in the sink. In the winter, try some of the ideas above. Everyone wants to be comfortable, try some things at home till you find your magic.

Dryer sheets, like Bounce, with a pleasant scent, work wonders for us when packed with previously worn clothing kept in a bag.

Summer is a lot tougher for stretching clothes without washing a load once a week at a self service laundromat, or paying someone to do it for us. We pack enough fresh clothes to get by for 7 days, and time our clothing so that we return home with a full suitcase of dirty clothes. So depending on the length of our trips (nearly all of ours are in the 2 to 4 week range), one wash every 7 +/- days, and the last one about a week before returning home.

But we also check our main bag(s), wheeled 26 inch B&R cases, which by RS standards is not packing light (at least not light enough to do carry on only), but they are easy to manage bags for us, a pair of seniors. And we tend to travel from October to April/May in Europe, the less hot and sweaty months of the year.

I just wash my dirty items in the evening. Takes 5 minutes at the most. Unless I'm in an extremely humid area, they dry overnight. I only like wearing my merino wool tops more than once before washing. I don't wash in the sink, I use a reinforced zip lock bag, soap them up, shake them up, let them soak if I want, wring out in a towel and hang up. (Who used this system first? Was it Pam?) I don't see the issue. If it smells, wash it. LOL. My jeans are washed in the shower if necessary, but I do like hotel laundry services for them, once a week or so. Easy Peasy.

But we also check our main bag(s), wheeled 26 inch B&R cases, which by RS standards is not packing light (at least not light enough to do carry on only), but they are easy to manage bags for us, a pair of seniors. And we tend to travel from October to April/May in Europe, the less hot and sweaty months of the year.

Sounds like us! We always extend our visits to at least 3 weeks (eg, a Rick Steves 11 or 14 day tour plus 10 days on our own) and could not live within the constraints of a carry-on bag for that duration. My friend recently traveled with only 1 pair of shoes, and got drenched one day, and had a real tough time trying to dry his shoes. I always carry a 2nd pair for this reason. Further - we mostly travel with airlines where we have 'status', and thus, early boarding (and thus, access to overhead bins), but on our last trip we were on SwissAir on a small connecting flight, and were in boarding group 6. My partner's hand carry got 'gate checked' at the last minute, and that luggage got lost for 3 days - so hand-carry is no guarantee against 'lost luggage' issues. We've downsized our luggage from the maximum checked bags allowed to 'medium' sized luggage (26", like you), but it still requires checking. I'm fit and healthy and don't mind handling the luggage at all.

Back to the subject of 'odor'; my body odor is pretty mild and has never been a problem until this last trip, when I tried to use some lightweight synthetic shirts. As I've learned from this thread, synthetics are not good at dealing with BO and that's why I'm exploring various 'treatments' (sprays). They are really good from a weight, wrinkle and crease perspective, but I may just have to abandon them if I can't find a good solution. Vodka may just be the best solution found here!

I am also in the merino and other natural fibers camp, but recently a friend suggested armpit sweat pads (something like this) for some formal clothes which are dry-clean only.

While we do laundry on our trips, we also wear our clothes more than once. We use febreeze travel spray to just get a few extra days wear out of our clothes. My husband and I are both sensitive to smell, and while neither of us like to just smell the spray, here is our process… When we take our clothes off in the evenings, I spray the outside of the garment, then turn the garment inside out, and spray again; I then hang the garment on a hangar. If our accommodation allows for hanging the garment outside for some fresh air, we do that too. The next morning the garment smells fine and does not reek of febreeze.
Someone mentioned dryer sheets, again, hubby and I are sensitive to smells and we do use fragrance free dryer sheets in our luggage too.

Sorry this is getting personal but is there a reason why you don’t wear antiperspirant?
Man made fibres, no antiperspirant and hot weather is guaranteed to lead to odor.

If you don’t have an allergic reaction to it etc it’s worth using it during a trip. It will reduce at least some of the problem at source. I’m not a fan of using sprays to mask the smell. It is produced by bacteria working on the sweat rather than the sweat itself, the thought of it just makes me feel icky:-) but needs must and I do find a travel bottle of febreeze useful when travelling. Use it the night before and most odor is gone with little lingering perfume by the next morning.

They do make an unscented version of Febreze.

While we do laundry on our trips, we also wear our clothes more than once.

I wear pants at least twice, but other than that, fresh shirts, socks, and underwear every day, So I pack accordingly for 7 day stretches between washes when on a trip.

I completely agree-underwear and socks are worn once and then laundered.

We found “sink suds” have less fragrance than tide sink packets. Also, the sink suds include a large flat rubbery disk to use as a stopper when a sink does not have a plug - or a poorly sealed plug.

I realize that taking care of laundry while on a tour can be difficult. However, many hotels will deal with your laundry. A shirt or two every few days is not that expensive.

Alternatively, a visit to a local laundromat will take care of everything in maybe an hour. You'll have an opportunity to chat with locals or enjoy a coffee or beer at a nearby cafe. With the exception of Norway, we've always been able to find a laundromat nearby.

Sorry this is getting personal but is there a reason why you don’t wear antiperspirant?
Man made fibres, no antiperspirant and hot weather is guaranteed to lead to odor.

I've always viewed antiperspirants as unhealthy; your body perspires for a reason, and preventing that, to me, is like shoving a cork in your exhaust pipe! I do use a stick deodorant, which supposedly does more than just mask the smell - it works on the bacteria or whatever.

Regarding laundry - I've used hotel laundry on long stays, and on cruises, but the problem we ran into recently was that the Rick Steves tours are so fast paced, you don't get much chance to drop off/pick up. We only had one 3-night stay; the rest were all 1- or 2-nighters. If you are lucky, and can drop off the laundry on arrival, you can pick up before departure on a 2-nighter, but that means you don't get to pack until the last minute. On our last trip, the guide recommended two laundry opportunities; guests were pleased with how it worked out so I will definitely consider that next time (but one of them was almost at the end of the two-week tour, so wasn't the most strategically timed laundry-op!).

Chris, when you book another Rick Steve's tour you can ask the forum where the logical laundry opportunities are. Many posters here will be able to offer specific suggestions.

Chris, when you book another Rick Steve's tour you can ask the forum where the logical laundry opportunities are. Many posters here will be able to offer specific suggestions.

That's good advice! However ... I've noticed that Rick Steves will publish the 'first and last' hotels early on (so you can arrange for earlier arrivals/later departures), but don't announce their final hotel lineup until much closer to the tour date. Also, their hotel lineup isn't fixed; a given tour itinerary might switch hotels in certain towns due to specifics for that day. For example, we've done two RS visits to Murren (CH) recently, and stayed at two different hotels. The first hotel (Blumental) mentioned a laundry service on their website ("Personal laundry can be dropped off at the reception desk for a fee (price list on request) and collected 24 hours later"), but when I emailed them for details they said it was no longer available ("We do not have a laundry service at the hotel. "). The second visit (Hotel Jungfrau) did have a service and other travelers were pleased with it.

The problem is, if you really rely on having laundry available (and only pack a limited amount) then you are really screwed if something goes wrong that day. Murren did have a laundromat available, but our schedule there was so tight, there was no way we could spend an hour hanging around waiting for laundry to complete. Nonetheless, on our next trip I'm going to really research the laundry options!

This segment of laundry tips was rerun yesterday on the Jason Show: Great Laundry Tips

One of the tips is the cheap vodka/water trick, and the entire segment is funny and informative.

Try using Lume, even if you experiment at home before your trip. Not saying you skip washing, but maybe reduce the urgent need and unpleasant suitcase odor. Veteran of 5+, 13-14 days RSE trips and it works for us.

I second the idea of using Lume. I haven’t gone in my RS tour yet, but it keeps me pretty odor free during the extremely hot (and occasionally humid) summers in AZ

Will definitely look at Lume. Is it just the latest thing in deodorants? I've seen the late night TV ads for it and it looked pretty sketchy!

Will definitely look at Lume. Is it just the latest thing in deodorants? I've seen the late night TV ads for it and it looked pretty sketchy!

Google it, reviews are very sketchy...

@mardee or others who know — can you put the vodka in a plastic spray bottle, or does the container have to be glass ?

Regarding Lume, I don’t use it in place of deodorant. I put it in my armpits and other areas prone to sweat odor after I shower, and then put on deodorant after it dries. It may seem like doubling up, but after using regularly for a couple of weeks, I only use the Lume about once every 3 days. It doesn’t keep you from sweating, but kills the bacteria that cause the stinky sweat smell.

I think they do have a stick deodorant too, but I just use the cream lotion.

Regarding wrinkles - not smells - I have used two different brands of wrinkle release sprays: Downy (liquid in a pump bottle) and Magic Wrinkle Release (aerosol can). Both work by spraying on then smoothing/tugging fabric.

I don't iron but grew up with parents and grandparents who did. The wrinkle release spray results are not as crisp/smooth as real ironing but work pretty well, at least on the fabrics I've tried.

Neither of the ones I tried have an overpowering odor and do not serve as odor removers/maskers. They just help with wrinkles.

@mardee or others who know — can you put the vodka in a plastic spray bottle, or does the container have to be glass ?

The issue here is, 'plastic' is a very loose term (as anyone who has tried to recycle plastic bottles will know!). There's Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), and so on. This page talks about the suitability of various forms for alcohol storage:
https://tastyfoodlovers.com/can-we-keep-alcohol-in-plastic-bottle/

Now, having read all that, good luck figuring out what plastic your little spray bottle is made of! I just bought a bunch of different plastic sprays for this purpose from Daiso and online; I'm testing them now with Isopropyl alcohol to get a feel for whether they work or not.

@Grandpa B:

The efficacy of alcohol in this scenario is due to it's ability to function as a mild organic solvent. I say mild because it does so due to being a dipole...only slightly stronger in that respect than water. Isopropyl comes in 75% and 99% at the drugstore; 100-proof Vodka is only 50% alcohol. So I'd only use Vodka if that's all that was available.

But this ignores the fact that different forms of alcohol perform differently. Vodka is ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which is different from isopropyl alcohol, and also different from methyl alcohol (methanol). From what I've read, ethanol is more effective for odor control, and no one suggests using methanol.

Further - your reference to 50%, 75%, and 99% 'purity' implies that 'stronger is better'. However - 99% isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable, and you'd probably get in trouble at the airport if they found a bottle of it in your luggage. From google, "In checked luggage, you can carry up to 18 ounces (500 ml) of isopropyl alcohol, but it must be in unopened retail packaging." It may actually be advantageous to have 50% purity because that slows down the evaporation rate, giving the active ingredient longer to do its thing. Also, 99% isopropyl alcohol is more likely to damage whatever plastic spray bottle you put it in, and it may be 'too strong' for the fabric you are treating (color-fastness, etc).

My trick is to make sure my shirts are either hung up or spread out over night so that they can air dry and get as much odor as possible out of them. That only works for gently used shirts and not when I have been sweating a bunch that day.