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.