Students at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, are working with perfumers at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) to create fragranced clothing:
The technology works by binding millions of tiny microcapsules on to a fabric, which set off a sweet-smelling scent with friction and movement.
The fragrance is released gradually and the perfume lasts for 15 to 20 washes.
The firm [IFF] presented students with four fragrances - Oxygen, Pure Indulgence, Energy and Passion - to create outfits to complement and match them.
(via scotsman link no longer active, sorry!) Related articles: The scented dress and Puma's scented workout wear.
IMHO, this would be a bad thing; Although, detergents today smell much better than they did years ago. I'd rather have a slight whiff of Tide lingering on my clothing than something that will potentially compete with whatever fragrance I choose to wear on my skin. BTW, (and this goes back to my much younger days) clothes purchased at Macy's used to have a very distinct “new clothes smell”; Kind of like new car smell. I recall it being quite potent.
I wonder if Macys sprayed something on the clothing? Rolls Royce, BTW, now produces a fragrance to create the “new car smell” in their cars in the showroom, since apparently changes in the manufacturing have rendered the cars less smelly, and customers complained.
But agree, I don't want my clothing to be scented.
Where else is there friction and movement in clothing other than the armpits and crotch? This is a very bad idea. Reminds me of those heat sensitive flourescent t-shirts in the 1980's.
LOL — not sure I wanted to think about that!
Totally counterproductive to everything I try to achieve–my clothes need to be clean and scent free and in wearing adopt the scent of my perfume. I avoid scented detergent and fabric softeners for the very same reason. It could appeal to young people who are too much in a hurry or preoccupied with other things to think of applying scent. Not very personal or individual.
Oh, I just thought of something else: Imagine walking into a store with these clothing lines!
Agree on both points. The only attraction I can see for the technology is with workout clothes.