Portuguese researchers are working on the design of cotton that, in contact with sweat, will emit a lemon scent. Ideal for public transport users in the middle of August!
As we all know, taking the metro in the middle of the summer or practicing long periods of training leads to a lot of sweat, which is very unpleasant for you and the people around you.
A garment that emits a lemon scent in contact with sweat
Researchers at the University of Minho in Portugal are on the right track to end this problem: they are currently developing prototype garments that release a lemon scent as soon as they come in contact with sweat.
To do this, scientists conducted two different experiments. They first used an olfactory protein located in the snout of pigs (OPB) and which binds to the aroma of lemongrass but also to other odorous molecules. They then attached a carbohydrate-binding module to bind this protein to the tissue.
For the second experiment, researchers replaced proteins with fatty liposomes, or kinds of small, hollow, artificial organs formed of lipids.
Promising results during test phases
The two tissues obtained from these two experiments were finally exposed to an acid sweat solution. Its low pH triggered the expected reaction and released the lemon aroma but not in the same way. The OPB solution allows jitter diffusion whereas the liposome solution is slower but more homogeneous.
Lemongrass is also a well-known insecticide and this solution could as much repel mosquitoes as guarantee the individual a fresh body odor whatever the outside temperature.
Scientists must now work to perfect their solutions with the hope of eventually arousing the curiosity of the garment industry.
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