Polyester clothing has a tendency to smell bad more than cotton clothing after a sweaty exercise session, said a new study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

A team of researchers headed by Chris Callewaert of Ghent University in Belgium recruited 26 healthy adults to take part in a bicycle spinning class. After the one-hour workout, the scientists collected the participants' shirts and incubated them for 28 hours.

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After 28 hours, an odor panel inspected the articles of clothing and examined the bacteria present on the shirts.

Researchers discovered that fresh sweat hardly smelled. 

Callewaert explained that when people sweat, their axillaries secrete long-chain fatty acids that are "too big to be volatile." When these acids come in contact with bacteria, however, the bacteria breaks down the hormones and sulfur compounds, thus producing an odor.

The team discovered the most common bacteria on clothing made of polyester were micrococci.

"They [micrococci] are known for their enzymatic potential to transform long-chain fatty acids, hormones, and amino acids into smaller-volatile-compounds, which have a typical malodor. The micrococci are able to grow better on polyester," said Callewaert.

Other bacteria found on polyester clothing included staphylococci, which does not produce body odor, and corynebacteria, which produces body odor in the armpits but doesn't transfer the smell to clothing.

The research team suggested that cotton clothing might be a better alternative to avoid stinking.

Callewaert noted body odor is a taboo subject. Some of those with the affliction are "too psychologically distressed" to do the everyday things average people do, such as leaving the house or talking to strangers, fearing people might think badly of them because of their smell.

The study is entitled "Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes After a Fitness Session."