Cinnamon is the secret in a new odor-controlling fabric

Novoleap Co. Ltd. (Koup) has developed a shirt using fabric made from recycled plastic bottles infused with cinnamon extract, which the company says is an antimicrobial that can prevent odor-causing bacteria. Cinnamon has a natural compound, cinnamaldehyde, that provides the antimicrobial properties. “My background in textiles prompted me to search for eco-friendly textile technologies that can make a difference,” says Koup shirt co-founder Brian Chuang. “The way cinnamon works is that it inhibits the growth of sweat-eating bacteria, keeping you smelling fresh.” The Koup shirts don’t smell like cinnamon, however, as the aroma evaporates during the yarn-making process. In addition to being odor blocking, the shirts are lightweight and quick drying. Photo: Koup.