What makes clothes that are kept for too long without use develop that distinct “stored” odor?

Question

That distinct scent on clothes that haven’t been worn in a couple of years or more.

Same with fabrics on homes or cars, such as curtains and carpets.

In: 479

Answer 1

A component that no one else has mentioned yet is oils going rancid. Your skin excretes oils that are absorbed by your clothing and bedding. The oils combine with oxygen (no bacteria needed) to form various other molecules and some of them smell bad. The same happens with dry foods that sit too long. If you’ve ever found an old bag of flour or box of pasta, it has the same smell.