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My scent control routine

I never wear my scent lok base layers against my skin. I wear something like Xstatic or other anti microbial type layer next to my skin and then the scent lok bases. My thought process on that is I want to keep as much skin oil off of my scent lok as possible. I feel the XStatic layer "pretreats" (reduces) my odor and then the scent lok has less to absorb. Carbon clothes have limits on how much they should be washed so I try to preserve their cleanliness as much as I can. The antimicrobial layers have no limits on how often they are laundered, so they get washed after every hunt.
I have the X-static now and the top smells like onion soup in the pits and cannot get it out. I think my deodorant basically locked the smell in. I guess a cotton scent free shirt could be a compromise? Or time for a new x-static shirt, I've had mine for years.
 
Is anyone noticing any unwanted effects from ozone use, such as deterioration of elastic? Currently i ziptie my Sanctuary straps inside a plastic bag to protect them, just wondering if there’s any reason for concern.
 
Is anyone noticing any unwanted effects from ozone use, such as deterioration of elastic? Currently i ziptie my Sanctuary straps inside a plastic bag to protect them, just wondering if there’s any reason for concern.
I think so but can't say with 100% certainty. My bibs have elastic in the suspender part and are really old anyways but it seems like they have really started losing their elasticity this year. Then again, I'm hunting a lot more this year than years past. I think any organic material that can be oxidized is effected by ozone. So natural rubber, cotton?, etc.
 
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I have the X-static now and the top smells like onion soup in the pits and cannot get it out. I think my deodorant basically locked the smell in. I guess a cotton scent free shirt could be a compromise? Or time for a new x-static shirt, I've had mine for years.
Mine have not taken on any odor. Could be some other factors. I think we make mistakes when we aren't comparing based on identical criteria, like bathing techniques, deodorant brand, chlorophyll use, etc.

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Mine have not taken on any odor. Could be some other factors. I think we make mistakes when we aren't comparing based on identical criteria, like bathing techniques, deodorant brand, chlorophyll use, etc.

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It was definitely other factors mainly being me and how I took care of it. I sweat a lot and didn't wash mine after every use. I used that heavy dead down wind deodorant every hunting season for awhile that is basically like a thick cakey butter that doesn't like to wash out of clothing. It was definitely my fault. I'm a little scared of the chlorophyll use and containing the high levels of copper and go the alfalfa route instead when I remember.
 
I think so but can't say with 100% certainty. My bibs have elastic in the suspender part and are really old anyways but it seems like they have really started losing their elasticity this year. Then again, I'm hunting a lot more this year than years past. I think any organic material that can be oxidized is effected by ozone. So natural rubber, cotton?, etc.

Yeah I don’t want to ruin my sanctuaries ETC... takes just a little extra time, I try to seal off the rubber. I also ozone my JX3, hopefully I don’t climb one day and all the straps crumble away haha, I’m pretty sure it’s not a concern with those materials.
 
Thank you @ericabbott! I'll totally look into some of their bottoms and base layers during the 50% off sale.

@SloMo, @Jtaylor, @Exhumis and others... Would it be worth buying/employing Scentlok base layers (and possibly pants) if you already know you're going to be wearing a non-Scentlok top?
I'd say yeah, if you're not wearing any other layer. In such a manner you'll be reducing your scent and that's what we're aiming for.
 
Thank you @ericabbott! I'll totally look into some of their bottoms and base layers during the 50% off sale.

@SloMo, @Jtaylor, @Exhumis and others... Would it be worth buying/employing Scent Lok base layers (and possibly pants) if you already know you're going to be wearing a non-Scentlok top?
Great Question. Your last layer is the most important one. (last chance to eliminate odor) If it has been washed in scent free detergent and then put in a scent free atmosphere its not going to hold any human odor until used. Then it will pick up any odors present. That's where the magic of carbon , silver,etc shines. It will contain those odors until released in the dryer . Ozone dry wash setups destroy any other odors and can be used in conjunction with carbon,silver clothing like Scent Lok. Its a system and I wear NOTHING that has not been treated with ozone and is Scent Lok or Scentblocker. I wear a base layer when I get out of the shower and scent free clothing until I get to my spot. I take my gear out of my OZ bag (everything including cell phone,release, hawl line, steps, roping etc. Everything I bring in with me has been in that bag and is scent free. I usually wear three or more layers and place any clothing articles , wipes, etc in plastic bags inside my scentlok Rogue bag which was also in my dry wash bag. If you are taking it in with you then it should be treated. That includes your bow and arrows. Everything. Sounds difficult and tedious but in the end it's I feel it`s worth it. Hunts over. Put everything you can back in the bag and cycle it on the way home. By the time you home everything in the bag will again be odor free. Good Hunting Red Beard.
I never wear my scent lok base layers against my skin. I wear something like Xstatic or other anti microbial type layer next to my skin and then the scent lok bases. My thought process on that is I want to keep as much skin oil off of my scent lok as possible. I feel the XStatic layer "pretreats" (reduces) my odor and then the scent lok has less to absorb. Carbon clothes have limits on how much they should be washed so I try to preserve their cleanliness as much as I can. The antimicrobial layers have no limits on how often they are laundered, so they get washed after every hunt.
The newer clothing has new technology (antimicrobial) that eliminates the need to do that. I wear scentblocker 1.5 base layer or scentlok equivalent. I then put on my Summit weight Scent lok Thermal layer . I then put on the camo outer layer (scentlok/Scentblocker) . Head cover,face mask,gloves, all scentlok. Boots rubber lacrosse . I even use carbomask camo paint which has activated carbon absorbing qualities. This system really works for me and it will for you.
 
Great Question. Your last layer is the most important one. (last chance to eliminate odor) If it has been washed in scent free detergent and then put in a scent free atmosphere its not going to hold any human odor until used. Then it will pick up any odors present. That's where the magic of carbon , silver,etc shines. It will contain those odors until released in the dryer . Ozone dry wash setups destroy any other odors and can be used in conjunction with carbon,silver clothing like Scent Lok. Its a system and I wear NOTHING that has not been treated with ozone and is Scent Lok or Scentblocker. I wear a base layer when I get out of the shower and scent free clothing until I get to my spot. I take my gear out of my OZ bag (everything including cell phone,release, hawl line, steps, roping etc. Everything I bring in with me has been in that bag and is scent free. I usually wear three or more layers and place any clothing articles , wipes, etc in plastic bags inside my scentlok Rogue bag which was also in my dry wash bag. If you are taking it in with you then it should be treated. That includes your bow and arrows. Everything. Sounds difficult and tedious but in the end it's I feel it`s worth it. Hunts over. Put everything you can back in the bag and cycle it on the way home. By the time you home everything in the bag will again be odor free. Good Hunting Red Beard.

The newer clothing has new technology (antimicrobial) that eliminates the need to do that. I wear scentblocker 1.5 base layer or scentlok equivalent. I then put on my Summit weight Scent lok Thermal layer . I then put on the camo outer layer (scentlok/Scentblocker) . Head cover,face mask,gloves, all scentlok. Boots rubber lacrosse . I even use carbomask camo paint which has activated carbon absorbing qualities. This system really works for me and it will for you.
Pretty sure this has been covered before but....is ozone detrimental to carbon clothing since it is an organic compound? Just wanted to clarify. You didn't explicitly say you treated your Scentlok with ozone but there's this: https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/ozone-and-scentlok.1603/
 
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Thought exercise what’s the difference between taking hunting clothes out of the dryer and piling them on the floor vs pushing 5000 cubic feet of heated house air through them during the drying cycle?
 
Great Question. Your last layer is the most important one. (last chance to eliminate odor) If it has been washed in scent free detergent and then put in a scent free atmosphere its not going to hold any human odor until used. Then it will pick up any odors present. That's where the magic of carbon , silver,etc shines. It will contain those odors until released in the dryer . Ozone dry wash setups destroy any other odors and can be used in conjunction with carbon,silver clothing like Scent Lok. Its a system and I wear NOTHING that has not been treated with ozone and is Scent Lok or Scentblocker. I wear a base layer when I get out of the shower and scent free clothing until I get to my spot. I take my gear out of my OZ bag (everything including cell phone,release, hawl line, steps, roping etc. Everything I bring in with me has been in that bag and is scent free. I usually wear three or more layers and place any clothing articles , wipes, etc in plastic bags inside my scentlok Rogue bag which was also in my dry wash bag. If you are taking it in with you then it should be treated. That includes your bow and arrows. Everything. Sounds difficult and tedious but in the end it's I feel it`s worth it. Hunts over. Put everything you can back in the bag and cycle it on the way home. By the time you home everything in the bag will again be odor free. Good Hunting Red Beard.

The newer clothing has new technology (antimicrobial) that eliminates the need to do that. I wear scentblocker 1.5 base layer or scentlok equivalent. I then put on my Summit weight Scent lok Thermal layer . I then put on the camo outer layer (scentlok/Scentblocker) . Head cover,face mask,gloves, all scentlok. Boots rubber lacrosse . I even use carbomask camo paint which has activated carbon absorbing qualities. This system really works for me and it will for you.
Good post.

I have a few questions...
As far as wearing scent lok type base layers against the skin are you saying the new carbon base layers are antimicrobial?
That would be a definite improvement to the design but do they have the same limitations on how often they are laundered as scent lok outer layers? If so, then I still prefer a base layer of silver fibers (or other antimicrobial properties).
I want to wash the heck out of my base layers. I NEVER wear base (against the skin) layers on multiple days without laundering. It would be great if carbon base layers were made that didn't have restrictions on laundering frequency. Maybe they are now made and I am not aware??
 
Good post.

I have a few questions...
As far as wearing scent lok type base layers against the skin are you saying the new carbon base layers are antimicrobial?
That would be a definite improvement to the design but do they have the same limitations on how often they are laundered as scent lok outer layers? If so, then I still prefer a base layer of silver fibers (or other antimicrobial properties).
I want to wash the heck out of my base layers. I NEVER wear base (against the skin) layers on multiple days without laundering. It would be great if carbon base layers were made that didn't have restrictions on laundering frequency. Maybe they are now made and I am not aware??
So Scentlok website says the new base layers are anti microbial. It also says if they're worn next to the skin they have to be washed more often. So there's that. . Their website says using antimicrobials like silver prohibit the growth of microorganisms so I'm assuming they use silver in their baselayers. I can tell you I've haven't washed mine in about 5 sits and they don't stink. They do say the more you wash them the faster the carbon will break down.
 
Thought exercise what’s the difference between taking hunting clothes out of the dryer and piling them on the floor vs pushing 5000 cubic feet of heated house air through them during the drying cycle?
So in my case my laundry room is isolated from the rest of the house and has a window. I open the window first, shut the door and run a scentlok dryer sheet along with some activated carbon powder to help remove residual smell. Then I dry my clothes with a new dryer sheet. It's a bit extra work but not much, especially since you only have to "recharge" every 40 hours or so. So for me that works out to about 10 sits or so.
 
Not to over simplify this but as I understand things base layers really keep your skin dry by wicking out the moisture and odor to some extent. Odors should be then captured by the next layer and or the outer layer providing all are Scentlok type garments . That being said, everything else that goes with you has to be treated or its not gonna work. The oz bag fixes that by providing dry wash ozone technology that's portable , efficient , and really makes it all very easy to do. The bag runs on ac/dc current and you can even set this bag to cycle on its own while you drive or take a shower. I`ll definitely do a video review for you guys this weekend . I`m off and hunting Saturday so Sunday I`ll post something. For less than the cost of a saddle or platform you can purchase this type of bag . Best money I have spent to date to improve my success in the field. I definitely see more deer. My prep time to hunt is minimal . Everything is scent free and in one place ( in my truck). Good hunting guys.
 
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Thought exercise what’s the difference between taking hunting clothes out of the dryer and piling them on the floor vs pushing 5000 cubic feet of heated house air through them during the drying cycle?

I just bought a separate washer and dryer for hunting. I plan on ducting in fresh air for the dryer. I also have a plan to use a 55 gallon drum for the washing machine water. Using a stone I can ozone this water to make sure it is also free of scent. In my Ohio hunt earlier this year I was scent lazy. I paid the price, i have never been more busted by deer than that week.


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I just bought a separate washer and dryer for hunting. I plan on ducting in fresh air for the dryer. I also have a plan to use a 55 gallon drum for the washing machine water. Using a stone I can ozone this water to make sure it is also free of scent. In my Ohio hunt earlier this year I was scent lazy. I paid the price, i have never been more busted by deer than that week.


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Now we’re going down the rabbit hole, good stuff.
 
I just bought a separate washer and dryer for hunting. I plan on ducting in fresh air for the dryer. I also have a plan to use a 55 gallon drum for the washing machine water. Using a stone I can ozone this water to make sure it is also free of scent. In my Ohio hunt earlier this year I was scent lazy. I paid the price, i have never been more busted by deer than that week.


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Contractor grade garbage bags make good containers for odd shaped stuff like sticks. They are space efficient, they are easy to pump O3 into, and I rotate them for seat covers in my truck. We take so much care with showering, etc, then we climb onto our vehicle seats (every odor known to man) for the drive to our parking spot. I slip garbage bags over those seats to reduce transfer odors.

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That a good idea. I also take one along for anything I may leave on the ground at the tree.
Also, I hang all my gear in my truck when I use O3. Then, my seat are scent free.


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That a good idea. I also take one along for anything I may leave on the ground at the tree.
Also, I hang all my gear in my truck when I use O3. Then, my seat are scent free.


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I do put gear in my truck when I ozone the interior and I believe the O3 does deodorize the surface of my (cloth) seats. But I also believe there are odors contained in the cushioning that the O3 does not permeate. I figure I would rather sit on a garbage bag.
Nothing we do is 100% but if we can reduce odor by X percent, then it can only help. The only thing that doesnt improve our odds is to do nothing. Its funny how guys that swear you cant "beat a deers nose", still take showers before the hunt.

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I'm really on the fence about scentlok. I almost pulled the trigger the other day on a full getup with the 50% off but just let the cart sit. Slept on it and didnt buy it. FYI if you sit on the cart checkout page long enough then go to x out they give you another 10% code on top.

The one benefit would be my backyard which I can only hunt on a western wind. And I dont think I would burn it out as fast with minimizing odor.

On the other hand I hunt a lot of public and have yet to really prove to myself that I know where the big boys are and the only thing standing between me and them is wind direction or scent control.

Also while on heavily pressured public, I watched 3 deer stop at my ground scent look around lick their nose check for a few seconds and keep casually moving along with whatever they were doing.

I dont think I need to change up my routine and drop the money on all the scent control to knock down does and little basket 8s. Which I've been able to do (except for my gut shot this year) without scent control, while trying to get my scouting goggles adjusted and find the big ones.

I am a believer in the technology and the impact it can have, but just dont know if I'm advanced enough to require it. Does that make sense?

Similar to my hand me down golf clubs everyone gives me crap for. The 2 or 3 times I go golfing they work just fine. Until I know my limiting factor is the club and not my practice, they'll continue to do just fine.

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