Underwear designed to stop flatulence in its tracks could be the ultimate solution for embarrassing situations.
The odour-trapping men's jocks are infused with nanotechnology designed to prevent less than savoury smells passing through the fabric, reports the Herald Sun.
Gilbert Huynh, the Australian entrepreneur behind the wind-breaking scheme, however, admitted that he was powerless to prevent the embarrassment of a noisy flatulent faux pas in polite company.
He said he dreamed up the concept of 4SKINS smell - resistant underwear after suffering from the fruity emissions of family members.
“I just thought wouldn't it be great if I could come up with an underwear range where not only was it comfortable for the wearer, but also gave great benefits to the individual as well,” said Huynh.
“If it helped reduce the amount of smell, that would be a great point of difference,” he added.
After two years of research and development, including testing by 50 volunteers, Huynh settled on a solution that combined comfort and style with pong-stopping power.
The secret to the garment's success against the methane menace is a fabric technology dubbed ‘neutraliser’.
Invented by Nano-Tex, the treatment is applied to individual fibres. This ensures it doesn't wear off over time while also allowing the garment - and those around its wearer - to breathe.
“I did wear it myself and did some basic tests. Then family and friends I gave it to came back to me and said ‘this really works’,” said Huynh.
He said customers desperate for some help below the belt had contacted him from as far away as Hong Kong and the US.
“We took to the design stage determined to create the most comfortable pair of undies on the market and figured nothing is more uncomfortable than the moment when you can't contain your gas,” said Huynh.
