Wool vs Cotton vs Viscose: What Each Feels Like on Skin

When people say a scarf/shawl feels “soft,” “scratchy,” “cool,” or “clingy,” they’re usually describing two things happening at once:

1. Tactile comfort: how the surface and stiffness interact with your skin (friction, roughness, bending/“drape”).

2. Thermo-physiological comfort: how the fabric manages heat + moisture in the tiny “microclimate” next to your skin. MDPI+1

Below is what wool, cotton, and viscose tend to feel like—and why.

Wool: “Warm, dry, sometimes prickly—depending on fiber diameter”

What it feels like on skin

• Warm quickly and stays cozy in cool air.

• Often feels drier than you expect in variable temps/humidity (because it can buffer moisture vapor).

• Can feel prickly/itchy if the fabric has enough coarse fiber ends poking the skin.

Why it feels that way (the science)

The “itch” myth: Most irritation is not “wool allergy,” but mechanical prickle—coarser fiber ends stimulate nerve endings. Reviews in dermatology describe irritation thresholds around ≥30–32 μm fiber diameter; superfine/ultrafine Merino is typically better tolerated. Medical Journals+1

Clinical evidence also challenges the blanket “avoid wool” advice in eczema: a randomized clinical study evaluated fine Merino wool garments in people with atopic dermatitis (eczema), specifically because tolerance can be good when fibers are fine. SAGE Journals

On moisture: moisture content/regain is a standard textile concept measured with methods like ASTM D2654, and wool is generally more hygroscopic than many apparel fibers—meaning it can take up vapor without feeling immediately “wet” the way some fabrics do. ASTM International | ASTM+1

If your skin is sensitive

• Look for fine wool (and especially avoid coarse “hairy” surfaces).

• Your comfort often depends as much on finishing + yarn + protruding fiber ends as on the fiber name alone. MDPI+1

Cotton: “Familiar, breathable, can feel cool—can also feel heavy when damp”

What it feels like on skin

• Usually smooth and non-prickly (good for most sensitive skin).

• Feels breathable and “natural.”

• In heat/sweat, cotton can start to feel damp/heavy and may dry slower depending on fabric thickness and structure.

Why it feels that way (the science)

Cotton comfort is strongly tied to how it manages moisture vapor transport and how fabric structure affects that transport. Studies specifically examine cotton and moisture vapor transport because it’s a key driver of next-to-skin comfort. SAGE Journals+1

Also: “comfort” isn’t just fiber—it’s fabric engineering (yarn parameters, structure). Research on thermo-physiological comfort in cotton-based textiles emphasizes that comfort depends on how heat and moisture move through the textile system. Springer Nature Link+1

If you hate the “damp scarf” feeling

• Choose lighter weaves and avoid very dense, heavy cottons for humidity + sweating.

• Cotton can be amazing in dry heat and mild conditions, but if you sweat heavily it may feel clammy faster than you expect (especially in thick fabrics). SAGE Journals+1

Viscose (Rayon): “Silky, cool-touch, drapey—can feel ‘clingy’ in humidity”

What it feels like on skin

• Often feels smooth, cool, and fluid (excellent drape).

• Great when you want a scarf to fall flat and not look bulky.

• In humidity, some viscose fabrics can feel a bit clingy (because they absorb moisture and can lose crispness).

Why it feels that way (the science)

Viscose is a regenerated cellulose fiber and is typically quite hygroscopic. Moisture regain is a standardized concept in textile testing (ASTM D2654 covers moisture and moisture regain measurement), and viscose is commonly listed with higher regain than cotton in textile engineering references. ASTM International | ASTM+1

There are also textile/skin-related studies exploring rayon’s moisture behavior—e.g., research comparing moisturizing effects of rayon fabrics under different humidity conditions (not “skincare marketing,” but measured textile behavior). Springer Nature Link+1

If you want “luxury drape”

Viscose often wins because “feel” is heavily influenced by low-stress mechanical properties (bending, shear, surface friction)—the same family of properties measured in established hand/comfort systems like the Kawabata Evaluation System. ScienceDirect+1

The simplest “choose for skin feel” guide

If you’re itch-prone or have eczema

• Start with cotton, then test fine Merino, then try viscose if you like a smoother, drapier feel.

• The best evidence-backed wool guidance is: irritation is usually fiber diameter/mechanics, not an immune “wool allergy.” Medical Journals+1

If you run cold or deal with big temperature swings

• Wool is often the most stable-feeling over time because it helps manage the microclimate next to skin (heat + moisture). MDPI+1

If you want the softest drape (no bulk, elegant fall)

• Viscose is often the easiest “silky drape” win. ScienceDirect+1

If you want “simple, familiar, non-fussy”

• Cotton is the steady, predictable option—but watch thickness if you sweat. SAGE Journals+1

3 quick at-home tests (more useful than fiber labels)

1. Cheek test (tactile reality check): rub gently on cheek/neck. If it’s borderline, it’ll be worse after 30 minutes of movement.

2. Drape test: hold one corner and let it hang. Stiffer fabrics “stand” and create bulk; drapey fabrics fall closer to the body—often felt as “sleeker on skin.” ScienceDirect+1

3. Humidity test: breathe into the fabric for 5–10 seconds and notice whether it feels damp/cool/clingy. This hints at how it will behave in real wear (microclimate effects are central in comfort research). MDPI+1

References (academic / technical)

• Ryser, M., et al. Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Irritant Reactions. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. Medical Journals

• Fowler, J. F., et al. Effects of Merino Wool on Atopic Dermatitis… (clinical study, SAGE/DER journal PDF). SAGE Journals

• Mahar, T. J., et al. Effect of Fibre Diameter, Prickle Factor and Coarse Fibre Bias… Fibers (MDPI). MDPI

• ASTM International. ASTM D2654 — Standard Test Methods for Moisture in Textiles (moisture content/regain definitions + measurement). ASTM International | ASTM+1

• ScienceDirect (Book/Reference). Fiber testing (includes standard regain values used in textile calculations; cotton and viscose examples). ScienceDirect

• Uçar, N., et al. Relationship between cotton varieties and moisture vapor transport… SAGE Journals. SAGE Journals

• Zhao, M. Clothing Thermophysiological Comfort: A Textile Science Perspective. MDPI (microclimate/air gap + heat/moisture transfer framing). MDPI

• Kim, et al. Comparisons of Moisturizing Function Between Rayon Fabric… Springer (rayon moisture behavior study). Springer Nature Link+1

• ScienceDirect Topics / TPACC. Kawabata Evaluation System (tactile comfort linked to low-stress mechanical properties). ScienceDirect+1