Why Does a Viscose Towel Feel Warm When Wet? The Science Behind LOMY

Why does a viscose towel feel warm when wet?

It is a surprisingly common question when someone experiences LOMY for the first time.

When a silky viscose towel touches wet skin, some people notice a gentle and unexpected sensation of warmth. At first, it may seem unusual: a towel is simply supposed to absorb water. So why can a viscose towel feel warm when wet?

The answer lies in the interaction between water, regenerated cellulose fibres and heat transfer.

One part of this phenomenon is known in textile science as heat of wetting, or more broadly, the heat associated with moisture sorption.

Recent research has directly measured this effect in finished textile fabrics and found measurable exothermic heat release during wetting, particularly in hygroscopic fibres such as viscose.

At Lomyna, we are interested in precisely this kind of material behaviour: when the properties of a fibre are not merely technical specifications, but become something the human body can actually experience.

The short answer: water meets a hydrophilic fibre

LOMY is made with a silky regenerated cellulosic viscose yarn.

Viscose belongs to the family of regenerated cellulose fibres. Its cellulose-based molecular structure contains hydroxyl groups (–OH), which have a strong affinity for water.

This makes regenerated cellulose fibres highly hydrophilic and capable of absorbing and retaining moisture.

When a wet towel comes into contact with the skin, water begins interacting with the fibre.

At the molecular level, water molecules can form hydrogen-bond interactions with hydroxyl groups in cellulose. Scientific studies of cellulose hydration have demonstrated that water becomes associated with cellulose through these molecular interactions.

That interaction is accompanied by changes in energy.

Part of that energy can be released as heat.

This is one reason a highly hydrophilic textile can produce a perceptible thermal response when it becomes wet.

What Is the “Heat of Wetting”?

Heat of wetting describes the heat released or absorbed when a dry material comes into contact with a liquid and becomes wetted.

In hygroscopic materials such as cellulose-based fibres, this process can involve a measurable change in energy as water becomes associated with the material.

From a thermodynamic perspective, the interaction can be understood as a change in the energy of the fibre–water system. In cellulose, the process is influenced by the material’s polar sites and its ability to interact with water through hydrogen bonding. Research on cellulose moisture sorption has measured enthalpy changes associated with water uptake and hydration.

This is not combustion, an artificial heating process, or a chemical reaction like burning. It is a thermodynamic effect associated with the interaction between a hydrophilic material and water.

A simplified representation is:

Dry fibre + water → wetting and hydration → energy change → heat release

The amount of heat involved depends on the material and the conditions under which wetting occurs. At the fabric level, factors such as fibre chemistry, fabric structure, moisture content and permeability can influence both the magnitude and timing of the thermal response.

 

Why Is Viscose Particularly Interesting for Skin-Contact Textiles?

Silky Viscose and Moisture on the Skin

The science of touch begins with the relationship between fibre, water and skin.

Not all textile fibres interact with moisture in the same way. For a material designed to touch the body, this difference matters.

Regenerated cellulose fibres such as viscose are naturally hydrophilic, meaning they have a strong affinity for water. This property comes from the hydroxyl groups present along the cellulose chains. The fibre’s internal structure, including its crystalline and less-ordered regions, also influences how moisture is absorbed and retained.

For skin-contact textiles, moisture behaviour is only one part of the experience. The fineness of the yarn, the way it is woven, the density of the fabric and its surface structure all contribute to how the textile feels against the body.

This is where the character of a silky viscose textile becomes particularly interesting.

Its interaction with moisture can be combined with a soft, fluid hand feel, creating a sensory experience that is different from that of many hydrophobic synthetic fibres.

Research comparing regenerated cellulosic materials has shown that moisture sorption and water retention vary according to both the molecular structure of the fibre and the larger structure of the textile.

Importantly, these differences can be observed at the fabric level—not only in individual fibres.

In a 2026 study on the heat of wetting of clothing fabrics, Faisal Abedin and Emiel DenHartog used isothermal microcalorimetry to measure the heat of wetting in finished fabrics made from wool, cotton, viscose and polyester. The researchers observed a measurable exothermic response in viscose under their experimental conditions, while polyester showed a negligible response. They also found that fabric structure and air permeability influenced the magnitude and timing of the response.

This helps illustrate an important principle:

The experience of a textile is created not by the fibre alone, but by the relationship between fibre, yarn and fabric.

For Lomyna, that relationship is central to how we think about touch.

 

Silky Viscose and Moisture on the Skin

The science of touch begins with the relationship between fibre, water and skin.

The skin is where textile science becomes a sensory experience.

Not all textile fibres interact with moisture in the same way. Regenerated cellulose fibres such as viscose have a strong affinity for water, and this moisture behaviour can influence how a textile feels against the body.

The experience is shaped not by the fibre alone, but by the combination of fibre, yarn, weave and fabric construction. Yarn fineness, surface structure and fabric density can all contribute to a soft, fluid and comfortable hand feel.

For a towel designed to touch the body immediately after bathing, these properties matter. The experience is not only about how soft a fabric feels when dry, but also about how it behaves when it meets water and moist skin.

This is particularly relevant to silky viscose textiles, where moisture interaction and tactile softness come together as part of the overall sensory experience.

“Skin-friendly” is not determined by fibre type alone.

The final skin experience also depends on factors such as fibre quality, yarn construction, dyes, finishes, fabric construction and manufacturing processes.

For Lomyna, this distinction matters. We do not define a textile by its fibre name alone; we consider how the finished material behaves when it meets the human body.

Viscose Versus Polyester: Why the Difference Matters

Imagine two towels exposed to the same amount of water.

One is made from a hydrophilic regenerated cellulosic fibre. The other is made primarily from polyester, a more hydrophobic synthetic fibre.

Although both are textiles, they interact with moisture very differently.

Viscose has a strong affinity for water and can absorb and retain moisture within its fibre structure. Polyester, by comparison, has much lower moisture regain and a considerably lower affinity for water.

This difference in moisture behaviour can influence how a fabric handles water, how quickly moisture moves through its structure, and how it feels during contact with wet skin.

The distinction is also visible at the fabric level. In the 2026 heat-of-wetting study, viscose showed a measurable exothermic response under the experimental conditions, while polyester showed a negligible response.

This does not mean that every viscose towel will feel warm when wet, or that every polyester towel will feel cold. The sensation depends on many factors, including fibre properties, yarn construction, fabric structure, moisture content, temperature and evaporation.

What the comparison demonstrates is something more fundamental:

Fibre chemistry influences how a textile interacts with water—and that interaction can become part of the way we experience the fabric.

Why Does a Viscose Towel Feel Warm When Wet?

This is where textile science meets human perception.

The sensation of warmth does not come from the fibre alone. It develops through a dynamic interaction between skin, water, textile and the surrounding environment.

When skin is wet, the towel comes into immediate contact with a thin layer of moisture on its surface. As the textile begins to take up that moisture, several processes occur at the same time.

Moisture moves into the textile

Water begins moving from the wet skin and its surrounding surface into the absorbent fabric. The speed and extent of this movement depend on the fibre, yarn and fabric structure.

The textile changes thermally

As moisture interacts with a hydrophilic textile, the energy of the fibre–water system changes. In hygroscopic fibres such as viscose, this can contribute to a measurable exothermic response during wetting.

Heat moves between the skin and fabric

At the same time, heat is transferred between the skin, the moisture layer and the textile. The temperature of the towel, the skin and the surrounding air all influence the final sensation.

Evaporation changes the experience

The process does not end when the towel absorbs the water. As moisture subsequently evaporates, evaporative cooling can become increasingly important.

The warmth perceived by the user is therefore not the result of a single mechanism. It is the combined sensory outcome of moisture movement, fibre–water interaction, heat transfer and evaporation.

This is also why two towels exposed to the same amount of water can feel surprisingly different.

Fabric structure matters. Porosity, air permeability, thickness, moisture distribution and the arrangement of fibres can all influence how quickly these processes occur and how the thermal response is perceived.

What feels like a simple moment of warmth is, in fact, a small and highly dynamic interaction between textile and skin.

Why Does the Quality of the Viscose Yarn Matter?

It is tempting to say simply:

“Viscose is warm when wet.”

But that would be scientifically too simplistic.

Not all viscose textiles behave identically.

The name of the fibre tells us only part of the story. The final behaviour of a textile also depends on how the fibre is formed into yarn and how that yarn is constructed into fabric.

Important variables can include:

• fibre morphology
• moisture regain
• yarn fineness
• yarn construction
• fabric density
• weave structure
• fabric thickness
• surface structure
• finishing processes
• the amount and distribution of absorbed moisture

Research on regenerated cellulose textiles shows that moisture sorption and water retention are influenced by both the characteristics of the fibre and the larger structure of the finished textile.

This is why, at Lomyna, we do not regard “viscose” as the whole story.

The fibre is the beginning.

The yarn and the textile construction complete the experience.

Is a Viscose Towel Actually “Heating” the Body?

No.

This distinction is important.

LOMY does not contain a heating element, nor is it designed to raise body temperature.

The sensation is better understood as a localized, transient thermal sensation resulting from the interaction of moisture, fibre, skin and heat transfer.

The heat associated with wetting is only one part of this experience. Its magnitude depends on the material and the conditions under which wetting occurs, while the sensation perceived by the user is also influenced by factors such as skin temperature, fabric temperature, moisture distribution, fabric structure and evaporation.

The 2026 fabric-scale study demonstrates why these details matter: the thermal response measured during wetting varied according to the amount of water and the structure of the fabric, with fabric-level responses differing from measurements made on isolated fibres.

Therefore, a scientifically responsible way to describe the LOMY experience is:

The hydrophilic nature of viscose and its interaction with water can contribute to the distinctive warm sensation experienced when the fabric becomes wet.

This is more precise than saying that viscose simply “creates heat.”

At Lomyna, we believe that the most compelling material stories are the ones that remain beautiful without overstating the science.

Why Does Regenerated Cellulose Feel So Different from Synthetic Fibres?

The relationship between cellulose and water has been studied for decades.

At the molecular level, cellulose has a strong affinity for water, and research has shown that hydration involves interactions between water molecules and the cellulose structure.

But what begins at the molecular level does not remain there.

When a regenerated-cellulose textile becomes wet, these microscopic interactions contribute to the way moisture moves through the material and ultimately influence how the textile behaves against the body.

This is one reason material science can become something we experience rather than simply measure.

A drop of water meets a fibre.
The fibre interacts with the water.
The energy of the system changes.
And the body can sometimes perceive the result.

From Fibre Science to Sensory Design

This is where science becomes particularly meaningful for Lomyna.

A luxury textile should not be defined only by its:

• colour
• weight
• softness
• appearance
• price

It can also be defined by how its material behaves with the human body.

A fibre with different moisture behaviour can create a different drying experience.

A different weave can change how the fabric meets the skin.

A different yarn can change its movement, drape and tactile character.

And a different material can create a different thermal response when it encounters water.

For Lomyna, these details are not separate technical considerations. They are part of the design itself.

We do not simply choose a beautiful fibre.

We choose materials for the experience they create.

This is the philosophy behind Lomyna:

Luxury is not only what a textile looks like. It is what the body notices when it meets it.

We do not simply choose a beautiful fibre.

We choose materials for the experience they create.

LOMY: Where Water Meets Fibre

The experience that inspired this article began with something very simple.

Someone used LOMY after water touched their skin.

They noticed an unexpected warmth.

They paused.

They felt it.

And they asked:

“Why does this towel feel warm?”

It is a simple question, but it opens the door to a much deeper story—one that connects the human body with fibre science, moisture and material design.

What happens in a textile can begin at a scale far too small to see, yet become something we can notice with our own senses.

That is what makes material science fascinating.

Sometimes, you do not need to see the science.

Sometimes, you can feel it.

The LOMY Experience

At LOMY, we are interested in what happens in the moment when fibre meets water and water meets skin.

Not simply how a towel looks.

Not simply how soft it feels when dry.

But how the finished textile behaves in one of the most intimate moments of the day: the moment after water.

This is why we describe LOMY not simply as a soft towel, but as a textile designed around the relationship between:

Fibre. Water. Skin. Touch.

The science explains the interaction.

The textile makes it tangible.

And the body completes the experience.

What Makes LOMY Different?

At Lomyna, our interest in materials goes beyond appearance.

We look at:

Fibre.
Yarn.
Weave.
Weight.
Moisture.
Touch.
Movement.
Ritual.

Because luxury is not only something you see.

It is something you notice when you touch it.

And sometimes, something you notice when it touches water.

LOMY

Silky regenerated cellulose.
Designed for the moment after water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my viscose towel feel warm when wet?

A viscose towel can feel warm when wet because viscose is a hydrophilic regenerated cellulose fibre. Moisture sorption can produce a measurable thermal response, while the final sensation also depends on fabric structure, moisture content, temperature and evaporation.

Does viscose generate heat?

Not like an active heating material. When water wets a hydrophilic cellulose fibre, the fibre–water system can undergo an exothermic thermal response. The magnitude depends on the material and the conditions of wetting.

Is viscose more absorbent than polyester?

Viscose has a much stronger affinity for moisture than polyester. This difference in moisture behaviour contributes to the distinct way the two fibres interact with water.

Why does LOMY feel different from some other towels?

The experience of a towel depends on more than its fibre name. Yarn construction, weave, density, surface structure and moisture behaviour all contribute to how a textile feels against the skin.

Is the warmth always noticeable?

No. The sensation varies between people and conditions. Water temperature, skin temperature, room temperature, fabric moisture, textile construction and evaporation can all influence the experience.

Is the warmth caused by a chemical treatment?

Not necessarily. Heat associated with wetting can occur through the natural physicochemical interaction between water and hydrophilic textile fibres. The presence or absence of any specific treatment must be established from the manufacturing specifications of the individual textile.

Scientific References

1. Abedin, F. & DenHartog, E. (2026)

Measuring the Heat of Wetting of Clothing Fabrics by Isothermal Calorimetry. Fibers, 14(1), 15.

This study is particularly relevant because it examines heat of wetting at the finished-fabric level, comparing wool, cotton, viscose and polyester under controlled laboratory conditions.

DOI: 10.3390/fib14010015

2. Olsson, A.-M. & Salmén, L. (2004)

The association of water to cellulose and hemicellulose in paper examined by FTIR spectroscopy. Carbohydrate Research, 339(4), 813–818.

This research examines the molecular association of water with cellulose and hemicellulose.

3. Moisture Sorption in Microcrystalline Cellulose (1987)

An investigation of moisture sorption in microcrystalline cellulose using sorption isotherms and dielectric response.

This work examines moisture sorption and the energetic changes associated with water uptake in cellulose.

4. Sorption and Diffusion of Water in Cellulose and Cellulose Nitrate (1989)

This research examines water sorption and diffusion in cellulose and relates water transport to the thermodynamic affinity of water for hydrophilic sites within the polymer.

5. Properties, Production, and Recycling of Regenerated Cellulose Fibers (2024)

This review discusses the structure, hydrophilicity, moisture behaviour and sustainability of regenerated cellulose fibres.

An Important Note About the Science

Scientific evidence supports measurable heat release during the wetting of hygroscopic textile fibres and demonstrates strong interactions between water and cellulose-based materials.

However, the exact warmth perceived when touching a particular towel cannot be attributed solely to heat of wetting without testing that specific textile under controlled conditions.

For this reason, Lomyna uses careful language:

The interaction between hydrophilic viscose and water can contribute to the distinctive warm sensation experienced when the fabric becomes wet.

We believe scientific storytelling should be as precise as the materials themselves.

Good luxury begins with good materials.
Good storytelling begins with good science.