The Best 100% Cotton Underwear for Women, Tested By Yours Truly

There were a couple trying years in my 20s when my vagina and I just didn’t get along. It seemed like every other month, I was having issues—mainly yeast infections and BV—and every time I would go to the gyno for help, my doctor would give me the same spiel:

• Don’t use any scented feminine products.
• Don’t wear underwear to bed.
• Avoid tight clothing.
• Take off wet/sweaty clothing immediately.
• And always, always wear 100% cotton underwear.

I’m almost 30 now, and thankfully, my “downstairs” issues are behind me, thanks in part to me adamantly following those rules. However, I recently went underwear shopping, hoping to replace some of my older panties (do people still hate that word?), only to discover that 100% cotton underwear is very hard to find. I’d say that around 98% of the “cotton” underwear I looked at was actually a cotton blend, usually mixed with spandex or elastane. This might work for most people, but I much prefer pure cotton for my underwear

I have to imagine I’m not the only person who’s run into this issue, so I decided to do a deep dive online, scrounging up all the 100% cotton underwear for women that I could find. I purchased five of the top-rated options and “tested” them (a.k.a. wore them) for several months. Now, I’m sharing my findings in hopes that they come in handy for you, too.

The Best 100% Cotton Underwear

If you’re like me and are having trouble finding 100% cotton underwear, I’m sharing the (few) options I found. I purchased all of these options with my own money (no sponsored content here), and I’ve used them in rotation for about six months. Here’s what I thought about each pair.

Best Overall Cotton Underwear

Charter Club Everyday Bikini Underwear

All things considered, the Charter Club Everyday Bikini Underwear were my favorite option that I bought. They’re comfortable and have a flattering fit, and the cotton fabric is soft with a mid-weight feel. I wasn’t crazy about the frilly trim around the edges, but it didn’t itch or bother me while I was wearing the underwear.

I also love that these 100% cotton underwear are affordable! They’re typically $7.99 a pair, but I’ve also seen them on sale for as low as $3.50 each. (Not gonna lie, I scooped up several additional pairs.) They’re exclusive to Macy’s, and the retailer frequently has big sales, so you’ll likely be able to snag these for less than full price.

Runner-Up

Victoria’s Secret 100% Cotton Bikini Panty

Like many 20-somethings, I used to buy a lot of underwear from Victoria’s Secret, but the vast majority of their options are made from cotton blends now. From what I saw, this is the sole 100% cotton option—I opted for the bikini, but they also have it in a boyshort and thong cut.

Overall, I liked these, and I’d probably buy them again. They’re comfortable, and the size large fit well. The fabric isn’t the softest, but I was more bothered by the picot trim, which was slightly irritating to my bikini line when I was wearing certain pants. I also wasn’t keen on the little decorative rose on the front, which felt a bit juvenile. They’re $12.50 a pop, but in typical VS fashion, you can get 5 for $32. (We love a deal!)

Best Splurge

Hanro Cotton Seamless Bikini

The Hanro Cotton Seamless Bikini was the most expensive pair of underwear I purchased, ringing up at a cool $40 per pair. Women’s underwear is usually expensive, but that’s next level, if you ask me. However, I do see the appeal of this high-end underwear. It’s made from super lightweight, breathable mercerized cotton, and because they’re so thin, your panty lines are minimal. The material is also super soft, and they’re definitely a good option for hot summer days.

Besides the high price, there are a few other downsides to the Hanro underwear. They’re only available in four sizes—extra small to large—and you’re supposed to line dry them. I didn’t realize that and kept putting them in the dryer, and after a few laundry cycles, the elastic on the waist was stretched out and misshapen. So if you do splurge on these, you’ll want to follow the care instructions carefully.

Best Set

Jockey Elance French Cut 3-Pack Underwear

If you want several pairs of underwear, this set from Jockey includes three French-cut bikini briefs. The pack costs $24 at full price, which shakes out to $8 per pair, but you’ll likely be able to find them on sale. I also love that the set comes in a variety of color options, as well as sizes extra small to 5XL.

However, I will admit that the French-cut style wasn’t my favorite. The high waist may seem cool and trendy, but in reality, it’s just awkward, as it general sticks out above your pants! Like really, these underwear almost reach my belly button. The size large fit well, but the cut just wasn’t for me—the brand does have similar sets in other cuts, though. I also thought the fabric was a bit on the thick side and not as breathable as other options.

Best Woman-Owned Brand

Oddobody Brief

Oddobody is a smaller, woman-owned brand, and they offer several styles of 100% cotton underwear, including the popular brief style. Each pair is $24, and they come in sizes extra small to XXXL. However, after I ordered these underwear, they took a very long time to ship—I’m talking several weeks. There was no indication on the website that there was an extended shipping time, so it was a little frustrating that they took so long to arrive.

Shipping drama aside, I do like that the Oddobody underwear is made from 100% organic cotton, and the material is thin, soft, and breathable. There are a few downsides, though. The waistband isn’t elasticized, so the fit isn’t as flattering as other options I tried, and the brand recommends hand-washing, which isn’t something I relish.

Oddobody also offers 100% cotton thongs, string bikinis, and a cheekier “tanga” cut, most of which are available in six basic colors.

Options I Haven’t Tested

While I was working on this article, I found a few more options that are worth checking out:

• Fruit of the Loom Women’s Cotton Bikini Panty, 6 Pack, $10
• Hanes Cotton Bikini, 6 Pack, $12
• Kent Organic Cotton Bikini, $24

Fruit of the Loom and Hanes have both several other styles made from 100% cotton, so you may want to browse through their websites as you shop. If you know of another brand that sells 100% cotton underwear for women, leave it in the comments for other readers!