A method of screening a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby selecting a test substance having a damp-dry malodor inhibitory function; and a method of evaluating a damp-dry malodor inhibitor, containing the steps of: bringing microorganisms having a 4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid production capacity into contact with a test substance in the presence of a sebaceous dirt component, detecting the production of a damp-dry malodor-causing substance by the microorganisms, and thereby evaluating the damp-dry malodor inhibitory function of the test substance.