What are your thoughts about period panties?

These days I'm getting a lot of good reviews regarding Period panties but I have just one reservation regarding them. Isn't it like using cloth during periods. Does it soak the blood fully or do you feel the wetness. Plus what about clots? I don't think it would be able to absorb that??

Secondly I have seen a few videos on Instagram where they show that period panties, even after washing, retain the smell. One video even showed some flies sitting on it while a woman air dried her period panty. Does it happen even if you wash it thoroughly??