When was deodorant discovered

The Egyptians didn't use deodorant as we do now, their methods were a little less convenient and some were even downright weird. They would take a scented bath followed by the application onto the underarm of scented oils to cover up bad smells. It was discovered that the removal of underarm hair lessened body odour, when combined with frequent washing and application of heavy scents.

Scientists recognised much later that shaving worked because it limited the growth of bacteria in the armpit area smelly bacteria being the cause of body odour. The Egyptians also put perfumed fat on their heads. As the fat melted it would give off a pleasing scent. A technique used throughout Asia was and still is the application of mineral salts to the armpit; an extremely effective technique that killed off bacteria growing under the arm and prevented bad smells.

These body-odour banishing mineral salts now form the basis of many modern natural deodorants, thanks to their long-held reputation as being an effective and safe deodoriser. However personal hygiene and deodorant wasn't very high on the agenda in England back in the days of the Vikings. This first deodorant was MUM invented in and was a cream that was applied using fingertips, the manufacturers of MUM also invented the roll-on applicator some years later after being inspired by the Ball-Point pen.

The first Antiperspirant was EverDry introduced in Regular bathing was a rare event across all classes and it is said that Catholic priests often deployed incense-dispensing censers with great enthusiasm because the strong fragrance masked the unpleasant stench that emanated from the assembled congregation. But in the increasingly crowded cities of the Victorian era, the perceptions changed and cleanliness, like good manners, was seen as a sign of status and respectability, while dirt and poor hygiene were seen as morally reprehensible, as well as dangerous.

The English, who frequently embarked on their journeys around Europe with travelling baths and supplies of soap, were beginning to be seen as notoriously fastidious. At the other end of the scale, specialist manufactures used perfumers to create scented, high quality soaps, which were exported all over the world.

During this period, a gentleman would have been able to take regular baths, using perfumed soap, and dress in clothes that had been laundered using newly-effective soaps and detergents. Those who could not afford the more expensive and refined colognes, made liberal use of bay rum. Sailors in the 16th century discovered that bay leaves from the West Indies were an effective way of masking body odours, which was particularly important and especially welcomed in confined nautical quarters.

Initially, they simply rubbed the dry leaves on their bodies, leaving the fragrant oil on their skin, however an enterprising sailor had the idea of steeping the bay leaves in another Caribbean product, rum, which was a fermented alcoholic beverage made from molasses. Islanders took this basic recipe and added fragrant Caribbean spices such as cloves and cinnamon and created an inexpensive cologne which soon found such global popularity that it was exported worldwide as an indispensable grooming product.

A thick and waxy cream, which left a greasy residue on clothing, it nevertheless proved popular and many refinements followed. The first deodorant targeted at men, Top-Flite, appeared in America in This highly sophisticated product is carefully formulated to be aluminium and paraben free and it combines a series of naturally occurring processes and thus effectively eliminate body odour rather than just masking it.

Its clean, roll-on application will ensure a sense of freshness and its neutral smell, which initially opens with soft notes of sandalwood , will allow for the deodorant to be comfortably used in tandem with any choice of cologne.

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Our Passion is Natural. CA English. CA French. By Laurie Fanelli in Natural Products. For most people, applying deodorant is part of a daily morning routine, but there is a lot of innovation and history in the background of this scent-sational product. When was deodorant invented? Who invented deodorant?