Backstory: The smelly history of women’s deodorant
Spring Fashion
Written by cjhammon in Life in Yesterday's Clothes, Style
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Monday’s style is Sunday’s church clothes, laid out on my bed and ready to wear.
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To kick off summer, one of my clients asked for a blog post about beating the heat. That—and the fact that I forgot to apply deodorant when I left the house for an afternoon of golf (yikes!)—got me thinking about the history of deodorant. According to an Auburn University doctoral student, it was first introduced in 1888 in a product called “Mum.” Check out this early ad for Mum or this one for Odorono, both of which play on the insecurities of women and our supposed desire to make ourselves attractive to men. And how about this offensive ad?
The first deodorants were floral-scented creams, advertised in a way that emphasized femininity. As natural as it is to sweat, the first ads for women’s deodorant appeared in the back of magazines because women weren’t supposed to sweat—let alone need deodorant.
Contrast that with today’s ads.
1) Clinical Strength Secret—Fear of being hurt: You’re tough. But your underarms are tender.
2) Sure—I’m Sure.
3) Secret—Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.
4) Dove—Hold your pose with confidence.
5) Degree—Unapologetically strong.
Women are more cautious and aware of the harmful ingredients in perfumes and deodorants. What we put on our bodies goes straight through our bloodstream. How has that changed your choices about perfumes and deodorants? Coco Chanel said a woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future. What if she doesn’t wear deodorant??!!
Life is short. Wear the good stuff.
13 comments
June 3, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I DO wear perfume, and don’t worry about the synthetics versus natural debate in ingredients (in fact, I am more upset that the IFR rules have caused so many fragrances to become mere shadows of their former selves. Yet, I am glad synthetics have taken the place of an,al-derived ingredients). However, I do wear Kiss My Face deodorant, not aluminum-based. Mostly, it is because the aluminum makes my underarms itch. I seem to sweat a bit, but I live in the DC area. That’s to be expected.
June 6, 2013 at 1:06 pm
That’s good info. I’ve not tried that but I’ve always intended to, Gretchen. Yes, it’s hot in Indiana during the summer. I can’t see myself skipping it altogether! Someone mentioned making your own and that DOES interest me. At least you know what’s in it! Thanks for the comment!
June 4, 2013 at 4:49 pm
I try to be as careful with putting chemicals on my skin as I am with putting them in my body. I use a mix of coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch (I’d love to throw some lavender oil in there too!) for a deodorant and that works well for me and keeps me from smelling (and I sweat a lot!). I don’t wear “normal” perfumes because of all the chemicals, but there are some lovely natural ones out there.
June 6, 2013 at 1:07 pm
So, tell me–how do you mix this? A little at a time? And does it make into a cream base or is it more powdery. Thanks for the idea!
June 7, 2013 at 11:00 am
I just mix it all in a container….I didn’t really measure, sorry, but guessing, I’d say it was about 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 2 tablespoons baking soda, and 2 teaspoons corn starch. It will be creamy on days above 75 or so degrees, and more solid on cooler days. I just take some and spread it on my underarms like lotion. The only caution: sometimes it leaves a stain (not really a stain, it washes right out) if you sweat a lot that day, or if you put too much on.
Not sure how helpful that was, but there you go! 🙂
June 8, 2013 at 7:01 am
Can’t wait to try it. Thank you for the recipe!
June 4, 2013 at 7:53 pm
This is an interesting post. Recently I have been thinking about this and looking into alternatives. I am very close to making my own out of lavender oil. I am going more and more organic and natural. Thinking about the amount of chemicals put into our bodies just makes me a little squirmy. The daily use of aluminum chloride on my pits, well, I will let you know how my experiment goes. I have read that it takes a bit of time for your body to adjust so it may be a while considering we are entering the warm time of year.
June 6, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Interesting, Jill. Another reader mentioned the same thing…making your own. At least you know exactly what’s in it.
June 5, 2013 at 1:51 am
Oh, very interesting. I may get voted off the island for my answer, but I don’t use deodorant. Haven’t for many years. My husband has assured me I don’t smell, but now I’m a little worried. Does everyone else use deodorant? My friend and I were discussing this last week. We are both very conscientious about our hygiene, and have on occasion washed our underarms with moistened paper towel. But it is rare that we feel smelly. I try to eat a very clean diet, with almost no dairy, and very little animal protein. Perhaps when I perspire, my body has less toxins to eliminate? If I lived in a hot climate, I might have to reconsider. I’d look for a recipe and make my own. There are so many bad things in most deodorants, aluminum being at the top of the list. I also stopped using perfumes many years ago. I will occasionally apply essential oils, but I use them for their healing purposes and only use them at home. I’ve suffered too many times with an excruciating headache from someone’s perfume or cologne or after shave while at the theater.
{Sigh} Maybe I have no future…
Sue xo
June 6, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Voted off the island? Never! Kind of interesting to think about the diet factor. I’m interested to look into the idea of making your own. After my mother suffered breast cancer, she felt that she needed to be more careful and she uses deodorants–not anti-perspirants, believing them to be safer. Ditto for perfumes. After chemotherapy, her sensitivity to it heightened and I seldom wear perfume myself. There’s a brand I’ve used (can’t think of it) that is truly natural. Where do you buy your essential oils.
Thanks for a thoughtful response. You got me thinking!
June 6, 2013 at 1:54 am
Crystal, leave it to you to write a post on deodorant and still make it interesting, entertaining, and classy.
June 6, 2013 at 12:58 pm
You make me smile!
July 16, 2013 at 9:36 pm
I am gross like Sue LOL. I don’t wear deodorant, at least not on a regular basis. I have tried natural ones, and I feel like they make me smell worse. I don’t think its natural to NOT sweat and I don’t want to rub chemicals on my skin. Unlike Sue, sometimes I do smell a little bad, although I have noticed that in the last month or so (I think since I took a soda hiatus) I don’t stink at all. I should try making my own for when I get back on the poison and my armpits stink again 😛