What did they do before they invented body deodorants??

[FlamingoBlue]

Did people just stink? I thought that body odors were suppossed to be a turn on; pheromomes to be exact.

I know that body odors can become overpowering, but isn't there some middle ground? Or, is deodorant just another example of how society is trying to desensitize us to sex. Sorta like saltpeter for your schnoozolla.

blue

 

[teresafannin]

I think everyone probably smelled pretty bad. There is a reason some history professors call the Middle Ages "500 years without a bath." People tried to mask odors with perfumes & oils, but I would imagine that only added to the smell.

 

[MunchinMark]

I've seen references to the use of scent. Surely if you washed regularly (which isn't impossible, even back in 1200)then it wouldn't be such a problem. Mind you, Elizabeth I of England reputedly bathed only four times a year (don't know how often she just washed her face, probably not often, given all the lead based face makeup).

Maybe that was why they called her the virgin queen.

 

[CreamyLady]

Think of the economics of bathing. There was no indoor plumbing; it wasn't a matter of turning a tap. Water had to be fetched from a well, heated over a fire, and then carried and tipped into a tub. The wealthy had servants for this, but the climate of Europe was not so salubrious that taking one's clothes off to sit in a cooling tub of water was a matter of whim.

There were perfumes. People with rotting teeth carried pomanders to hold in front of their mouths so that the scent of oranges and cloves would mask horrible breath. Houses were sprinkled with herbs and flowers because it masked the smell of unwashed bodies, chamber crockery (for the lucky), garderobes and rotting food.

There were public bathhouses in some areas, but they weren't common and in many cases churchmen were not helpful. It was a very rough time.

 

[Havocman]

You know during the Bubonic Plague the stench coming from a person that was infected was even worse than the normal smell of the unwashed masses. The sickness would begin to show as dark ringed areas around small rosette shaped lesions that would commonly rupture and give off a foul odor that the inflicted person would try to mask by carrying around bouquets of over fragrant flowers in their pockets. But it wasn't something they had to worry about covering too long, because soon after the lesions would rupture a chronic cough and sneezing would begin that would rack the victim's body violently until, quite frequently, they would literally fall over dead.

So many people were dying on a daily basis that death became an even more common part of daily life, and sick people were shunned to the point that children even began to make fun of those exhibiting symptoms by following them around and chanting...

"A ring around the rosies,
A pocket full of posies,
Achoo, achoo
We all fall down..."

True story...

Havoc

 

[MunchinMark]

'Ring of Roses' has always struck me as a chilling rhyme.

I live in Europe (lots of people have to, its not their fault), and my childhood home had no central heating in the bathroom. Yes, you sort of sat in the bath dreading the moment you have to get out, because you know how cold it will be. My mother actually had it better. When she was a child, the bath was a tin one which was brought in and put in front of the fire. Not very high tech but warmer and possible 1000 years ago.

Incidentally, everyday society in the middle ages was quite different. Most people lived in villages and knew each other reasonably well. There might have been more tolerance to BO. Except maybe for the swineherd's son.

 

[CreamyLady]

Mark, I visited a friend (now ex-friend) in Dublin early one March. That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was not realizing what a cheap bastard he was; he turned the central heating off in mid February.

Mistake number three was learning -- too late -- that one had to turn the hot water heater on every time one wanted a shower.

Mistake number four was realizing that, because he wasn't at MY place and, therefore, out of sight of the parish church, I got to sleep alone, under two very thin blankets (he kept the duvet; he informed me that he was so thin, and I wasn't, that he needed it).

It was so cold in that house on the second night of my visit that I crawled out of bed, threw a coat on over my night attire (sweats, flannel nightie, another sweatshirt and two pairs of socks) and hiked to the nearest off-license, where I bought a bottle of cognac. I downed half of it when I got back, and was finally warm enough to sleep.

I'm a wimp. I like Southern California.

 

[Laurel]

You know the little dogs that you see in portraits of queens or noblewomen - the ones that sit in their laps? The dogs were there to attract the fleas off of the woman. True story!

My European history professor said that in the Middle Ages, a person got two baths: one at birth (the Baptism) and one when you died. That stuck with me for weeks. I can't imagine living in a world like that. Dating would be out of the question, that's for sure.

 

[Cheyenne]

So many people were dying on a daily basis that death became an even more common part of daily life, and sick people were shunned to the point that children even began to make fun of those exhibiting symptoms by following them around and chanting...

"A ring around the rosies,
A pocket full of posies,
Achoo, achoo
We all fall down..."


Havoc

I visited London in 1999 and there was a whole story about the plague at one of the cathedrals (Westminster, I think)where they kept the records of the names of the dead. I believe the song's third line was "ashes, ashes" instead of "achoo, achoo." They burned the bodies to try to get rid of the disease, hence the ashes reference.

 

[Max]

Nell's fucking bells

If all of the afore mentioned tales are true why didn't the human race just die off from lack of fucking desire..I mean the open sores, the stench, the fleas; who the fuck would wanna fuck? I mean what the hell? It would be like humping a stinking pig; or maybe worse-

 

[Svedish_Chef]

My European history professor said that in the Middle Ages, a person got two baths: one at birth (the Baptism) and one when you died. That stuck with me for weeks. I can't imagine living in a world like that. Dating would be out of the question, that's for sure.

True true m'dear but you know that they didn't really date then... maybe a reason?

 

[Young Knave]

Don't forget theVD.

Nearly all of which were incurable, since they didn't even have pinicillin[sic].

 

[Havocman]

I believe the song's third line was "ashes, ashes" instead of "achoo, achoo." They burned the bodies to try to get rid of the disease, hence the ashes reference.

That could be Cheyenne, in a way it would make sense, however why have the "ashes" in the song before the "we all fall down" line? As I heard it, the "achoo, achoo" was a reference to the coughing and sneezing fits that came right before death, "we all fall down".

Anywho, I was just going by what I remembered hearing from Paul Harvey once a long, long time ago...and now you know the rest...

of the story...

Havoc

 

[CreamyLady]

Several poets, including Donne, wrote very erotic poems about fleas; think of how close you would be to your lover to not only share the flea, but the bite. Donne's poem is actually remarkably romantic.

Considering that living past the age of five was a major accomplishment, and that everyone was pretty much in the same boat hygienically, I imagine the usual drivers were operating: lust, affection, and need.

The survival of species itself is a powerful motivator.

 

[Cheyenne]

Havoc, try this one:

http://www.snopes2.com/spoons/fracture/rosie.htm

Interesting. I know I saw it discussed in London at the cathedral though as part of the tour.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

As always, you folks have made some...

pretty interesting replies. So, what genius invented underarm deoderant? Was it Mr. Ban or Ms. Arrid? One of you must know the answer.

blue

 

[Ambrosious]

Blue, shhhhhh

It's a Secret.

 

[DriveSouth]

You know the little dogs that you see in portraits of queens or noblewomen - the ones that sit in their laps? The dogs were there to attract the fleas off of the woman. True story!

My European history professor said that in the Middle Ages, a person got two baths: one at birth (the Baptism) and one when you died. That stuck with me for weeks. I can't imagine living in a world like that. Dating would be out of the question, that's for sure.

Maybe what you are not thinking of ... you'd smell just as bad ...

I suspect dating worked pretty much the same as today, afterall, look around, there are plenty of us running around ...

 

[Guest]

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Soap and cleanliness.......

As particularly Americans and North Americans have currently come to view it's value - is re-God-Damn-diculous!

Sure, it's pleasant - everybody'd rather smell like soap than not.

But it ain't real - not natural - and certainly not necessary for health or survival - least not as much as the people who sell the products would have you believe.

How about brushing your teeth? Sure - a good thing - but ya don't need to brush your teeth with peppermint goo. Baking soda will do just fine.

Water, water, water - clean water - to get the loose grime off yer privates - after a good fuck. Water in your hair. Every couple of days if all you need. Brush your teeth, gums and tongue with clean water and a very mild abrasive - that's all ya need.

All the other shit is "sale" - it's what make America - America. Buy, buy, buy - shit you don't really need.

But I do like Old Spice.

 

[Siren]

So all you use is water and a mild abrasive eh Sparky?

 

[CW]

Blue,

Basicly I think they stank in the pre-deod days,,, flowers or no flowers, perfumes or no perfumes

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Siren?

My shit don't stink.

No kidding - don't get all ucky all that much. Sure, if I work out or something - funk city - I use soap.

My point is that people "get in the habit" and unless they really need it - well, they don't.

If I were pre-disposed toward funk - I'd use soap all the time. But I am not.

Furthermore - people do use it too much - AND - this is driven by commerce.

Now - let me stink in peace, thank you.

PS and besides - some women are turned on by the smell of funk - ah..... I smell a new thread.

 

[Siren]

that is true Sparky....but....

 

[FlamingoBlue]

Remember, one person's funk is ......

is another's smelly stink. Don't you think that "stink' is a cultural/etnic kinda thing??

I mean, how and when did body deodorants develop?? Think someone could do a little researrch on the Web and fill us in. I have no clue how to do it and wold be grateful for the info.

blue

p.s. to Sparky. I bet if we askd your wife, she wold say that your shit does stink, just like all the rest of us. Unless, your schnozzola is dead.