Summary
In the fascinating podcast episode, "The Stinky History of Human Hygiene | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW," the hosts dive deep into the history and evolution of personal hygiene practices.
Starting with hair and hygiene, the episode highlights that humans have been cutting, styling, and caring for their hair for thousands of years. Animals and ancient civilizations have exhibited various hygienic behaviors. Interestingly, the perception of body hair differed significantly among various societies and time periods. The episode traces the origins of common products like shampoo and safety razors, which have become essential for maintaining our hair and overall appearance.
Moving on to bathing, the episode explores its rich history in various early civilizations, like China, Rome, and the Middle East. Bathhouses were social spaces and venues for relaxation in these ancient cultures. Unfortunately, regular bathing fell out of favor in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. Instead, people opted for clean linens as undergarments, which were believed to cleanse the skin. Notable historical figures like Louis XIV of France were known for rarely taking baths, relying on alternative means of keeping clean.
The evolution of bathing culture continued into the modern era, with 18th-century shower boxes becoming available for home installation. The United States led the pack in adopting indoor plumbing, changing how we approach personal hygiene to this day. The episode also delves into the history of soap, from its early beginnings in Mesopotamia to the modern, commercial soap market, championed by companies like Procter & Gamble.
Perfumes and sweet-scented herbs played a significant role in masking body odor throughout history. The episode discusses various alcohol-based perfumes, such as Queen of Hungary water, made with rosemary. Into the 20th century, fear-based marketing for hygiene products, particularly targeting women, became a prominent strategy, leading to the creation of the first commercial deodorant, Mum, followed by the first antiperspirant, Ever Dry.
Lastly, the podcast addresses the hygiene hypothesis, which postulates that being too clean can disrupt the body's natural balance of microbes and contribute to the development of superbugs.
The episode comes to an end with an entertaining discussion on the phrase "jog so," its meaning in another language, and the importance of learning new languages to understand such expressions. Encouraging listeners to share their stories and questions via email, the podcast serves as an engaging and interactive platform for audiences to learn about the intriguing history of human hygiene.
