The problem of body odor is as old as the attempts made by man to solve it. All civilizations have left a trace of their efforts to produce deodorants.
The ancient Egyptians recommended an aromatic bath and, after it, an application in the armpits of scented oils made from lemon and cinnamon.
In 1888, Mum was introduced, the first product launched specifically to stop underarm moisture and, therefore, the bad smell of sweat. The formula was made from a zinc compound and its presentation was that of a cream. The popularity of Mum convinced laboratories that there was a large market for antiperspirants.
The first deodorants that use aluminium chloride, a drying compound that is present in most current formulas, appear at the beginning of the 20th century.
For many years, the public was so sensitive to the use of deodorants, that they were requested in pharmacies with great discretion. In 1914, the Odorono was presented as a remedy to the problems of excessive sweating, able to keep women “clean and refined.”
In those days, antiperspirants were advertised exclusively for women. It was until the 1930s when companies began to pursue the male market. After World War II, the use of deodorant in western countries became popular.
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