When we study the colonization process of the Americas, we know that Europeans believed that native peoples were leagues away from Old World civilization. In fact, this ethnocentric vision covers several knowledges, customs and other habits that can perfectly go against this perspective. Among so many points, we can point out that hygiene care already showed a peculiar discrepancy at least.
When they reached Brazilian lands, the Portuguese carried the terrible stench of someone who spent several weeks at sea. , but not because of that they passed near water. For our natives this would be a strange situation, given that the Tupi used to wash their bodies more than ten times in the same day . Likewise, Indians (who also established contact with the Portuguese) they used pastes, tacos, soaps and powders to assuage their own body odors .
In antiquity, the Egyptians solved the same problem with frequent baths that were accompanied by the astringent action of oils, fats and flavored soaps . On the other hand, the Romans tried to cover the stench with small pillows that were placed next to the armpits . Already in Modern Europe, perfumes tried, but were not always able to effectively resolve the development of sweating.
Among so many smells and baths, it was only in the 19th century that we had the first deodorant in history. In the year 1888, the American deodorant “Mum” (mother, in Portuguese) mixed a type of zinc oxide wax that had a limited antimicrobial action . A few years later, in 1903, “EverDry” (“always dry”) was the first aqueous solution deodorant that could inhibit the body's perspiration .
Already in this formula, we had the presence of aluminum salts that to this day make up most deodorants. Nowadays, we have some types and brands of deodorant that promise to meet the specific profile of their consumers. At the same time, other types of deodorant promise to alleviate the aggressions that the use of the deodorant itself can cause.