What marked the debut of the world's inaugural underarm deodorant?

Many of us apply it daily (and hope others do the same). It’s rarely given much thought unless we suddenly notice mid-first date that we’ve skipped it. This essential hygiene product, deodorant, has been a staple across generations.

The Egyptians are often hailed as pioneers in creating the earliest deodorant, using fragrant aromas to mask what must have been a strong odor along the Nile. They introduced diversity to deodorant early on, employing spices like citrus and cinnamon to combat unpleasant smells.

Perfumed deodorants with an alcohol base originated in the Middle East and reached Europe during the 13th century, brought back by Crusaders who encountered these products in the lands they aimed to conquer.

However, some cultures were quicker to embrace the mass production, marketing, and sale of personal hygiene items—an opportunity Americans were quick to seize.

Mum, the first commercially available deodorant, debuted in 1888 as a zinc-based cream applied manually to the underarms. The 1950s introduced the first aerosol deodorant (when aerosols were still considered innovative). Since then, roll-on deodorants have emerged, offering a cleaner alternative to hand application and reducing environmental harm.

Interestingly, the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia hold the distinction of creating the world's first deodorant. Around 3500 B.C., this advanced civilization—known for inventing written language and the wheel—documented their use of deodorant.

Our modern ability to enter a room without causing olfactory distress owes much to this ancient civilization, the first to recognize that body odor was far from refined.