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A History of Stink

The surprising story of body odor through time.

November 2019

By Kristin Lewis

In the summer of 1912, a heat wave came to New Jersey. The women and men at the Atlantic City expo were miserable. They had traveled great distances to see the amazing new products on display at this event. But their heavy suits and dresses were soaked with sweat.

They smelled bad. Really bad.

Yet there was one person who was happy about the heat: Edna Murphey. For this Ohio teen, body odor smelled like success.

For the previous two years, she had been trying to sell a product that she called Odorono (as in Odor? Oh no!). It was invented by Murphey’s father, a surgeon. He used it to keep his hands from getting sweaty while operating.

Murphey had quickly realized that the stuff could be used in wetter, smellier places—like armpits. Had she found a way to stop sweating and body odor for good?

In the summer of 1912, a heat wave came to New Jersey. People at the Atlantic City expo were unhappy. They had traveled great distances to see the new products on display at this event. But their heavy clothing was soaked with sweat.

They smelled bad. Really bad.

But one person was happy about the heat: Edna Murphey. For this Ohio teen, body odor smelled like success.

Edna was trying to sell a product that she called Odorono (as in Odor? Oh no!). Her father, a surgeon, had invented it. He used it to keep his hands from getting sweaty while operating.

Edna knew the stuff could be used in armpits too. Had she solved the problems of sweating and body odor?

In the summer of 1912, a heat wave took over New Jersey. The women and men at the Atlantic City expo were miserable. They had traveled great distances to see the amazing new products on display at this event, and now their heavy suits and dresses were soaked with sweat.

They smelled bad. Really bad.

Yet there was one person who was happy about the heat: Edna Murphey. For this Ohio teenager, body odor smelled like success.

For the previous two years, she had been trying to sell a product that she called Odorono (as in Odor? Oh no!). It was invented by Murphey’s father, a surgeon who used it to prevent his hands from getting sweaty while operating.

Edna had quickly realized that the stuff could be used in wetter, smellier places—like underarms. Had she found a permanent solution to the problems of perspiration and body odor?

Funky Folks

Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com

Louis Pasteur

You may shower daily to stay clean and fresh. But humans haven’t always had the best hygiene. In fact, Europeans wanted nothing to do with bathing during the Middle Ages. At the time, it was believed that water opened up pores in the skin and allowed diseases to enter. Keeping a layer of sweat on your skin was thought to protect you from getting sick.

In the early days of the United States, Americans were stinky too. Then things started to change in the 1860s. A French scientist named Louis Pasteur discovered that many illnesses are caused by germs. Washing with soap became an important way to keep these germs away.

As America continued to grow, these new ideas about hygiene shaped the way cities were built. All new buildings had running water. Nearly every home had a bathtub. Staying clean came to be seen as very American.

And then came Edna Murphey and her new product, Odorono.

You may shower daily. But humans haven’t always been so clean. During the Middle Ages, Europeans rarely washed. They believed that water opened up pores in the skin and let diseases in. They thought keeping a layer of sweat on their skin would protect them from getting sick.

In the early days of the United States, Americans were stinky too. That started to change in the 1860s. A French scientist named Louis Pasteur discovered that many illnesses are caused by germs. Washing with soap became an important way to keep these germs away.

As America grew, these new ideas about staying clean shaped the way cities were built. All new buildings had running water. Most homes had bathtubs. Staying clean came to be seen as very American.

And then came Edna Murphey’s new product, Odorono.

You may shower daily to stay clean and fresh, but humans haven’t always been so hygienic.

In fact, Europeans avoided bathing during the Middle Ages. At the time, it was believed that water opened up pores in the skin and allowed diseases to enter the body. Maintaining a layer of sweat on your skin was thought to protect you from illness.

In the early days of the United States, Americans were stinky too. That began to change in the 1860s, after a French scientist named Louis Pasteur discovered that many illnesses are caused by germs. Washing with soap became an important way to keep these germs away.

As America continued to grow, these new ideas about hygiene shaped the way cities were built. All new buildings had running water, and nearly every home had a bathtub. Cleanliness came to be regarded as very American.

And then came Edna Murphey and her new product, Odorono.

Sweat Stopper

smspsy/Shutterstock.com

Hey, What’s that smell?
We can’t say for sure, but the founders of our country probably stank! Most early Americans bathed only a few times a year.

At first, people thought Odorono seemed unhealthy. Its ingredients ate through clothing and caused skin rashes.

But that summer in Atlantic City was just too hot. By the end of the expo, Edna had thousands of customers. And 40 years later, wearing deodorant had become a normal part of grooming, like brushing your teeth.

It makes you think: What anti-stink invention will we come up with next? A way to make our gas smell like flowers?

That would definitely make Edna Murphey very proud.

At first, people did not like Odorono. It ate through clothing. It caused skin rashes.

But that summer in New Jersey was just too hot. By the end of the expo, Edna had thousands of customers. And 40 years later, wearing deodorant had become a normal part of grooming, like brushing your teeth.

It makes you think: What will we invent next? A way to make our gas smell like flowers?

That sure would make Edna Murphey proud.

At first, because its ingredients ate through clothing and caused skin rashes, Odorono was unpopular.

But those sweaty, sticky days in Atlantic City made the product seem appealing. By the end of the expo, Edna had thousands of customers. And 40 years later, wearing deodorant had become a normal part of grooming, like brushing your teeth.

It makes you wonder what anti-odor invention we can expect to see next—perhaps a product that makes our gas smell like flowers?

That would definitely impress Edna Murphey.

ACTIVITY:
How did Americans
get less stinky?

Write a paragraph to answer this question. Get started by using facts from the article to finish the sentences below. (Remember to indent the first sentence!)