Arm-Pit Powder and Old Time Deodorant

A few years ago, a show called 1900 House aired in which a family attempted to live life only using products available in the year 1900. On one episode the mother was complaining about body odors and speculated that people must not have been bothered by them in the old days. Au contraire, madame, deodorant and perfume powders have long been available. The following is an Edwardian period recipe for so-called "arm-pit powder."

Salicylic acid gr. 45

Zinc oxid av. oz. 1

Orris root av. oz. 2

Talcum av. oz. 7

Cumarin gr. 1

Oil of bergamot drops 10

Oil of rose drops 20

Tincture of musk drops 5

Solution of carmine to color

Reduce the solids to fine powder, mix thoroughly with the other ingredients, and pass through a fine sieve. The solution of carmine may be omitted and the perfume changed.

Another recipe is as follows:

NO. 1. ASTRINGENT POWDER

Burnt alum 5 grammes

Salicylic acid 2 1/2 grammes

Starch 15 grammes

Violet talcum-powder 50 grammes (this was just scented talc; replace with any other fragranced cosmetic talc you'd like: but be certain it's real talc, not starch.)

Notably, recipe books of the day tended to say that foot powders and arm-pit powders were interchangeable with one another. Always good to know that there's another use for your Dr. Scholl's (which brand's been about since 1906, by the bye.)