A History of Hygiene for French Royalty in the Palace of Versailles
If you're ever wondering about Marie Antoinette's regal beauty routine, here's a look at the hygienic practices inside the Palace of Versailles.
In the 14th century, proper hygiene was still something yet to be discovered in Europe. Not even the residents of the Palace of Versailles escaped the poor hygienic tendencies of the time. Without basic sanitation, the inhabitants lived in the midst of dirt. This unhygienic way of living was one of the main causes of the Black Death pandemic, which caused a third of the European population to die. In light of the Black Death pandemic, new hygiene habits emerged and helped shape the rules of proper hygiene that we have today.
To see one of the many dark sides of former royal life, check out some of the hygienic habits of the Palace of Versailles.
Not Washing for Days
In medieval Europe, many bathhouses were closed. The Church believed bathhouses to be spaces of luxury, therefore they were inaccessible to all. The medical community in medieval Europe believed that water was harmful to health, as it opened pores and left the body more vulnerable to disease. Because of this, people would not wash for many days at a time.
Family Baths
Full body baths were rare. People would only wash their hands and face to get clean. When baths were taken, they were prepared for the entire family. Family members bathed in the same water and had a strict order to follow. First, the father would bathe, and then the mother, and then the order would trickle down from the oldest son to the youngest. It's rumored that even Louis XIV followed these rules, and only bathed when advised to by a doctor. The king typically cleaned himself with a cloth and either water, saliva, or alcohol.
Bad Breath
Since toothbrushes and toothpaste did not exist during this time, bad breath was very common. People would rub their teeth and gums with cloths covered in herb mixtures to eliminate the oral odor. Other remedies consisted of rinsing the mouth with ice water, chewing celery or cider peel, or using bay leaves and musk as an antiseptic.
Dirty Laundry
When clothes became extremely dirty or infested with fleas, moths, or bedbugs, that is when people would put on a new outfit. Linen fabric was a popular textile of the time and helped to absorb sebum and sweat. When people changed their clothes, they believed they no longer needed a shower, and would only clean uncovered areas, such as the face and arms.
Bad Smell
In both the Palace of Versailles and the homes of ordinary people, bamboo brooms were used to clean the rooms of the house. The brooms helped to get rid of the bulk of the accumulated dirt and disguised the smell of sweat and other odors.
No Bathrooms
Rooms with toilets, cesspools, and drainage systems only started to become common in the 19th century. At the Palace of Versailles, people would conduct their business in the corridors or in the gardens. In 1715, it was decreed that once a week the feces would be collected from the corridors. When toilets were introduced to the palace, they consisted of long wooden benches with holes in the middle.
Cleaning Up After Going to the Bathroom
Chamber pots were used as toilets before toilets were invented. People would conduct their businesses in these pots and then empty the contents out the window. Intimate cleaning was done by hand or by using corncob leaves.
Dirty Hair
Dirty, oily hair was believed to be healthy and silky. In order to preserve the healthy state of their hair, people did not commonly wash their hair. When people wanted to hide their dirty hair for special events, they used wigs.
Scented Sponges
To mask any foul odors, people would use scented sponges and herbal pastes as an alternative to washing. In the 16th century, rice powder was invented to hide imperfections on the face, such as wounds caused by poor hygiene.
