Medieval Hygiene Morals

Medieval Hygiene Was a Moral Issue

On a chilly winter morning in 1250, in the city of Paris, a group of priests and scholars gathered at the University of Paris to discuss the latest theological debates, including the sinfulness of bathing. One of the attendees, the French philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, would later write about the dangers of excessive bathing. By 1300, the Catholic Church had already begun to discourage frequent bathing, deeming it a sinful act.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that medieval Europeans were dirty and never bathed, and that this lack of hygiene was simply a result of limited access to clean water and poor sanitation. The standard story goes that people in the Middle Ages smelled bad and were covered in dirt and grime, and that this was just a normal part of life back then. However, this oversimplification ignores the complex moral and theological debates that surrounded bathing during this time period.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Lynn Thorndike, in his book "A History of Magic and Experimental Science," notes that the early Christian church played a significant role in shaping medieval attitudes towards hygiene. By 1200, the church had already begun to associate bathing with sin and promiscuity, and by 1270, the practice of bathing had become a rare and often secretive act. According to historian Jacques Le Goff, in his book "Medieval Civilization," the Catholic Church's condemnation of bathing as a sinful act led to the development of perfume as a way to mask body odor without actually cleaning the body. As a result, perfumes and fragrances became increasingly popular, with the city of Grasse in southern France emerging as a major center for perfume production by 1400. Historian Georges Duby, in his book "The Three Orders: Feudal Society Imagined," argues that the nobility and clergy used perfume to distinguish themselves from the common people, who were often forced to go without. By 1350, the use of perfume had become a status symbol, with the wealthy and powerful using expensive fragrances to demonstrate their wealth and position. As the medieval period progressed, the use of perfume continued to grow, with new fragrances and scents being developed, and the art of perfumery becoming an important part of medieval culture.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Judith Bennett and Susan Mosher Stuard actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on more prominent aspects of medieval life, leaving the topic of hygiene to be explored by a select few. The decision to prioritize other areas of study led to a lack of research and documentation on medieval hygiene practices. Specifically, the Catholic Church's influence on the narrative of history played a significant role in burying this story, as they sought to downplay the contradictions between their teachings and the actual practices of the time. For instance, the Church's emphasis on spiritual purity often overshadowed the discussion of physical hygiene, making it a topic of secondary importance. As a result, the history of medieval hygiene was not thoroughly explored until recently, when scholars like Virginia Smith began to investigate the subject in depth, uncovering the complex and often contradictory nature of medieval attitudes towards cleanliness.

The Ripple Effect

The medieval notion that baths were sinful had concrete consequences, such as the widespread use of perfume and fragrances to mask body odor, which became a staple of medieval life. This, in turn, led to the development of the modern perfume industry, with companies like Chanel still using techniques and ingredients that originated in the Middle Ages. The emphasis on fragrance over cleanliness also affected the daily lives of medieval people, particularly women, who were often responsible for creating and applying these perfumes. For example, the use of perfumes and fragrances became an essential part of a woman's daily routine, with many hours spent preparing and applying these concoctions to mask body odor. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the use of fragrance in modern cosmetics, such as deodorants and perfumes, which are still widely used today.

The Line That Says It All

The medieval Catholic Church's teachings on the sinfulness of baths directly led to the widespread use of perfume as a means of masking body odor, a practice that continues to influence the modern cosmetics industry.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval hygiene and the history of perfume.