The Evolution of Hygiene: From Ancient Times to Tablet Soaps

From ancient milk baths to the modern magic of dissolvable soap tablets, the story of hygiene is a fascinating journey of science, self-care, and, sometimes… crocodile poop.

The Ancient Days: Beauty, Baths, and… Bold Experiments

Take Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who turned beauty into both art and science. Historical accounts suggest she bathed in sour milk, unknowingly benefiting from lactic acid, which modern research shows can help exfoliate and smooth the skin (Schwarcz, 2017).

Of course, Cleopatra’s routine didn’t stop there. She dabbled with perfumes made from flower petals and olive oil, even tried eyebrow-raising (literally) baldness remedies for Julius Caesar — ground horse teeth and deer marrow, anyone? (Schwarcz, 2017)

While some ancient methods sound a little wild today, one thing was clear: the desire for cleanliness, beauty, and self-care was already woven into human history.

The Sanitary Revolution: When Soap Helped Save Lives

Fast forward to the mid-1800s, when the real hygiene revolution began — and not just for beauty's sake.

During this period, personal and household hygiene emerged as critical tools in improving public health. In fact, it’s suggested that improvements in hygiene practices were essential in driving down mortality rates and combating diseases like typhus, trachoma, and infant diarrhea (Aiello et al., 2008).

The mid-19th century “sanitary era” saw sweeping reforms in waste disposal, sewage systems, and personal cleanliness, long before germ theory was even understood. Even though early sanitarians mistakenly blamed diseases on foul odours or “miasmas,” their efforts to clean streets, manage waste, and promote handwashing led to enormous health benefits (Aiello et al., 2008).

From Soap Bars to Smart Science: Hygiene in the Digital Age

Today, hygiene isn’t just about soap and water — it’s about innovation backed by real science. Modern consumers want products that are not only effective but proven, sustainable, and often powered by cutting-edge technology (Samaras, 2024).

We’ve gone from experimenting with milk baths to leveraging AI to develop superior personal care products. Brands now explore everything from the microbiome (the trillions of microbes that live on our skin) to neuroscience-backed fragrances that enhance mood and confidence (Samaras, 2024).

Enter Freshcia: The Latest Chapter in Hygiene’s Evolution

At Freshcia, we believe hygiene should feel as fresh and exciting as its history. That’s why we created dissolvable, tablet-based soaps and refillable designs — a fun, modern twist on an ancient need for cleanliness.

From Cleopatra’s milk baths to modern foam parties at your sink, hygiene has always been part of human history. And with Freshcia, we’re making sure that history stays playful, sustainable, and joyfully clean.

Refresh. Refill. Repeat.

[Sources]

Aiello, A.E., Larson, E.L. and Sedlak, R. (2008). Hidden heroes of the health revolution Sanitation and personal hygiene. American Journal of Infection Control, [online] 36(10), pp.S128–S151. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2008.09.008.

Samaras, S. (2024). The science shaping our new beauty and personal care products. [online] Unilever. Available at: https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2024/the-science-shaping-our-new-beauty-and-personal-care-products/.

Schwarcz, J. (2017). Why did Cleopatra supposedly bathe in sour donkey milk? [online] Office for Science and Society. Available at: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/science-science-everywhere-you-asked/why-did-cleopatra-supposedly-bathe-sour-donkey-milk.