Creating the fear of stink in America


The Smithsonian — August 2012

A hundred years ago, deodorants and antiperspirants were obscure products that few people used–or even knew about. Now they are an $18 billion industry worldwide. Find out how a traveling salesman and high school entrepreneur helped launched our fear of sweat.

The article was picked up by Boing Boing, Andrew Sullivan, and others. The story was also republished on Jezebel.

I talked about the science of sweat, deodorants, antiperspirants… and what the ancient Egyptians used to do to control B.O. on NPR affiliate WBUR’s Here and Now show.

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