What was hygiene for wealthy folks like in the Middle Ages? You are about to find out!
During the middle ages, hygiene was eminent to people of all classes, including the wealthy. They sometimes put in tons of money to have good hygiene. People paid for baths and scented things to put in their baths. Roses were popular. Baths were very pricy, so rarer than in modern times.
They washed their hands multiple times a day, particularly around mealtimes. People had soap. However, it wasn’t nearly as good as our soap. Folks tried to take care of their teeth. Dental care wasn’t nearly as advanced as today, but it wasn’t horrible. They liked smelling good as well. Rich people paid to have imported perfumes and spices.
When would a wealthy person most want to have good hygiene? How was their hygiene different from ours?
Hand Washing
Who wants dirty hands? Nobody! Medieval people washed their hands. It was a sign of good manners. People washed their hands when they woke up, before meals, after meals, and before bedding down for the night. They washed their hands in the morning as part of the daily ritual.
Folks partially washed their hands before eating because they ate with their fingers. They washed their hands afterward to get the food off of their fingers. They washed their hands before going to bed to prepare for sleep. Wealthy folks often added scents to their water, one of the chiefest being rose petals. They also added a variety of herbs and spices. If they could afford orange peel, it was also a desired scent.
People didn’t have to only impress guests with fancy, expensive smells in the water. There was another way to show off wealth. They had fancy washbasins, some could be gold or silver, and have other designs and shapes. Sometimes these basins went into wills. They could be really expensive.
Hygiene for Wealthy Folks: Baths and Bathwater
Wealthy people loved their baths. Baths were a luxury. That isn’t surprising when you think about all the work required. Someone had to heat the water. Then they had to bring the water to the tub. They needed tons of water. Often, wealthy people paid for herbs, flowers, and spices. They could also visit public baths. In general communal baths were separate for men and women. People could be fined if they were found in the opposite genders’ side of the bath house. In some areas the bath house could be for both genders but usually not.
Sometimes they would also have a feast while they were bathing; music was sometimes playing too. Royalty would hold baths for their guests. They competed to make the bath the most luxurious possible. Super-wealthy people could afford their own baths. It was wooden and sometimes padded for comfort. A lord brought his tub when he traveled, so he always had it available. Just in case there were no good options for bathing, he had his tub with him.
Deodorant and Perfume
Wealthy folks used deodorant and perfume in their hygiene. Originally, crusaders found perfumes in the Holy Land. Many of the women there had plenty. Then the crusaders took perfume back to their homes and gave them to their wives. Perfume took off. Rosewater was a popular perfume.
Lavender also made its way into medieval people’s hearts. Oil helped preserve the scents. There were various beliefs concerning herbs’ uses in deodorant. They thought that sage could stop people from sweating. Basically, any herbs, flowers, woods, musk (a substance secreted from the musk deer, or a musk pod), or scented object worked (see my post about perfume and sachets here for more information).
Soap for Wealthy Folks
Soap had been around for centuries. In the Middle Ages, it was an essential part of hygiene for wealthy folks. They, of course, had access to the soft soap made in their region. Ashes and animal fat were the main ingredients of most of the soap at the time. Sometimes lye soap also appeared. It was not, however, good for people, because it was too strong and could take off the skin.
During the Middle Ages, hard soap also started popping up. Those were definitely for the rich. They were imported from southern regions like Spain. Castile soap was one kind of hard soap; someone in Castile invented this soap. One of the main ingredients of hard soap was olive oil. Herbs, flowers, and spices were all mixed into soaps of all kinds.
Tooth Care for Wealthy Folks
Tooth care is essential because no one wants cavities. Wealthy folks in the Middle Ages did their best to have good tooth hygiene because if someone got a cavity and the tooth hurt, there wasn’t much to do. They often had to resort to pulling out the tooth.
People often used a rough cloth or a hazel twig to clean their teeth. Sometimes powders and pastes were applied to the fabric beforehand. These powders and pastes helped to clean teeth, as well as freshen breath. Most of the pastes included something rough, like salt. They also added something that smelled good, like sage or rosemary. People also made many different types of mouthwash and other ways to freshen their breath.
Mouthwashes were made with vinegar or wine. They steeped herbs in the chosen liquid until they were pleased with the strength of the smell or taste. Then they used their mouthwash. Wealthy folks also chewed mint, parsley, and cloves to improve their dental hygiene.
When was Hygiene Most Important to Wealthy Folks?
When is it most important to have good hygiene? Good hygiene was most important for wealthy folks if they were around their superiors and peers. One of the most imperative times to have good hygiene was at a feast. At a banquet, people were all together.
Therefore, if someone had terrible hygiene and smelled foul, they couldn’t hide it. Sometimes rules detail how to have good etiquette at a feast. Folks would dress up for banquets. They also may save their bath for the feast day. Deodorant was prominent for many reasons, one of which was that they were sitting next to their peers. They did not want to stink.
What do you think of the hygiene practiced by wealthy folks in the Middle Ages? Let me know in the comments! Also, let me know if you have any questions.
To Learn More…
(and check out my sources…)
What Was Dental Health Like in the Middle Ages?
Tales of the Middle Ages – Daily Life
Did people in the Middle Ages take baths? – Medievalists.net
Rosalie’s Medieval Woman – Cleanliness, Hygiene and Bathing
Medieval Hygiene: Strangest Hygiene Practices From The Middle Ages
Some related posts…
Did Poor People Practice Hygiene in the Middle Ages?
The Life Of Wealthy Girls In The Middle Ages
The Lives of Rich Men in the Gothic Period
If you liked this you might enjoy…
Did People Have Holidays in the Middle Ages?
Cuisine of Wealthy People in the Middle Ages
Purposes of Sachets and Perfume in the Middle Ages
2 responses to “Hygiene for Wealthy Folks in the Middle Ages”
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such great info being shared freely out there.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback.