The History Of Douche Ads

Today, the word 'douche' is synonymous with 'old school product we don't actually need.' Ads for douches seem to be laced with the intent to harm women’s self-esteem, not to mention our vaginas, as douching can actually cause infections. But these ads have an interesting history. Did you know that douche was originally considered a birth control method, back when birth control was illegal? Because of this, it was socially camouflaged as a “hygiene product.” From there, the ads evolved into mothers and daughters with cable-knit sweaters tied around their shoulders, having talks about “feminine odor” on the beach. After the jump, take a look at the history of douching and douche advertisements—which, to this day, are still trying to convince women that a Lysol-flavored vagina is a good thing.