A Medieval Knight's Guide to Hygiene
- Etan L
- Aug 22, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Ah, the Middle Ages. A time of valiant knights, fair maidens, and… questionable hygiene. Let's be honest, things were a bit… rustic. Forget your fancy shower gels and exfoliating scrubs, medieval personal care was a whole different beast.
1. Bathing? More Like a Ceremonial Dunk:
Think less "relaxing soak" and more "baptismal plunge." Bathing was infrequent, often a social event rather than a daily necessity.
The Communal Tub: Imagine a giant wooden tub, often shared by entire families. We're talking husbands, wives, children, maybe even the occasional farm animal making a surprise appearance. Romance? Not exactly.
The "Refreshment" Process: The water, if you could even call it that, was often lukewarm at best. Don't expect any bubbles or aromatherapy. The goal was simply to get "clean," whatever that meant in medieval times.
The Entertainment Factor: To make the experience slightly more bearable, people would often chat, sing, and even gamble while they soaked. It was a social event, a chance to catch up on village gossip and maybe even win a few coins.
The Post-Bath Dilemma: After the "purification" process, the water, now a murky concoction of… well, let's just say "unpleasantries," was often used to wash the floors or even water the garden. Resourcefulness was key.
Pro Tip: If you were lucky enough to own a private bath, consider yourself among the elite!
2. Hair Care: Grease is the Word:
Forget volumizing mousse and deep conditioners. Medieval hair care revolved around… grease. Yep, animal fats, oils, and even urine were used to "condition" and "style" hair. The goal? To keep it sleek and shiny, and hopefully ward off those pesky lice.
3. A Knight's Guide to Fragrance (Or, How to Smell Less Like a Stable)
Forget your electric toothbrush and whitening strips. Medieval dental hygiene was… rudimentary. People would use twigs, rags, and even urine to clean their teeth. For more serious issues, they might resort to… pulling the tooth out. Ouch.
4. Scent of a… Not-So-Sweet Lady:
Perfume? Forget it. The "scent" of the Middle Ages was… let's just say "earthy." Forget delicate perfumes and subtle scents. In the Middle Ages, fragrance was all about masking the inevitable. Let's be honest, people smelled… interesting.
The "Natural" Aroma: With infrequent bathing and limited access to clean water, body odor was a constant companion. Imagine a blend of sweat, animal smells (if you lived on a farm), and… well, let's just say the air wasn't exactly perfumed.
The "Herbal" Approach: To combat the less-than-pleasant odors, people turned to nature. Strong-smelling herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender were popular choices. They were often burned in fires or used to stuff pillows and sachets.
The Spice Rack Solution: Spices like cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg were also employed in the battle against body odor. They were often used to season food, but also to mask the less-than-pleasant aromas emanating from… well, everywhere.
The "Perfume" of the Poor: For those who couldn't afford expensive spices and herbs, urine was surprisingly popular. Yes, you read that right. Urine was believed to have antibacterial properties and was sometimes used to "freshen" the air.
5. Fashionably Filthy:
Clothing was expensive and hard to come by. Washing clothes regularly was simply not an option. So, people would layer on more and more clothes to stay warm and hide the inevitable grime. Fashionable? Perhaps not in our eyes, but hey, it was practical.
Final thought on a medieval knight's guide to hygiene: So, next time you're enjoying a hot shower and a luxurious lather, spare a thought for your medieval ancestors. They may have been brave and noble, but their hygiene were a bit questionable.
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