Welcome to the first part of the series, Historical Beauty Secrets. Today, we travel to the court of Louis XV at Versailles with Madame De Pompadour, where beauty was a social obligation, but hygiene was, let’s say, more a matter of strategy than regular habit. The nobility bathed only rarely, at most a few times a year, and cleaned their bodies with cleverly perfumed tricks.
One bath a year and summer weddings
In the 18th century, people believed that water spread disease and weakened the body, so bathing was considered risky. Ordinary people bathed only once a year, often at the end of spring or in summer.
The nobility used to plan weddings for the summer months so that the guests would smell a little less. At least once before the celebration, they would freshen up, or at least the windows could finally be opened to soften the consequences of such a long period without water.
Madame de Pompadour, however, went far beyond this standard. She was something of a hygiene rebel and treated herself to several baths a year, maybe even three or four. She added roses, lavender and thyme to the water, turning each bath into a luxurious little ritual.
Perfume – The weapon against smell
At Versailles, hygiene was often hidden under fragrant clouds of perfume and powder. Members of the court wore perfumed gloves and dripped fragrance onto their wigs and clothing to drown out body odour.
Madame de Pompadour blended her own perfume mixtures and was known for her soft notes of jasmine and rose, which made her the very definition of elegance.
Powder, powder and more powder
Powder was everywhere at the aristocratic courts. It was on wigs, where it helped fix them in place, and on the face and décolletage.
Madame de Pompadour had her face regularly waxed to hide breakouts, and then covered it with a thick layer of white powder. The wax and white paint masked every imperfection, but often did more harm than good. The skin underneath all those layers suffered, which then called for even more makeup.
And on top of that, we now know that many of those powders contained lead, which brought its own problems.
Still, a pale complexion was a symbol of nobility and beauty, and women were willing to endure almost anything for it.
Almost like today, right? 🙂
Wigs as a symbol of luxury
Hairstyles at Versailles knew no limits. Huge wigs, full of curls and decorations, were part of the mandatory wardrobe for the nobility.
Madame de Pompadour adorned her wigs with fresh flowers and perfumed them so she always appeared fresh and unforgettable.
But wigs had their darker side, too. They were a cosy home for fleas, one of the less pleasant sides of beauty in that era.
Little beauty tricks and camouflage – Mouche
When powder and wax could not hide every imperfection, little black patches called mouches [Eng. Beauty mark] came to the rescue.
Madame used them with real flair, and their placement was anything but random. On the cheek, they symbolised flirtation. On the forehead, they signalled dignity. Under the eye, they expressed passion. This is how ladies at court could communicate without saying a word.
Madame de Pompadour was not only a beauty icon but also a true master of creating the illusion of perfection. Even though her methods make us smile today, she is proof that so-called beauty secrets have always really been about strategy.
