Tin of Quest deodorant powder

Tin of Quest deodorant powder, "Especially Effective on Sanitary Napkins", unscented, Kimberley-Clark, USA, 1951-1959

Quest was a deodorant powder produced by Kotex manufacturer Kimberly-Clark between the 1930s and 1960s. Advertisements emphasised its role in maintaining “personal daintiness”; a euphemism for concealing bodily functions deemed socially unacceptable for women. Kotex was one of the first brands to popularise disposable menstrual pads in the 1920s.

Scented tampons swiftly followed from the mid-1940s, playing on fears that even wearing ‘internal protection’ wouldn’t prevent unpleasant odours from revealing you were menstruating. Deodorising period products contain chemicals that can disrupt the vagina’s natural pH balance, potentially leading to irritation or infection. Scented tampons were largely withdrawn from the US market in 2021-22, although perfumed pads and panty liners remain popular.