Hairy Mary

Hairy Mary or Shaven Haven

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Pubic hair - or the 'fleece', 'flush', 'moss', as it's otherwise known - was much admired among some, if not all, Tudors.

An abundance of pubic hair was a sign of youth, health and sexual vitality.

However, longer pubic hair, also meant the potential for pubic lice, which could only be completely eliminated by shaving or removing the hair in another way, such as with homemade dilapidory creams.

A loss of pubic hair, could also signal a woman had been given mercury to treat syphilis.

Those wanting to create the illusion of pubic hair, could put together a merkin ~ a pubic hair wig, first designed in 1450.

The malkin, or merkin, was made from hair, that was attached to the pubic area with a pretty, dainty ribbon.

The Tudors also preferred a more natural approach, when it came to personal hygiene.

While douching first appeared in the ancient world, the Tudors avoided it, believing it was unnecessary.

For the Tudors, it was sexier to smell 'whiffy' in that area

Perhaps they picked up on the fact the vagina is self-cleaning...

However some texts informed women, that a 'severe vaginal odour' would be enough to put off a male sexual partner, and suggested solutions to tackle such an issue.

A prescription used by Muslim women, suggests a redolent water mixture, that constricts the vagina and represses the odour.

These included detailed instructions on how to apply the concoction before intercourse, using a powder that the lady is to rub on her chest, breasts and genitalia

She is to then wash her partner’s privates using a cloth sprinkled with the same sweet-smelling powder.

One example suggests taking powder of blackberry and placing it inside to constrict the vagina......

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Scandalous-stories-love...

Carol McGrath~Sex & Sexuality in Tudor England.

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders