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Drethelin's avatar

I think you're too quick to dismiss the hygiene angle. Even in the modern age I've had plenty of experiences where a partner did not smell the best, and throwing taste in there makes that even worse.

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Kutsen's avatar

I came here to say exactly the same thing, that David's dismissal of the "showers" explanation is a bit too rash and decisive. There may have been "adequate" hygiene in "lots of past societies," but the convenience and efficacy of having piped-in water, readily opened up at any time in bespoke cleansing areas, would undoubtedly result in more frequent and thorough cleaning of sebaceous accretions that would otherwise develop a foul and buttery pong.

The presence of a wash basin or a bucket in a common area may have provided adequate hygiene by the standards of the time but that doesn't mean people would have been likely to hoist a leg and start lathering up Parson's Notch.

It's probably not a coincidence that the tribe of people whose demonym -- "French" -- is a synonym for oral sex were the ones who invented the bidet in the 17th century.

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