History of Sex Lube | Did People Use Personal Lubricant in Ancient Times?

Sex lube is definitely not something that is new. In fact, people have been using lube to enhance sex for literally hundreds of years. With that being said, as we entered the 20th and 21^st century, the advancements of lube have really taken off. There’s a ton of interesting research showing how sex products developed along with various civilizations, and if you’ve ever wondered what ancient people used for personal lubricant, do we have some interesting facts for you.

When was lube invented and who invented it?

According to research the oldest documented use of lube for humans came from Eastern Asia around the year 600 BC.  Around this time a process was created to extract Carrageenan which is a family of linear sulphated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds.

This Carrageenan extract was originally used in food and skin related medicines however, due to the thick and extremely slick properties, people began to use it for other purposes.  Sexual pleasure is as old as mankind and given the ability to remove friction, this new extract began being used in all sorts of sexual activities.

Did Ancient Greeks really use olive oil as lube?

Yes, as far back as 350 BC there are records of Ancient Greeks and Romans using olive oil, vegetable oil, and other natural oils as lube for sex.  As one could imagine, given the long lasting consistency of olive oil it would be the most common and popular choice for lube. 

Vegetable oils have been around for centuries in the advanced societies who were more agriculturally driven.  Given these advancements, people had less to worry about from a survival perspective and were able to focus on more enjoyable aspects of human existence. 

Historically, Ancient Greeks were described as a sex-positive culture and were accepting and open to male homosexuality. Given that the anus doesn't naturally provide lubrication, Ancient Greek innovation provided a solution in the form of sex lube. Once they realized that there was a more fun use of their oils, the rest became history.  

In one of his writings, the Greek philosopher Aristotle references the contraceptive powers of olive oil mixed with cedar oil, lead, and frankincense. From Greek texts, we also know that women would also use leather dildos lubricated with olive oil, and it stands to reason that olive oil was probably the go-to lubricant for that time period, although no definitive proof has ever been found.

Sex and masturbation were very common and often a group activity among the Romans, and like the Greek, adding olive oil into the mix for lube was quite common.  It is thought to be known that they tried to incorporate contraceptives into their lube formulas. Pliny, the great Roman thinker, suggested a mixture of olive oil, pigeon droppings, and wine. Olive oil kept its popularity through the 16th century, which, incidentally, is around the time when the word “dildo” entered our vocabulary. 

Lube in the Far East 

The fun was not just happening in the Western world around that time.  The East had its fair share of personal lubricant as well.  In Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868), couples used tororo-jiru, an ultra-slick substance made by finely grating Chinese yams.  Similar to some of the popular non-latex condoms of today, ancient Chinese condoms made from animal intestine or treated linen were often coated with a few drops of vegetable oil to facilitate penetration.

The Start of Silicone Lube 

What we have come to know as silicone lubricant was actually discovered in 1899 by Frederick Kipping, a famous English chemist.  While working on a completely different theory, Frederick discovered a unique polymer which he then named silicone.  Although Frederick did not necessarily intend for his discovery to be used to have sex with, later in the 1900s this became quite the slick and long lasting lubricant.

The similarities between past and present are very apparent.  In ancient times people in socially conservative societies were less likely to use lube for sex or masturbation.  In the 19th century, gynecologists prescribed pelvic massages to women who couldn’t produce enough of their own natural lubrication. The physician would massage and stimulate the woman’s clitoris until she had an orgasm, at which point she was pronounced cured. These messages were also the go-to treatment for women who suffered from “excessive” lubrication, which is something of a testament to the repressive atmosphere of the time period.

With Modern Times Comes Modern Lubrication

In the 1800's is when lubricant started taking made leaps in advancement.  In 1872 Robert Chesebrough patented the first petroleum jelly, a petrol by-product that he called Vaseline.

While it was not designed specifically for sex, users quickly found that it had the exact properties that were needed to be used as an enjoyable form of personal lubricant.

Commercially prepared lubes didn’t become popular until the early 20th century. K-Y Jelly was introduced in 1904 as a surgical product, and it is considered one of the first modern lubricants, as it uses a base consisting of methylcellulose and other ingredients commonly found in newer water-based products. While it was not marketed for sexual use, its manufacturer began offering a non-sterile version for non-surgical use.

The Sexual 60s, 70s, and beyond

The sexual revolution of the 1960s made lubricants and other products more socially acceptable, and manufacturers like K-Y quickly shopped their products to a new audience.

With the mention of using lubricant for sex in the popular book for women, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” the revolution literally took off.  By the end of the 70s, lubricant had become a mainstay in bedroom's of those early sexual explorers.

The lubricant industry gained steam in the 1990s and 2000s, and the market now features hundreds of specially formulated products designed to please different types of users.