Mum was the first brand of commercial deodorant. Containing a zinc compound as its active ingredient, it was developed in Philadelphia in 1888.[1] It was named for the term "mum" meaning "to keep silent" as in the popular phrase "Mum's the word"[1] Mum was originally sold as a cream in a jar and applied with the fingertips. The small company was bought by Bristol-Myers in 1931.

A former version of "MUM" deodorant (discontinued)

Branding as "Ban" edit

In the late 1940s, an employee (Helen Diserens) developed an applicator based on the newly invented ball-point pen.[1] In 1952, the company began marketing the product under the name Ban Roll-On.[1] In 1958, the product was launched in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations as Mum Rollette.[1]

The product was briefly withdrawn from the market in the United States,[when?][why?][1] but is again widely available.[2]

It is popular in Australia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. In the Philippines, it was sold in the 1970s and 1980s but has since been withdrawn.[citation needed]

Ban is now owned by Kao Corporation.[citation needed]

In the UK Mum is made by Dendron Ltd,[3] under license from The Procter & Gamble Co.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Joey Green (2004) Joey Green's Incredible Country Store: Potions, Notions, and Elixirs of the Past--And How to Make Them Today, Rodale Press ISBN 1-57954-848-2
  2. ^ "Where To Buy". Ban. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "DDD Limited - Dendron | Tailored marketing, sales and distribution solutions". www.dddltd.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Sainsbury's - Please enable cookies or JavaScript". www.sainsburys.co.uk.

External links edit