# What did our Grandparents use for sexual lubricant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280 "2013-10-03T17:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/1 "2013-10-03T17:33:27Z")
Hello Everyone, My wife and I were discussing the movie “The Last Tango In Paris” starting Marlon Brando. In one scene in the movie his character rapes a girl anally and he uses butter as a lubricant. Besides discussing how distasteful that scene was we got on the subject of sexual lubricant. We use a product called Wet, that is a silicone based (I think it’s silicone based), extremely slippery and comes in all kind of flavors so there isn’t a problem if it were to come (cum?:dubious:) into contact with your mouth. Well, we got to thinking … Mom and Dad probably had KY Jelly, but what did Grandma and Grandpa use? My wife suggested Vasoline, but I couldn’t imagine getting that in thought butthole or vagina. I was thinking maybe like the movie couples resorted to items like butter or perhaps olive oil. So, what did they use? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/2 "2013-10-03T17:41:14Z")
I am minded of a Playboy cartoon showing the comically aged couple getting into bed. The husband is searching the medicine cabinet. The wife is yowling, “Vaseline, hell! I need Poli-Grip!” Vaseline was the all-purpose bodily lubricant until well after WWII. You’re also assuming that couples used any kind of lubricant in earlier eras - some did, certainly, but I’d bet a lot of wives just got up sore in the morning, through mutual ignorance and male lack of consideration. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/3 "2013-10-03T17:48:42Z")
bacon grease (with the chunks taken out), it’s never been just for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/4 "2013-10-03T17:48:45Z")
I would not be surprised if they used snail slime. Can easily be harvested taste is not bad and rejuvenates itself with any added moisture, lasts a long time. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/5 "2013-10-03T17:50:26Z")
Oils have been around a long time. Plus, people weren’t always so squeaky clean in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/6 "2013-10-03T17:58:18Z")
Real Men like it rough, and the wimminfolk just better accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/7 "2013-10-03T18:03:09Z")
It says [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-In-One_Oil) that 3 in 1 oil has been around since 1894 helping to “clean, lubricate and protect.” ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/8 "2013-10-03T18:03:35Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I would not be surprised if they used snail slime. Can easily be harvested taste is not bad and rejuvenates itself with any added moisture, lasts a long time. How do you know this? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/9 "2013-10-03T18:05:41Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > It says [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-In-One_Oil) that 3 in 1 oil has been around since 1894 helping to “clean, lubricate and protect.” The previous version was only 2 in 1. Sadly, deficient. To the OP: you realize that until an advanced age, artificial lubrication isn’t needed for most people? ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/10 "2013-10-03T18:21:03Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Hello Everyone, > > My wife and I were discussing the movie “The Last Tango In Paris” starting Marlon Brando. In one scene in the movie his character rapes a girl anally and he uses butter as a lubricant. Besides discussing how distasteful that scene was we got on the subject of sexual lubricant. We use a product called Wet, that is a silicone based (I think it’s silicone based), extremely slippery and comes in all kind of flavors so there isn’t a problem if it were to come (cum?:dubious:) into contact with your mouth. > > Well, we got to thinking … Mom and Dad probably had KY Jelly, **but what did Grandma and Grandpa use**? My wife suggested Vasoline, but I couldn’t imagine getting that in thought butthole or vagina. I was thinking maybe like the movie couples resorted to items like butter or perhaps olive oil. So, what did they use? If either or both are still living, why don’t you just ask them?? :smack:😕:eek: ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/11 "2013-10-03T18:22:29Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > How do you know this? :eek: In the early 1970’s I had a little backyard snail farm for food puposes but became facinated with its lubricational abilities when I was washing my hands after handling. I ate a few snails raw just to see what they were like and the slime is really not bad. I attempted to create a slime gatherer by forcing the snails up the sides of the glass with water and then every few days scraping the glass with a razor blade so the powder could be rehydrated later. Unless I could have sold the powder for about $3,000 an ounce it did not prove to be cost effective. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/12 "2013-10-03T18:23:14Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > The previous version was only 2 in 1. Sadly, deficient. > > To the OP: you realize that until an advanced age, artificial lubrication isn’t needed for most people? Well, I would agree that in theory that is correct. However if your night if passion extends for more than twenty minutes and goes on for hours I think that the use if lubricant is essential. Not to mention, some sex acts require the use of them. Certain prices and even hands jack a natural lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/13 "2013-10-03T18:56:08Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Certain prices and even hands jack a natural lubricant. 😕 The who did what in the where now? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/14 "2013-10-03T19:47:49Z")
Saliva has always been available. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/15 "2013-10-03T20:01:31Z")
According to this article [olive oil](http://popculture.knoji.com/sex-aids-through-the-ages-the-ancient-history-of-modern-toys-and-tools/) was being used thousands of years ago. So butter is not so unbelievable. Plus saliva, water, pre-cum and female ejaculate have always existed. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/16 "2013-10-03T20:05:35Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > It says [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-In-One_Oil) that 3 in 1 oil has been around since 1894 helping to “clean, lubricate and protect.” Vulvaline. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/17 "2013-10-03T20:06:51Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Not to mention, some sex acts require the use of them. I think “some sex acts” were a lot less common in your grandparents’ day. But really, I’ve been married over 30 years and have never used a lube. ---
**Author:** ![Dax-ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dax-ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dax-ion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/18 "2013-10-03T20:10:51Z")
Saliva and/or Vaseline is what I recall from my own youth and what I have come across in novels. The two together work better than either alone. Oil with water seems to reduce fricktion. I also recall people _talking_ about Crisco back in the Seventies. It seems to me that plain water makes things “squeaky” so I don’t get the hot tub trope… is that a real thing or is it just how they deal with nudity on TV and in films. I recall an old Frank Zapa lyric: “Dear Sweet God/you were the American Dream/and now you smell/like Vaseline”. That sticks in your head. I bet folks used mineral oil in the US before Vaseline… you read a lot about mineral oil being around in old books. People drank it, massaged each other with it, etc. Before that probably cooking oil. When I looked up where the expression “tossing salad” came from people kept referring back to a comedy routine about guys in prison using salad dressing as a courtesy. On a TV doctor show I saw recently an OB/GYN did a demo showing why she though coconut oil was the bomb when it came to greasing lady parts. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/19 "2013-10-03T20:13:35Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > To the OP: you realize that until an advanced age, artificial lubrication isn’t needed for most people? Cite? (Only because that hasn’t been my experience) ---
**Author:** ![Dax-ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dax-ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dax-ion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/20 "2013-10-03T20:16:01Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I think “some sex acts” were a lot less common in your grandparents’ day. Some how I really really doubt this… people like Rick Perry had small families even back then. Plus I have read some ostensibly true diaries from back when and people got up to stuff. I believe the expression “nothing new under the sun” applies. BTW I was shocked that early Kinsey studies showed many more straight guys doing each other in the Forties and Fifties than research suggests do so today. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280.md?page=2)