Invented as a nineteenth-century surgical antiseptic, Listerine is named after Joseph Lister (the “father of antiseptic surgery”) who successfully used the antiseptic chemical phenol in surgery for the first time. Listerine was marketed for use as a floor cleaner, a dandruff treatment, and a cure for gonorrhoea. But the “solution looking for a problem” found its market by exploiting the social anxieties of those looking for romance. Listerine popularised a then-obscure term, halitosis, presenting it as an embarrassing medical condition while advertising itself as a cure.
Another medical solution looking for a problem is Q-Tips. Leo Gerstenzang watched his wife stick cotton balls on the ends of a toothpick to clean their child’s ears. He went on to sell this invention under the name of ‘Baby Gays’ (which later changed to Q-tips, meaning “quality tips”). ‘Baby Gays’ cotton swabs were dipped in boric acid to enhance their reputation as a personal hygiene product and were marketed for babies’ ears and nostrils. I would say that the Q-Tips most useful personal hygiene contribution is in the domain of psychological hygiene. Q-Tip is as an acronym for: Quit Taking It Personally.
Head Over Heals 