Joseph Lawrence invented this antiseptic in 1879 to clean surgical instruments. It was even named after surgeon Dr. Joseph Lister. However, people saw its potential and started using it everywhere: treating wounds, dentistry, curing dandruff and fungi, and even as a deodorant. It became widely popular in the ’20s when the first advertisement came out for Listerine. A girl was turning away from her fiancé with bad breath and asking herself, ’’Can I be happy with him in spite of that?’’