By 1700, the bidet gained popularity among the European elite as a water-based hygiene fixture. Initially developed in France, the bidet represented a shift towards more sophisticated personal hygiene practices. Its adoption among aristocracy reflected broader cultural changes regarding cleanliness and health during this period.

The adoption of bidets in European elite circles around 1700 influenced Enlightenment and libertine literature, which explored themes of intimacy and bodily etiquette. Poets like Voltaire and Rousseau incorporated discussions of personal hygiene into their works, reflecting societal norms.