The thin papers used for rolling cigars and cigarettes appeared in Spain in the 16th century. However, they did not undergo significant industrialization until the 19th century. This industrialization led to the dissemination of this new consumer product. The first brands emerged in the 1840s, such as the Spanish brand Pay-Pay and the French brand LaCroix, which launched the famous JOB rolling papers.

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In the 14th century, Xuan paper appeared in China. Used as toilet paper, it was primarily made from the bark of the blue sandalwood tree (Pteroceltis tatarinowii) and rice straw, two complementary plant materials. These fibers underwent a complex artisanal process including: cooking, washing, grinding, laying out, and drying, in more than a hundred steps to finally produce Xuan paper. Modern toilet paper was invented in 1857 by Joseph Gayetty, an entrepreneur from New Jersey, United States. Before this invention, people used newspapers or other unsuitable papers, often causing hemorrhoids. In response, Gayetty launched a product presented as a medical treatment: Gayetty’s Medicated Paper. This paper was made from Manila hemp, a versatile fiber extracted from banana stalks. Unlike modern toilet paper, it was not sold in rolls but as individual sheets.

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At the end of the 19th century, the Scott brothers began to industrialize paper made from wood. Unlike Manila hemp, wood pulp required the use of harsh chemicals and large amounts of water to transform hardwood into soft paper. However, because wood was more readily available and the toxic effects of these chemicals were largely unknown, the Scott brothers continued production, which eventually became a staple in households.

Magazine advertisement from 1920, toilet paper (Scott Paper Company).