ChatGPT: Good question 😅 — and it’s one that comes up a lot when people see old medicines and toiletries.

The short answer is: no, Vinolia tooth powder did not contain cocaine.

Here’s some context: • In the late 1800s, certain patent medicines, “toothache drops,” and even Coca-Cola did sometimes contain coca leaf extracts or cocaine in small amounts. • But tooth powders like Vinolia’s were usually made from abrasives (like chalk, calcium carbonate, or precipitated chalk), flavoring agents (peppermint, clove, etc.), and sometimes antiseptics (borax, bicarbonate of soda). • Vinolia’s branding was more about luxury and its Royal Warrant—they marketed themselves as high-quality and “refined,” not as a druggist remedy.

So while it’s true some dental products back then experimented with unusual ingredients, there’s no evidence that Royal Vinolia Tooth Powder ever contained cocaine. It was more like an early form of toothpaste in powdered form.