Happy to report that I have an authoritative source to help answer the "toilet water" question. The authority is my wife who taught high school French or 20+ years and speaks the language fluently.
Toilette (the French spelling adds another T) originally referred to a person's morning grooming procedure; combing of hair, brushing of teeth, washing all over, etc. The washing part was, of course, accomplished with a cloth and basin of water. In the south of France many flowers are grown and at some point they decided it would be a good idea to distill some of their pretty fragrances----and add this nice smelling liquid to the water they used during their morning toilette procedure. As we learn nearly everything worth knowing by watching TAGS, in one episode Andy told us about what a "good smell-in' country" it was, remember? Anyway, at some point, instead of adding the nice smelling "toilette water" to their bathing water, a more concentrated version was used to sprinkle on your body after washing up. My wife also lets me know the difference between toilette water, cologne and perfume. And for you men out there, this is important. Each of the three smell good, but it's a matter of concentration. Toilette water is the most diluted and the least expensive. Cologne is less diluted and more expensive. Perfume is the strongest stuff and the most expensive. My wife tells me women know this and judge accordingly when received as a gift. Hence: toilette water bottles BIG; perfume bottles TINY. _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
