Why 'EAU DE TOILETTE'?

[Sanzio]

etymologically speaking, what means EAU DE TOILLETE? The literal translation is TOILET WATER. Toilet is because it was intended to be used for hygienics? What I am wondering is why an eau de toilette has this name. Who decided to call it this way and why? :-?

 

[Informer]

I imagine it started as a joke, as they were/are so "watered down" compared to parfum, or EDP as what consumers used to expect. For a long time (not sure when the shift happened) fragrances were only really parfum or EDP.

Keep in mind I'm merely speculating.

 

[scentemental]

There's always a danger in being literal.

In the phrase "eau de toilette", the word "toilette" has nothing to do with a toilet. It refers to the way one attends to and prepares oneself. In other words, it refers to the way one grooms oneself. Hence, "eau de toillette" derives from the practice of scenting oneself when one applied water (or any kind of fragrant liquid) while grooming oneself at one's "toilette".

The meanings of the word "toilette" you want are meanings 1 and 2 and not meaning 3 in the link below:

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/toilet+

I hope this helps.

scentemental

 

[cedriceccentric]

In french "toilette" is also an oldfashioned word for "outfit". At the Guerlain SA class they explain that perfume extract is made to be worn directly on the skin (for a lasting effect) and eau de toilette on the clothes (for sillage).

 

[Xen]

Isn't Eau de Toilette supposed to translate to toilet water? :-?

 

[narcus]

Quick definitions of/comments on ‚Eau de Toilette‘ (universal term for a mixture of mainly alcohol and plant excerpts, no oils originally) can only touch on the peaks of what that meant in the past, and how it changed into something completely different today. Thus, misunderstandings can easily occur. Anyone seriously wanting to understand perfume and colognes cannot avoid reading a couple of chapters in a book on perfume history (best start at 1700 to get the basic picture).

99% of all perfumes, colognes, etc. we buy in Madrid, New York, or Sao Paulo, are related to European fragrance culture. Eau de toilette, Eau de Cologne, (plural: eaux) are universal terms of French origin. In those days the French language had replaced Latin as the universal European language. I shall not even attempt to explain all the splendor and elegance once connected with 'toilette'. ‚Outfit‘ is indeed at the core of it. In reality it had a lot to do with precious silks, laces, wigs, powder and - of course – perfume. Getting ready for the day and dressing was quite a ceremony at courts. The verbal downfall from 'toilette' to our water toilets is a story by itself.

Eau de Cologne originally was a an Eau de Toilette made in Cologne (city), a medicine for internal and external applications, a body splash and freshener. It was, and the originals still are, supposed to be lightly scented, not to be 'worn' as such (also powders were lightly scented). For a whole period Eau de Cologne was the most appreciated among all Eaux de Toilette, used to scent the air near your face, or splashed on your handkerchief, but not used to replace perfume! There were no trademarks in the old days. Any french or german pharmacy (perfumers = different industry) could make such toilet water, and quite a few did. ‚Eau de Cologne‘ became a synonym for a certain style of EdT! Next to all major perfume houses have maintained the tradition in their Eau de (house):Guerlain, Lanvin, Rochas, to name a few. Some are slightly better scented now, more individual than Farina was, and even reaching into the perfume type. I consider Eau de Cartier a good example.

Here comes the confusing bit, where you must forget almost all I said before: I have not searched for the manufacturer who started pouring perfume, alcohol and water together, creating the first Eau de Parfum, a substance of it‘s own merits, a milestone really. (Maybe someone here knows). There are EdP/concentrées, EdTs and EdCs. Officially these should stand for a minimum percentage of perfume (4% in the case of EdC, I believe). In practice that does not mean all that much. Some perfumes are very strong, others have a rather soft character. What do 4% of a weak scent mean in a cologne? Anyway, I hope this helped to understand why Eau de Cologne has a dual meaning today:

1) Most common: a perfume watered down to a degree that you still want to spray on, hoping to smell nice for hours and get noticed/complimented on by others.
2) The originals and countless variations on the same path (not necessarily copies): An alcohol – water mix with a rather volatile, often citrussy scent charcater, that does not stay long at all. Nobody should be ‚disappointed‘ of such volatility, as this is intentional. Disappointed we might be about the prices charged for this second type of colognes, as their material costs are certainly a fraction only of what the ingredients in, say Habit, may cost.

Bartleby /American Heritage: http://www.bartleby.com/61/59/C0485900.html

 

[myaccolades]

Very informative, thanks narcus!

 

[FatTony]

In my own head, when I think the word "cologne" I think of the traditional cologne as described by narcus. Basically what we usually call "classical citrus" (think eau savage, aqua di parma colonia, ...) on Basenotes could probably be called simply cologne, although these are probably stronger than the "original cologne" that was little more than lightly scented water. The emphasis (in my understanding) of cologne is on citrus. The use of eau de cologne to label something like Gendarme as well as the general use of cologne for any men's fragrance, I consider to be a misnomer which has contributed to the loss of "cologne" as a useful word with a specific meaning.

 

[teflondog]

In my own head, when I think the word "cologne" I think of the traditional cologne as described by narcus. Basically what we usually call "classical citrus" (think eau savage, aqua di parma colonia, ...) on Basenotes could probably be called simply cologne, although these are probably stronger than the "original cologne" that was little more than lightly scented water. The emphasis (in my understanding) of cologne is on citrus. The use of eau de cologne to label something like Gendarme as well as the general use of cologne for any men's fragrance, I consider to be a misnomer which has contributed to the loss of "cologne" as a useful word with a specific meaning.

I certainly agree. As fragrance enthusiasts, we use the term "cologne" as a literal meaning. To the general population, cologne is simply fragrance for men while perfume is for women. When one of my friends saw my Opium PH "eau de parfum" he asked me why I had women's perfume. This demonstrates how these terms have become quite generalized over time.

 

[scentimus]

In early France the toilet as we know it in the western world was portable and pretty much moved from room to room and used as needed and really not called a toilet!

Toilette is more in the process of preparing oneself or a changing room not really cleaning oneself for that was unheard of. Taking a bath or washing could wash of your protective film that protected you from the Black Death and plague. So that some one would not be knocked our by your stench and head lice one would perfume oneself.

Gosh glad I didn't live back then! Image if the royal court stunk what that hell the poor fokes smelled like :-X

 

[scentimus]

I certainly agree. As fragrance enthusiasts, we use the term "cologne" as a literal meaning. To the general population, cologne is simply fragrance for men while perfume is for women. When one of my friends saw my Opium PH "eau de parfum" he asked me why I had women's perfume. This demonstrates how these terms have become quite generalized over time.

True and while many think Cologne is a weaker version of EDT in men's fragrances that is not always true. Cologne can be just as strong as a EDT or more stronger. Bijan first came out there was a light version called Eau de Toilette and the Cologne was like edp strenght.