# Gargling eau de cologne? Wth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451 "2006-03-29T19:48:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![La\_Llorona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@La\_Llorona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/La_Llorona)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/1 "2006-03-29T19:48:07Z")
Just randomly thinking of “Gone with the Wind” this morning, which I last read many years ago, and remembering the part in which Scarlett O’Hara, to hide her burgeoning dependence on alcohol, would “gargle eau de cologne” so that people wouldn’t be able to smell the liquor on her breath from miles away. I believe the action in the book takes place from approximately 1861 to 1868. Questions: did people actually do this on a widespread basis, or is Margaret Mitchell engaging in vast historical revisionism here? Wasn’t there any better means for freshening the breath? Until approximately what date did this practice continue? Is it harmful in any way? Was the “eau de cologne” of the 1860s much different in composition from the stuff we slap on ourselves today? Would it be harmful if someone today were to get up in the morning and have a nice Old Spice gargle? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/2 "2006-03-29T21:00:47Z")
> [@La Llorona](#): > > Was the “eau de cologne” of the 1860s much different in composition from the stuff we slap on ourselves today? Would it be harmful if someone today were to get up in the morning and have a nice Old Spice gargle? It looks like [eau de toilette](http://home.earthlink.net/~skinesscentuals/Perf.html) is about 80-90 % alcohol, and [mouthwash](http://www.preventionmouthrinse.com/AlcoholAndMouthRinses.html) up to 26% (except for the 70% outlier). So a lot more of a kick than the normal rinse. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/3 "2006-03-29T21:19:04Z")
I gargle with 70% alcohol mouthwash. It isn’t quite fair to put Dr. Tichenor’s on the list, though, because you’re supposed to dilute it 5:1 with water, thus sending it near the bottom of the list. Its bright red, all capital letters telling me not to use it without dilution haven’t deterred me from using it straight, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/4 "2006-03-29T21:20:59Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > It looks like [eau de toilette](http://home.earthlink.net/~skinesscentuals/Perf.html) is about 80-90 % alcohol A bit o’ highjacking, if ye permit - why the heck do they call it toilet water? I never figured that one out. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/5 "2006-03-29T21:47:04Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > why the heck do they call it toilet water? “Toilette” in French used to mean just the process of grooming and primping associated with getting dressed. The process took place at one’s dressing-table, “habiller-table” or “toilette-table”, the latter term so named from the practice of covering said table with a decorative fabric known as toile. This meaning of “toilette” was adapted as “toilet” in English, as in Alexander Pope’s poem [The Rape of the Lock](http://people.umass.edu/sconstan/poem1c1.html): > [@](#): > > And now, unveil’d, the Toilet stands display’d, > Each Silver Vase in mystic Order laid. > First, rob’d in White, the Nymph intent adores > With Head uncover’d, the Cosmetic Pow’rs. > A heav’nly Image in the Glass appears, > To that she bends, to that her Eyes she rears; > Th’ inferior Priestess, at her Altar’s side, > Trembling, begins the sacred Rites of Pride. > Unnumber’d Treasures ope at once, and here > The various Off’rings of the World appear; > From each she nicely culls with curious Toil, > And decks the Goddess with the glitt’ring Spoil. > This casket India’s glowing Gems unlocks, > And all Arabia breathes from yonder Box. > The Tortoise here and Elephant unite, > Transform’d to Combs, the speckled and the white. > Here Files of Pins extend their shining Rows, > Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux. The perfumes (such as those “all Arabia breathes from yonder Box”) kept on a toilette-table became known as “eaux de toilette”, and then in English “toilet water”. Subsequently, “chambre de toilette” became widespread as a euphemism for a water-closet or indoor privy, presumably because it was in or near the dressing-room/boudoir. Finally the meaning of “toilet” narrowed down to the particular plumbing fixture now so called. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/6 "2006-03-29T22:01:23Z")
> [@La Llorona](#): > > Questions: did people actually do this on a widespread basis, or is Margaret Mitchell engaging in vast historical revisionism here? Wasn’t there any better means for freshening the breath? People certainly used colognes etc. as ingredients in mouthwash, although they diluted them first (in fact, I don’t remember any definite indication in _Gone with the Wind_ that Scarlett was gargling with straight cologne either). Check out this [beauty handbook from 1890](http://livinghistory.co.uk/homepages/victorianbeauty/chapterxxvii.html): > [@](#): > > A dainty wash for the mouth is made of > > Pure water, … 6 ounces. > > Orange-flower water, … 6 ounces. > > Eau de Cologne, … 5 ounces. > > Rinse the mouth several times after eating; or, add a few drops of cologne or toilet vinegar to a glass of water and thoroughly gargle the mouth and wash the teeth with it. Whaddya mean, “wasn’t there any better means for freshening the breath”? The dilute-cologne gargle is essentially a mouthwash blended from water, alcohol, and fragrance/flavoring, which AFAIK are still the chief ingredients of many mouthwashes today. If it was good enough for your great-grandma… ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/7 "2006-03-29T23:49:20Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Subsequently, “chambre de toilette” became widespread as a euphemism for a water-closet or indoor privy, presumably because it was in or near the dressing-room/boudoir. Finally the meaning of “toilet” narrowed down to the particular plumbing fixture now so called. Cecil himself touches on the origin of “toilet” in [this column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_377.html), which pretty much agrees with what you said. One does across hints of the old meaning of “toilet” in everyday speech. For example, the “toiletries” that you carry in your “toilet bag” don’t normally include things you use at the actual toilet. Bah, getting off track of the actual discussion. Sorry all. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/8 "2006-03-30T00:18:00Z")
When I was about 19 and living in the barracks, an aquaintance came up to me one evening and asked it I wanted a drink. He said if I bought the sodas he’d provide the booze. I gave him the change needed for the coke machine, which dispensed small paper cups of Coke. He returned a few minutes latter w/ two cups and a very strong odor of Aqua Velva. Still not getting it, I took a drink, which I immediately spat out. He confirmed that the “booze” was his after shave, said he drank it all the time and continued to finish his drink. Yuck! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-eau-de-cologne-wth/350451/9 "2006-03-30T02:21:04Z")
I just finished reading [Dry](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312423799/sr=8-1/qid=1143685163/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5843616-4986321?%5Fencoding=UTF8) by Augesten Burroughs. He claims to have used cologne on his tongue to hid alcohol smell too, so it seems to be a “trick” still used in modern times.