Why Do You Smell Like Toast?

The term “big wig” has been used to denote important, powerful people. “Powder room,” the euphemism for “rest room” (which is a euphemism for “toilets”) pertained to where people went to powder their wigs, which stank. (The French were early adapters of perfumes because, due to poor hygiene and a lack of “facilities,” the French royalty stank.)

Men, who were usually shaved bald to prevent the dreaded head lice, were unable to clean the wigs decently, so they carved out large loaves of bread, put the wigs inside, and baked them in the oven. Hence, the wigs were inflated in the process, and people could recognize easily the “big wigs” of the wealthy.

We have the same affectations today, unfortunately, though the lice are mostly gone, and we’ve stopped ruining perfectly good bread.