Shh! Don't say "toilet"! (potential for gross-out, but please don't go there)

[Venus193]

It still is, but usually in French:  Eau de Toilette.  Translating that into English was not well-considered.

While this is not a perfect industry standard, there is a range of aromatic concentration described for each term (see Concentration):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfume

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eau_de_toilette

Back to our regularly-scheduled discussion.

[oceanus]

midwest USA/female/50+

I say restroom if I'm out/with someone
I might ask waiter "Where's your ladies' room?"
At home, my bathroom; someone else's home restroom
I don't think I've ever said "powder room"

Anyone else old enough to remember when cologne was called "toilet water" ...

Yes.   

[ladyknight1]

I say bathroom in a home, restroom when in public. However, I have no need for niceties when it comes to personal business, so toilet works just fine for me.

[Katana_Geldar]

*wispers* We call it the Dunny   or even *gasp* the LOO  

Most people just ask me where the Toilet is.

I say this, especially if in public or else it's the crapper!! 

This guy has a rather appropriate name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crapper

[scotcat60]

In the UK pretty much the majority of houses would have a downstairs toliet with just the toilet and a small sink in and (very infrequently) a shower

Only houses over a certain age. When I was growing up, the downstairs toilet in many houses was outside in the garden, and you'd to come indoors to wash your hands. In some cases it was the only toilet on the property. And people bathed in front of the kitchen fire in a tin tub.

[Redsoil]

Another Aussie - as with the others, usually toilet, loo, dunny etc.

At work, I'll refer patients to the toilet, bathroom or "facilities". 

When socialising, I may say "I'm off to the little girls room" or possibly "I'm going to scare some little boys" (but I think that one may be a bit of an in joke - if the ladies room has a line-up, I'm not beyond using the men's at a pinch - always warning them first: "female incoming, close your eyes!"  Yes, I know...  )

When all's said and done, we're a pretty casual mob.

I always ask my dog if she needs to "have a leak" on a trip.  She knows when I say that, she has to make at least a show of doing so before we continue.  (Oh, and she actually cocks her leg like a boy. Like mother, like daughter!)  *snerk*

[NestHolder]

It's worth noting that if you asked where the bathroom was in a UK home, you might find yourself in a room with a bath, a sink... and no loo.  It's not standard, but it's not at all unusual to have the toilet in its own little room next-door to the bathroom.

Now I think of it, my FIL's place in Tasmania has a bathroom with no loo—the loo is along the corridor!

[scotcat60]

The Marquis of Salisbury was on TV last night talking about how his ancestors built Hatfield House, and then others added onto it, but he said all he had done was improve the loo.

[Katana_Geldar]

When I was growing up, I took the word 'restroom' literally as a place you would rest. Maybe with a bed or couch. I wasn't until years later I found out what it actually was.

[Bottlecaps]

I'm 23, born and raised in West Virginia (US), and now living in Alabama (also the in the US).

It depends on where I am, actually. At home, I call it the toilet or the bathroom (along with various other slang terms - the throne, the john, the crapper, just to name a few, lol). In public/mixed company (by that, I mean asking where it is in a public place or a like situation), I call it the restroom.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

"Restroom" or "ladies' room" for me, if it's pubic, "bathroom" if it's at a residence.  At a ren faire, it's "privy", and if it's my own home or among good friends, I'll often jokingly refer to it as "the catbox" or "the library". 

[Yvaine]

When I was growing up, I took the word 'restroom' literally as a place you would rest. Maybe with a bed or couch. I wasn't until years later I found out what it actually was.

I've even seen ones with couches in some luxury venues like fancy hotels and the symphony. 

[MrTango]

Most of the time, I just say "Men's Room."

[OSUJillyBean]

Late 20s southern USA:

At someone's house - bathroom
Out in public - ladies' room / mens' room


Side note: at my mother's house, the "powder room" means the half bath that has no shower or bathtub in it.  But she's a former realtor so a little fancy shmanyc language is expected. 

[Thipu1]

When I was growing up, I took the word 'restroom' literally as a place you would rest. Maybe with a bed or couch. I wasn't until years later I found out what it actually was.

I've even seen ones with couches in some luxury venues like fancy hotels and the symphony. 

In the museum where I worked, the women's toilet had a quiet area with a sofa and comfortable armchairs.  The idea was that mothers could use the place to nurse infants.  That made it a real rest room.