In the wake of my refrigerator leaking all over my wood floor and carpeting, I bought a box of baking soda today to help freshen the carpet. Then, while cooking dinner, I was idly examining said box and read the following:

Since an open box of Baking Soda naturally absorbs unwanted smells and odors, always open a fresh, unopened box of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to make the best tasting cookies and cakes!

Okay, I get it now. But the first three or four times I read it, I was utterly clueless. What possible connection could there be between baking soda’s ability to absorb odors and its use in the “best tasting cookies and cakes”? Why would I want it absorbing odors in my cookies?

… oh well, you had to be there (and maybe be an old fart like me).