David E. asked Peter Turnham:

Peter, I have just started reading your None Stood taller Book 1, and I am both laughing and crying. As a survivor of the London blitz, I just love the characters, they are so damn real with their Cockney banter. :-) I will definitely write a review of your book as soon as I have finished reading it. One caveat, I will not mention this in a review, but where did you see, hear about "aftershave" in WWII?

Peter Turnham Hi David. The question of aftershave, like everything in the book, was subject to research. It apparently has a very long history starting with products to help relieve the painful effects of shaving with implements that were not razor sharp! There was, for example, the exotic sounding "Eleanora's Lavo Cream" advertised in 1801.
Even during the Victorian period when beards were popular there remained a market for soothing aftershave products. There was a "Listerine" aftershave product before the better-known mouthwash. The early 1900's saw a proliferation of scented products as opposed to just soothing. Aqua Velva aftershave in 1917 and Old Spice aftershave which was launched in 1937.
There is a caveat, however. I found no documented evidence, but I suspect you have a point, David. These products were clearly available, but who was using them? I suspect your average air raid warden did not smell of Old Spice, and neither did the troops on D-Day. I doubt that many men in the East End of London had money to spend on fragrance. My character, Edward Earl of Middlebourne, probably would have worn aftershave. His butler, Jennings, probably would not. Thank you for raising the issue, David. It makes all the research worthwhile when readers notice it!

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