Fleming/Bond Toiletries
CmdrAtticus
United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
Been doing some detailed research into all the different info on the web regarding Fleming and Bond's toiletries. It's no surprise that some erroneous info gets on the web (and even in the mainstream press) and then is passed along as if it's gospel. Here's what I've
learned:
A lot of what is passed on as being what Fleming (and in particular
Bond) used during and after their ablutions stems from lazy
(or what I like to call "Xerox") journalism. Articles stating that
certain brands of soap, shampoo, shaving/after shave and cologne products that Fleming/Bond used are either misleading or
flat out false. Some of these misconceptions stem from journalists mixing up what Fleming originally wrote with the work of later authors or the product placements in the films.
For the record, what I can find factual is that Fleming had his hair cut at Trumpers in London. What did he use for a hair dressing?
No one really knows. In FRWL, Tatiana comments on Bond not using any hair product. Does this mean Fleming did not as well or
did he only give this minor habit to his creation? If he did use any type of hair product he may have used Eucris. I say this only because he mentioned it being in Draco's bathroom in OHMSS. Now, he may not have used it and only put it in the novel because he went to Trumpers and knew they produced it, but who knows? We do know Bond used Pinaud Shampoo and although know one knows if Fleming used it himself, it would not seem to far fetched to assume he did, though Trumpers also sold shampoo and he may have used one of their brands. That takes care of the hair grooming bits.
Now the shaving. We know that Fleming would get shaved at Truefitt & Hill's shop (though no one mentions if this was a daily ritual for him or if it was just a part time luxury he enjoyed). It's also never mentioned which line of soap and after shave he would have used while in the shop, though it's possible he may have went with their original 1805 line. Now this has nothing to do with Bond of course, who shaved himself in his flat using....? We don't know. There's the Palmolive shaving tube used to hide the silencer in FRWL, but that's got nothing to do with what Bond actually used to shave with. We know what razor he used, but what about the rest of his shaving regimen? Since he used Pinaud's shampoo, it's seems logical he may have also used their aftershave, but it's not mentioned. He may have just have well used Floris's No. 89 balm along with their cologne, since Fleming himself used the cologne.
One can see how all this info over the years got mixed up through lazy journalism and articles referring to other articles that were not accurate to begin with. Now, if any members use any of the products mentioned, that's great. I use some of the products and I know that Fleming actually did use some of the same ones and that Bond actually did use the Pinaud shampoo, whereas the others I use may have been used by one or both. I hope this clears up some of the product confusion, but who knows - I may have erred myself in this endeavor. If there are any out there who may have more accurate information or any more insight it would be welcomed.
learned:
A lot of what is passed on as being what Fleming (and in particular
Bond) used during and after their ablutions stems from lazy
(or what I like to call "Xerox") journalism. Articles stating that
certain brands of soap, shampoo, shaving/after shave and cologne products that Fleming/Bond used are either misleading or
flat out false. Some of these misconceptions stem from journalists mixing up what Fleming originally wrote with the work of later authors or the product placements in the films.
For the record, what I can find factual is that Fleming had his hair cut at Trumpers in London. What did he use for a hair dressing?
No one really knows. In FRWL, Tatiana comments on Bond not using any hair product. Does this mean Fleming did not as well or
did he only give this minor habit to his creation? If he did use any type of hair product he may have used Eucris. I say this only because he mentioned it being in Draco's bathroom in OHMSS. Now, he may not have used it and only put it in the novel because he went to Trumpers and knew they produced it, but who knows? We do know Bond used Pinaud Shampoo and although know one knows if Fleming used it himself, it would not seem to far fetched to assume he did, though Trumpers also sold shampoo and he may have used one of their brands. That takes care of the hair grooming bits.
Now the shaving. We know that Fleming would get shaved at Truefitt & Hill's shop (though no one mentions if this was a daily ritual for him or if it was just a part time luxury he enjoyed). It's also never mentioned which line of soap and after shave he would have used while in the shop, though it's possible he may have went with their original 1805 line. Now this has nothing to do with Bond of course, who shaved himself in his flat using....? We don't know. There's the Palmolive shaving tube used to hide the silencer in FRWL, but that's got nothing to do with what Bond actually used to shave with. We know what razor he used, but what about the rest of his shaving regimen? Since he used Pinaud's shampoo, it's seems logical he may have also used their aftershave, but it's not mentioned. He may have just have well used Floris's No. 89 balm along with their cologne, since Fleming himself used the cologne.
One can see how all this info over the years got mixed up through lazy journalism and articles referring to other articles that were not accurate to begin with. Now, if any members use any of the products mentioned, that's great. I use some of the products and I know that Fleming actually did use some of the same ones and that Bond actually did use the Pinaud shampoo, whereas the others I use may have been used by one or both. I hope this clears up some of the product confusion, but who knows - I may have erred myself in this endeavor. If there are any out there who may have more accurate information or any more insight it would be welcomed.
Comments
Very interesting - thanks